Media Advisory
Economy Main Focus of Atlantic Mayors’ Congress
(Thursday, March 30/06)-- Economic development and growth will be the main focus of the two-day Atlantic Mayors’ Congress meeting in Halifax this week, Mayor Peter Kelly said today.
Mayor Kelly said the Atlantic Canadian economy, for the most part, is strong now, but Atlantic Mayors want to ensure the appropriate strategies are in place to ensure this economic development and growth continue into the future.
“People are our greatest resource. That’s why we have to focus on maintaining an educated and skilled workforce. Governments must co-operate and work together and we must have immigration policies that encourage more people to come and settle in the Atlantic Region, set-up new businesses and raise their families here, “ Mayor Kelly said.
The sessions, which begin Friday, will be highlighted by panel discussions on “Immigration in Atlantic Canada”,“Growing the Atlantic Economy”, the “Emergence of Corridors-Economic Prosperity” and the “Atlantic Canada Tourism Strategy”. Representatives from economic think tanks, government and economic development agencies will participate in the discussions.
Special guest speakers include Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay, also Minister Responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and Karen Oldfield, President of the Halifax Port Authority.
Agenda attached.
–30–
Mayor Peter Kelly
Chair, Atlantic Mayors’ Congress
(902) 490-4010
***************************************************************
AGENDA
Halifax Regional Municipality
Thursday, March 30, 2006
1. 6:00 - 7:15 PM Welcome Juno Reception - Halifax Hall - Halifax City Hall
2. 7:30 - 9:00 PM Dinner - Windows at World Trade and Convention Centre
Guest Speaker: Karen Oldfield, President and Chief Executive Officer, Halifax Port Authority
Friday, March 31, 2006
1. 8:30 - 9:00 AM Breakfast - Halifax Hall - Halifax City Hall
2. 8:55 - 9:00 AM Group Photo
3. 9:00 - 9:05 AM Opening Remarks by AMC Chair, Mayor Peter Kelly
4. 9:05 - 9:55 AM Update: Municipal Units………………………………….ORAL
5. 9:55 - 10:00 AM Approval of Minutes from AMC meeting in
Charlottetown, PEI, October 14 and 15, 2005…………TAB 2
6. 10:00 - 10:05 AM Additions and or Deletions to the Agenda
Business Arising from Minutes:
7. 10:05 - 10:15 AM Report from Chairperson…………………………………TAB 3
- AMC Budget Report
- AMC Membership: Fee Increase
8. 10:15 - 10:30 AM Break
9. 10:30 - 12:00 PM Panel Discussion: Immigration in Atlantic Canada......TAB 4
- Please refer to the Atlantic Immigration Conference
Final Report -
- Elizabeth Mills, Executive Director
Nova Scotia Office of Immigration
- Elaine Noonan, Executive Director
Prince Edward Island Population Secretariat
- Neil Jacobsen, Chief Operating Officer
Enterprise Saint John
- Nellie Burke, Immigration Policy and Planning
NL Human Resources, Labour and Employment -
participating via teleconference
10. 12:00 - 1:30 PM Working Luncheon: Little Fish Restaurant
Results - AMC Survey 2005……………………………..TAB 5
Economic Development Info…..…………………………TAB 6
11. 1:30 - 3:00 pm Panel Discussion: Growing the Atlantic Economy…....ORAL
Stephen Dempsey, Moderator
- Overview of the Atlantic Economy -
Elizabeth Beale, President,
Atlantic Provinces Economic Council
- Moncton Update -
Ben Champoux, Business Development Specialist
City of Moncton
- Atlantica Update -
Brian Lee Crowley, President,
Atlantic Institute of Market Studies
12. 3:00 - 3:15 PM Break
13. 3:15 - 4:45 PM - Emergence of Corridors - Economic Prosperity
James Quigley, President,
Atlantic Provinces Chambers’ of Commerce
- Bangor-Saint John Corridor Update -
Neil Jacobsen, Chief Operating Officer
Enterprise Saint John
- Moncton-Halifax Corridor Update -
Stephen Dempsey, President & CEO
Greater Halifax Partnership
14. 4:45 PM Adjournment
15. 6:30 - 7:00 PM Reception - Halifax Hall - Halifax City Hall
16. 7:00 - 9:00 PM Dinner - Halifax Hall - Halifax City Hall
Guest Speaker: Peter G. MacKay, Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada
Opportunities Agency
Saturday, April 1, 2006
1. 7:45 - 8:15 AM Bus departs Lord Nelson Hotel at 7:50 AM for Fairlanes
Bowling Centre,
Halifax Shopping Centre …………...…TAB 7
2. 8:15 - 8:30 AM Continental Breakfast - Fairlanes Bowling Centre
3. 8:30 - 9:15 AM Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake -
Media Challenge
4. 9:20 - 9:45 AM Bus departs Fairlanes Bowling Centre for City Hall
5. 9:45 - 10:00 AM Added Items:
6. 9:45 - 10:00 AM Mayor Peter J. Kelly, Halifax Regional Municipality
Emergency Preparedness Update ………………TAB 8
7. 10:00 - 10:30 AM Mayor Basil Stewart, Summerside
Croisiere Transboreale Cruise ....................………TAB 9
Roger Dumas - Presentation
8. 10:30 - 12:00 PM Panel Discussion: Atlantic Canada Tourism Strategy ..ORAL
Pat Lyall, Moderator
- Kelliann Dean, Nova Scotia Deputy Minister
Tourism Culture and Heritage
- Brian Alexander, New Brunswick Deputy Minister
Tourism and Parks
- Honourable Philip Brown
Prince Edward Island Minister of Tourism
- Honourable Tom Hedderson
NL Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
9. 12:00 - 12:15 PM Wrap up - Future Agenda Items
- Dates for Congress Meeting
Kings County, Nova Scotia
10. 12:15 PM Adjournment
