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2. Federal-Provincial Officials Committee Newsletters >
3. July 2008 Newsletter

July 2008 Newsletter

Volume 2, Number 2

Background

In October 2007, Ministers Cannon and MacKay signed the Atlantic Gateway Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the four Atlantic provincial governments. This MOU provides a framework for the development of an Atlantic Gateway strategy. It commits governments to working together, and with the private sector, to develop a strategy for the Atlantic Gateway. While the strategy is intended to be completed by no later than 24 months, early action on agreed components will be targeted and implemented.

Atlantic Gateway Federal/Provincial Officials Committee

The MOU affirms the establishment of the Atlantic Gateway Federal/Provincial Officials Committee as the key forum for collaborating among the parties on the development of the Atlantic Gateway. (Note: this committee was first established in January 2007 and has been meeting on a regular basis since.)

Composition:

• 10 members (Four Atlantic Provinces, ACOA and Transport Canada)
• Co-chaired by ACOA and the NB Department of Transportation.

Mandate:

• To develop an Atlantic Gateway strategy that will benefit the Atlantic region and Canada.
• To guide the long term planning work and analysis in support of future gateway initiatives.

Key Priorities:

• Identify key multi modal transportation assets which support gateway development.
• Identify early deliverables.
• Develop a comprehensive stakeholder engagement strategy to understand private sector needs.
• Implement an analytical workplan.

Committee Structure

Stakeholder Engagement
Chair of Working Committee: Margaret Grant-McGivney (NB Dept. of Transportation)
E-mail contact: Margaret.Grant-McGivney@gnb.ca

Consultations with private sector stakeholders are essential to the successful development and implementation of the Atlantic Gateway initiative. As such a strategy has been developed which includes various means of communicating with stakeholders both throughout the region and within provincial jurisdictions. This includes a combination of general communication components, (quarterly newsletter, web site, etc.) broad consultation sessions and focused consultation sessions.

Atlantic Gateway Newsletter via Email
On a regular basis, a newsletter featuring high level updates on the Atlantic Gateway initiative will be provided to stakeholders and all interested parties via email.

Atlantic Gateway Website
A comprehensive website specifically devoted to the Atlantic Gateway is under development. On an interim basis, general information on the Atlantic Gateway can be found on Transport Canada's website.

This TC website will be updated, on a regular basis in the interim, to reflect current and more detailed information.

Calendar of Recent & Upcoming Regional Events:
January 23, 2008 - 1^st Regional Stakeholder Consultation Session (Halifax)
May 2008 - Analytical Studies - stakeholder visits (Atlantic region)
June 10, 2008 - Freight Forecast Validation Workshops (Halifax)
Nov. 25 & 26, 2008 - National Freight Forecast Demand Conference (Halifax)

Marketing
Chair of Working Committee: Michel Tetu (ACOA - HO)
E-mail contact: Michel.Tetu@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

A marketing committee has been created by the Atlantic Gateway Federal-Provincial Officials Committee. The marketing committee consists of 14 provincial and federal government officials and is led by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency's (ACOA) Michel Têtu, Director General of Trade and Investment. It is the intent of this committee to develop a coordinated marketing and communications framework for the Atlantic Gateway that builds upon existing federal/ provincial resources and the efforts of the gateway stakeholders.

To date, the committee has highlighted three marketing products (i.e. printed materials, website and video) to be developed and used in promoting the Atlantic Gateway. Maps and posters have already been created for Indian audiences and were used during the Atlantic Gateway mission to India, held February 2008. Those materials will be reworked and used for a broader audience that will include both domestic and international targets. The creation of a dedicated website is also a priority for the committee at this time. As a long term marketing option, consideration is being given to the creation of a video that tells the story of Atlantic Canada's trade and transportation assets. A proposal for this video has been drawn and subsequently reviewed by committee members. To date, there are questions regarding the need for further research and analysis for the video and a more precise estimate on the cost.

Along with exploring potential marketing products, the committee is working to ensure momentum is maintained from the Atlantic Gateway mission to India by scheduling / attending a number of events. To date, the committee has attended India Calling and joined a Canada Gateway delegation to the USA. Activities planned for the upcoming year include an inbound mission from India, and various events coordinated by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to promote Canada's Gateway's.

