By TOM PETERS
September 16, 2009
The Atlantic Gateway Advisory Council is getting federal funding to support its work over the next two years.
The council, comprising 13 of the Atlantic region’s top businesspeople, is receiving $519,100 from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. The council was established earlier this year to act in an advisory role to Peter MacKay, minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on proposed gateway projects.
“We will continue to work with Minister MacKay, the other gateway councils in Atlantic Canada and gateway stakeholders to improve the competitiveness of the Atlantic Gateway,” said council chair Wes Armour, CEO of Armour Transportation Systems. “This funding will help us to carry out this important mandate. From a private sector perspective, it is refreshing to see governments working in such close collaboration with business.”
The council has seconded David Oxner from the Nova Scotia government to act as its executive director for a year. Mr. Oxner held a similar position for the province’s gateway initiative.
The funding supports the strategic goals of the council, including informing government about private sector views and experience, identifying competitiveness issues to encourage growth in trade and providing private sector input into the implementation of the Atlantic Gateway Strategy.
The Atlantic Gateway, part of Canada’s international trade and transportation system, offers opportunities for promoting economic growth in the Atlantic region and for boosting Canada’s access to and competitiveness in global markets.
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