ACOA Minister Calls on Interprovincial Cooperation

In an opening address to the Atlantic Marine and Defence Industry Forum, held on April 26th in Halifax, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Minister for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), said that interprovincial cooperation and private-public sector collaboration are key to maximizing the economic benefits that Atlantic Canada will derive from the $35-billion National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy.

“These benefits will be felt by Atlantic Canadians for decades – in terms of economic growth, job creation, innovation, investment, and skills development,” said Ms. Shea. “Given the significance of the industry to Atlantic Canada’s economy, it is important that governments, industry and academic leaders come together to discuss ways to support its continued growth.”

A major driver of Atlantic Canada’s economy, the marine and defence industry is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative in the region, with exports more than doubling between 2008 and 2012. Defence contributes nearly $2 billion worth of real GDP to Atlantic Canada’s economy each year, while core marine-related manufacturing adds another $530 million per year. More than 175 core marine-related firms employ over 5,600 Atlantic Canadians and provide globally-competitive solutions and support to military and commercial markets around the world.

The forum was organized by the Atlantic Alliance of Aerospace and Defence Associations in collaboration with ACOA, as part of the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan. The forum brought together key stakeholders to discuss ways to capitalize on opportunities created by the shipbuilding strategy and to grow Atlantic Canada’s marine and defence sector at large. Participants included industry leaders, representatives from education and research institutions, and government officials from the four Atlantic provinces.

Canada’s Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan has enabled more than 1,000 small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from urban and rural Atlantic Canada to inform themselves on the procurement process, establish contacts with key stakeholders, and prepare themselves to compete for work in marine supply chains, both here and around the world.

“With knowledge about opportunities and requirements, and support from existing ACOA programs to meet these requirements, Atlantic Canadian businesses will be better prepared to seize opportunities in shipbuilding,” said Ms. Shea. “This, in turn, will create more, better paying jobs, and further strengthen the economy.”

The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy is an important part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan to create jobs and generate economic growth, which are the top priorities of the Government of Canada. The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy will produce a range of economic opportunities for shipyards, as well as for local small- and medium-sized businesses throughout the region.

ACOA provided $59,035 for the organization of the forum through its Business Development Program.

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Press Release, May 3, 2013