The marketing committee is also evaluating the possibility of establishing a presence in India and a report should be finalized by the end of the summer.

Finally, a recommendation on a communication and marketing strategy should be completed in the next few months.

Analytical Work
Chair of Working Committee: Jacques Rochon (Transport Canada)
E-mail contact: jacques.rochon@tc.gc.ca

The Atlantic Gateway Analytical Working Group (AGAWG) is one of three working groups under the Atlantic Gateway Federal-Provincial Officials Committee. The mandate of the AGAWG is to advance analytical work focused on infrastructure, which will guide future multimodal infrastructure investment decisions.

In May 2008, the AGAWG visited, with success, approximately 30 key multimodal stakeholders from the public and private sectors in the four Atlantic provinces. The objectives of this visit were to present the analytical work plan, to learn more about their operations, to understand the challenges that they are facing everyday and to identify potential opportunities for the future.

On June 10, the Freight Forecast Validation Workshop, organized by Global Insight (GI), took place in Halifax. Commodity experts and multimodal public/private stakeholders were there to challenge the first set of assumptions developed by GI. The final report will be released at the Freight Demand Forecasts Conference in Halifax, November 25^th and 26^th.

Three other analytical infrastructure studies associated with the AGAWG are underway:

• Border Traffic and Infrastructure Study - An assessment of border traffic, infrastructure and operations, as well as options to address challenges and improve efficiency. Lead consultant: Opus International
• Study of Road Access to Intermodal Terminals and Distribution/Transload Centers in Atlantic Canada - An assessment of local road access to/from intermodal and similar facilities, as well as options to address challenges and improve efficiency. Lead consultant: Opus International.
• Multimodal Freight and Passenger, Traffic Flows and Infrastructure Study - Mapping of freight and passenger flows to/from/within key components of multimodal transportation system and identification of major challenges in this system, as well as options to address these challenges and improve efficiency. Lead consultant: CPCS Transcom. A phase II of the study will evaluate future trade flows.

Each of these studies will be completed by the fall of 2008 and cooperation from public and private stakeholders will be the key to their success. Results from these studies will assist the AGAWG to develop recommendations for the Atlantic Gateway Federal-Provincial Officials Committee.

Upcoming Events:

• FREIGHT DEMAND FORECAST: IS ATLANTIC CANADA'S TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM UP TO IT? Conference to be held in Halifax in November 25^th and 26^th at the World Trade and Convention Centre.

Provincial Activities

New Brunswick
Provincial Representative: Margaret Grant-McGivney (NB Department of Transportation)
E-mail contact: Margaret.Grant-McGivney@gnb.ca

The Province of New Brunswick is continuing to undertake various initiatives in support of the development of the Atlantic Gateway.

Highlights of more recent activities include:

Provincial Stakeholder Consultation

Consultation has been ongoing with a broad group of NB stakeholders to provide updates on provincial and regional gateway activities and to obtain input on opportunities and issues associated with the Atlantic Gateway. These consultations include various one-on-one stakeholder meetings / sessions (as requested) as well as group stakeholder sessions.

On May 21, 2008, approximately 60 public and private sector representatives attended a one day consultation session held at the Delta Hotel in Fredericton. At this session, the NB government provided an update on various activities associated with the Atlantic Gateway. A private sector perspective on the Atlantic Gateway initiative was provided in the form of presentations from the following stakeholders; the Southern NB Gateway Council, the Greater Moncton International Airport, the Port of Belledune, the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association, the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (NB division) and the NB Southern Railway.

On June 21, 2008, a NB Stakeholders Marketing session was hosted by the Department of Business New Brunswick respecting the development of a marketing strategy for the Atlantic Gateway. At this session, stakeholders were provided information on the province's export and investment strategy and were asked for input respecting proposed NB gateway marketing strategies and activities. A follow up session is planned for the fall of 2008. For further information respecting this initiative please contact, Suzanne Turmel, Manager of Marketing, Business New Brunswick. (Email Suzanne.turmel@gnb.ca)

Analytical Work
In view of the rigorous analytical framework established as part of the regional gateway initiative, the province has been involved in various studies associated with the development of the Atlantic Gateway.

