By TOM PETERS
July 22, 2009
Nova Scotia’s new government says it wholeheartedly supports the Atlantic Gateway initiative and will work closely with all those involved to see it becomes a booster of the provincial economy.
NDP Premier Darrell Dexter made the supportive comments in his first major address on the gateway as premier to delegates attending the recent Strait of Canso Superport Days.
“With the support of the Government of Canada, we plan on working closely with the key private sector partners to catapult the Atlantic Gateway initiative to the international market,” Mr. Dexter said. “We will continue to work with gateway stakeholders, including the port authorities, shipping lines, workers, terminal owners and operators, airports and the newly formed 13-member Atlantic Gateway Advisory Council, which comprises key business leaders from across Atlantic Canada.”
The premier, whose government won a majority in the June provincial election and became the first NDP government for Nova Scotia, said the province would also work with CN, which is an important component in moving the gateway initiative forward.
Citing the Atlantic Gateway as a key strategic priority, Mr. Dexter said the goal of the initiative “is to position Nova Scotia and the Atlantic region as a premier location to ship goods to and from the North American marketplace, strengthening our position in international commerce.”
Nova Scotia has a strong marine infrastructure to support the largest ships and he highlighted the Strait of Canso as an example.
The Strait of Canso has a naturally deep, ice-free harbour and can handle vessels up to 500,000 deadweight tonnes, he said.
And geographically, Nova Scotia ports have an advantage over their competitors, the premier said. “Nova Scotia ports are positioned for the shortest ocean voyage for ships heading to Europe, and to South and East Asia and the Indian sub-continent through the Suez Canal. In fact, our province is 1,500 nautical miles closer to India and much of Southeast Asia than any other North American port.”
With the global economy going through a difficult period, now is the time to move forward with the gateway program and “to invest and focus on our business development strategy,” Mr. Dexter said. “By doing this, Nova Scotia will be able to take advantage of the economic upswing when it comes.”
The premier cautioned that gateway goals cannot be attained “overnight.”
“Advancing the Atlantic Gateway initiative is a long-term investment that will boost the provincial economy, create hundreds of jobs, bring visitors to our beautiful province and transport more goods to market around the world,” he concluded.