The Atlantic Economic Forum - A Synopsis - Charles McMillan

And, we can be grateful for his vision and act of faith in the economic future of Atlantic Canada when over four decades ago, he created the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA): “He was very good at seeing potential.” LAUNCHING THE FORUM: THE ROSTER OF SPEAKERS The Honourable Frank McKenna, vice chair, TD Bank, former premier of New Brunswick, and former chair of the StFX Board of Governor. [...] McKenna noted the former prime minister’s tremendous contributions to Atlantic Canada, a legacy that includes the Atlantic Energy Accord, the Confederation Bridge, rebuilding the Canadian military with the shipbuilding program for frigates, the Halifax-Dartmouth harbour clean-up, locating the GST tax centre in Summerside, PEI, and the establishment of ACOA, with headquarters in Moncton. [...] More immigration and population growth are the twin signs of a new, outward-looking attitude in Atlantic Canada, despite the scars of the global pandemic and Hurricane Fiona’s devastation (damage was done to up to 40 percent of forest lands, soil erosion increased significantly, and the storm impacted the need for new housing construction and damaged many public buildings). [...] The final session of the AEF served as a summary of topics and themes—more coordination and policy integration for the entire region, better use and application of digital technologies, emphasis on community participation in planning and execution of policy initiatives. [...] Charles McMillan, AEF rapporteur 15 In a short summary of the takeaways from the AEF’s speeches and discussions, Charlottetown’s Charles McMillan (whose parents were StFX alumni), author of the new book, The Age of Consequence: The Ordeals of Public Policy in Canada, gave a rapporteur’s view of lessons learned.