Other News
The New Brunswick Department of Transportation is acting as a resource member as part of the Southern New Brunswick Gateway Council. The Council was established in the spring of 2008 to address all marine, road, rail and air transportation modes in southern NB from Moncton through to the St. Stephen - Maine border.

A number of transportation policy and regulatory changes have been implemented in NB in support of the Atlantic Gateway including:

• LCV's to be permitted on all 4-lane highways in NB in summer 2008.
• Oversize loads can now be moved on a permitted basis at night and on weekends.
• Permitted use of new generation single-wide tires on certain NB highways.

Nova Scotia
Provincial Representative: David Oxner (NS Department of Transportation & Public Works)
E-mail contact: oxnerdb@gov.ns.ca

The development of the Atlantic Gateway continues to be a high priority for the Government of Nova Scotia. The province continues to engage in a variety of initiatives to support Atlantic Gateway.

Key activities include:

Dalhousie University's Atlantic Gateway Initiative

Dalhousie University recently launched a unique gateway initiative through its new Centre for International Trade and Transportation. Dalhousie's Atlantic Gateway Initiative is a two-year partnership between the Centre for International Trade and Transportation, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and the province of Nova Scotia. The province has invested $50,000 and ACOA $115,000 in the two-year pilot project.

By providing research and educational support, the initiative's aim is to encourage the academic community to help develop the Atlantic Gateway strategy. The pilot will include more courses, working papers and an international conference. A steering committee, with representatives from the three partners and the academic and private sectors, will provide input during the two-year pilot. For more information about the program, please click here.

Gateway Priorities

The Province of Nova Scotia has developed, in cooperation with the private sector, an early list of gateway projects to develop the Atlantic Gateway via Nova Scotia. The projects range from a multi-year marketing and business development plan, Burnside Expressway, Twinning 104 from Antigonish to Canso Causeway, Transloading Centre in Burnside, Air Cargo facility at the Halifax Stanfield International Airport, Rail Corridor, Centre of Excellence for training and research, dredging of Sydney Harbour and port improvements in Halifax. The province continues to work with its partners and Transport Canada to prepare a detailed business case for each project.

Other key priorities include:

• Transport Canada's rail services review
• Business development activities
• Stakeholder engagement strategy
• Long Combination Vehicles (LCVs) Pilot
• Continued work with private sector partners to develop Nova Scotia's gateway assets
• Continued work with federal government to identify gateway projects for funding

Prince Edward Island
Provincial Representative: Janice Pettit (PEI Executive Council Office)
E-mail contact: jspettit@gov.pe.ca

The Prince Edward Island provincial government supports the development of the Atlantic Gateway and continues to participate in regional studies, stakeholder sessions and marketing initiatives. Island stakeholders have been engaged to assist in the development of P.E.I.'s unique response to the Atlantic Gateway initiative.

In addition to transportation infrastructure, PEI's interest in the gateway also lies within other areas of opportunity such as skills and training, marketing, and expanding cruise capacity to increase our economic development opportunities, while also benefitting the region.

There is excitement about the gateway in P.E.I. and the opportunity to invest in initiatives that will grow our economy.

Newfoundland & Labrador
Provincial Representative: Cameron Bodnar (NL Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development)
E-mail contact: cameronbodnar@gov.nl.ca

The Provincial Government, in coordination with the Federal Government, participated in an initial set of consultations with select stakeholders in May 2008. As a result of these meetings, the Provincial Government is helping to facilitate focused studies to evaluate local capacity constraints in Corner Brook and Placentia Bay. Preparations are underway to continue building on these sessions with a series of round table discussions on the Atlantic Gateway with local stakeholders. It is anticipated that the feedback from these sessions will help identify additional provincial gateway priorities, including opportunities consistent with its infrastructure strategy, export strategy, Innovation Strategy, and the Northern Strategic Plan for Labrador.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador supports the ongoing work associated with the development of the Atlantic Gateway Strategy and is actively participating in all of the various committees and studies associated with the development of the Atlantic Gateway Strategy.

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Date Modified:

2011-04-01