The Benefits Blueprint study outlined a potential economic boom to the New Brunswick economy fueled by the energy sector. It highlighted 16 areas for public investment in social and physical infrastructure that would be needed for the province to reap as much benefit as possible.
The Atlantica region might not be an oil patch, but as this article in the Bangor Daily News explains the wind could prove to be the region's renewable source of energy.
Karen Oldfield's, President and CEO of the Halifax Port Authority, Speech on the State of the Port
A recent "open skies" agreement between the US and EU could benefit the Atlantica region. Given that many larger airports are currently at capacity, the growth in new routes that should result is likely to link smaller airports between the two continents.
Citing problems with CN, Caterpillar has decided to move from Halifax's port to Norfolk.
The formation of another Atlantic Gateway Council in Atlantic Canada carries risks warns AIMS executive Vice President Charles Cirtwill. He says while it's a good thing that the public and private sectors are starting to work together, there is also a risk that the councils will work against each other.
Most of the increase in trade flows across the borders in North America over the past couple of decades has piled up along land crossings that are now facing congestion. A new crossing facility in the Atlantica region is scheduled for completion by 2010 and will help with some of the flow.
Crowley finishes his term as the Clifford Clark Visiting Economist at federal Department of Finance
With the prospects of a new container port in Millford, N.S., the twinning of the highway between Saint John and St. Stephen, N.B., and a third border crossing in Calais, a proposed new one billion dollar highway linking New Brunswick with Quebec will generate savings in transportation costs for the Atlantica region.
While the trucking association says Atlantic Canadians should get ready to pay a lot more for everything because of high fuel costs, AIMS Director of Research Ian Munro points out rising oil prices may provide another opportunity. He says it could prompt more transload facilities in the region.