DARRELL DEXTER
More strategic focus
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By TOM PETERS
October 20, 2009
The Nova Scotia government will establish an Atlantic Gateway secretariat and advisory council to further strengthen its gateway initiative.
Premier Darrell Dexter told delegates to the Atlantic Gateway Initiative Conference in Halifax that a secretariat and council will be created in the coming weeks.
“Nova Scotia is geographically positioned to be a significant part of the sea and air freight gateway to and from North America because of our infrastructure links and proven capabilities,” Mr. Dexter said in a release. “Nova Scotia now needs to add a more strategic focus to our current efforts to realize the potential of the gateway.”
In his keynote luncheon address, the premier said, “The secretariat will identify areas of weakness and pinpoint obstacles that may prevent the province from achieving our potential as an international transportation gateway.”
The new body will “develop a vision and role” for the government and “establish activity growth targets,” he added.
The secretariat will be a standalone office managed by a CEO who is yet to be hired.
“The secretariat will be tasked with the role of identifying measures to take both within government and with stakeholders to help Nova Scotia seize opportunities,” Mr. Dexter said.
Among other aims, the secretariat will develop and implement an aggressive marketing and business development strategy focused on North America and Asia, manage relations with other governments and provide leadership to co-ordinate stakeholder efforts.
The role of the planned advisory council will be to serve as “the government’s sounding board, bringing forward issues and ideas so we can work together to remove roadblocks and support innovation,” Mr. Dexter said.
The final design or makeup of the advisory council has not been determined but the premier indicated it will be private-sector driven.
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