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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
In 2012 ACOA will take a
serious look at the effectiveness
and eff iciency of our programs.
CIO: What can the provinces do to
improve the workforce?
BV: First of all, immigration
alone cannot solve the challenges
we have. We have seen our youth
leave
Atlantic
Canada—we
export our brains too rapidly. We
would rather see the provinces
more effectively train. I believe
so much in the capacity of
Atlantic Canadians. We would
like to re-train the workforce,
and exploit the talents of those
workers who have lost their jobs,
older or younger.
Finally, we are trying to bridge
the gap in capital between
traditional and new and
emerging sectors. We produced
the Innovation Fund. We should
embrace the innovation sector,
and encourage the youth of
Atlantic Canada to get the
education they need to get into
skilled positions.
training and education, equip
them with the skills, and seize
those opportunities. Those SMEs
that become trained for the
supply chain will be able to
compete in other jobs—if
companies can be ready for that,
they will be ready for the world.
And ultimately, the goal is to
create more jobs and better
standard of living for people in
Atlantic Canada.
CIO: How do the provinces tackle
skill shortages and training to get
the right people onto the right
jobs?
BV: Even though the Canadian
economy is doing well the global
economy (especially Europe) is
turbulent. If we look at our
traditional industries in Atlantic
Canada like forestry and tour-
ism, as well as mining, we are
still faced with issues like
shortages of skilled labour and
the best way we can tackle that
is to work with private and
public partners and stakehold-
ers to provide educational
opportunities.
We can overcome these
challenges but we need to
become more productive, com-
petitive and innovative. We need
to diversify our export markets
and our production in our major
sectors.
CIO: Do you think there is
generally an optimistic future for
Atlantic Canada right now?
BV: When I look at the
numbers in our provinces, there
are opportunities all over that
didn’t exist in the past, during
the recession and coming out of
it. There is optimism in Atlantic
Canada. And the government,
they do not want to just throw
money at the provinces—we want
to make sure our programming
can work eff iciently for the
provinces and people.
“
Finally, we are trying
to bridge the gap in
capital between
traditional and new
and emerging sectors.”
Pictured here, at the plant in Edmundston, are from left to right:
Carl Pelletier, technician for Enseignes Pattison Sign Group,
Madeleine Dubé, New Brunswick’s Minister of Health and Bernard
Valcourt, Minister of State for ACOA and La Francophonie.
EDMUNDSTON, N. B. – January 16, 2012 – ACOA Minister Bernard Valcourt and Madeleine Dubé, New Brunswick’s Minister
of Health announced a combined federal/provincial investment of $231,000 for Enseignes Pattison Sign Group in
Edmundston today. The investment supports improvements to the company’s manufacturing facilities in addition to the
acquisition of new equipment to increase productivity.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES ATLANTIC CANADA