{"id":60526,"date":"2025-11-25T12:55:06","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=60526"},"modified":"2025-11-25T12:55:06","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:55:06","slug":"atlantic-economic-panel-launched-to-drive-long-term-growth-across-region","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=60526","title":{"rendered":"Atlantic Economic Panel launched to drive long-term growth across region"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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HALIFAX:<\/strong> Atlantic Canada is entering what federal officials and business leaders describe as one of the most pivotal economic moments in the region\u2019s history \u2014 and a new panel of well-known leaders has been assembled to help shape what comes next.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada, and the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), has appointed seven respected figures from across Atlantic Canada to form the first-ever Atlantic Economic Panel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their mandate: chart a clear, practical path for job growth, productivity, and long-term economic strength in a region facing rapid technological change and shifting global markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are bringing together top local business leaders because we want Atlantic Canadians to get their fair share of the opportunities coming to our region,\u201d said Fraser. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis work cannot fall on government alone and I am thankful these leaders are stepping up for our region.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Panel Members<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The panel includes prominent business and community leaders with extensive experience in entrepreneurship, innovation, public service, and scaling companies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  • Don Mills (Chair)<\/strong> \u2013 President of Crane Cove Holdings; co-founder of Narrative Research; former CEO of Corporate Research Associates; co-author of Toward Prosperity<\/em>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Cathy Bennett<\/strong> \u2013 Co-founder of Sandpiper Ventures; former CEO of Bennett Group; recognized leader in tech, energy, and public policy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Joyce Carter<\/strong> \u2013 President and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority and a key figure in aviation-driven economic development.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Mike Cassidy<\/strong> \u2013 CEO of the Cassidy Group, which includes Coach Atlantic and Maritime Bus, and a longtime multi-sector entrepreneur.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • J. Scott McCain<\/strong> \u2013 Chairman of McCain Foods and President of JSM Capital.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Chief Terry Richardson<\/strong> \u2013 Chief of Pabineau First Nation; former CAF member; advocate for community health and mining-sector opportunity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Anne Whelan<\/strong> \u2013 CEO of Seafair Capital; lead director with the Bank of Canada; corporate director and community leader.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

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    What the Panel Will Do<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Beginning in 2026, panel members will meet with residents, businesses, and community organizations across the four Atlantic provinces. Their work will focus on identifying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    • Which sectors \u2014 such as clean energy, defence, and tourism \u2014 are best positioned for growth<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Barriers limiting the region\u2019s economic potential<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Regulatory, structural, and cultural challenges facing businesses<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Opportunities to boost productivity and support small and medium-sized enterprises<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      The group will prepare a single, comprehensive report<\/strong> with recommendations for both government and private-sector partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      The final submission is expected by late Summer 2026<\/strong>, with the report publicly released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Mills said Atlantic Canada is in a rare moment of opportunity \u2014 one that requires boldness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cAs David Campbell and I have written in our recent book Toward Prosperity<\/em>, the region is at a moment in time to take advantage of the momentum that has been established,\u201d he noted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \u201cIt is my hope that the Atlantic Economic Panel will contribute to that effort and momentum.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      Why It Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Ottawa says the panel\u2019s work will align with Canada\u2019s broader economic goals, from attracting global investment to diversifying trade, while highlighting areas where Atlantic Canada can take a national leadership role. Their recommendations are expected to guide future federal and private-sector decisions around job creation, innovation, and community development across the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Quick Facts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
        \n
      • The Atlantic Economic Panel will operate until September 2026<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Engagement sessions across Atlantic Canada will begin in 2026<\/strong>, with details coming in the new year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • The final report will include practical steps aimed at raising productivity, growing jobs, and strengthening long-term economic growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        HALIFAX: Atlantic Canada is entering what federal officials and business leaders describe as one of the most pivotal economic moments in the region\u2019s history \u2014 and a new panel of well-known leaders has been assembled to help shape what comes next. Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice, Attorney General of Canada, and the minister responsible for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":60528,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12,957],"tags":[4208,9776,9777,9778,3488,9779,4722,48,699],"class_list":["post-60526","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-news","tag-atlantic-canada","tag-atlantic-economic-panel","tag-don-mills","tag-global-markets","tag-halifax-international-airport-authority","tag-job-growth","tag-joyce-carter","tag-n-s","tag-sean-fraser"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60526","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=60526"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60526\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/60528"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=60526"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=60526"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=60526"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}