Food for thought
Partnership examines ways to make Island’s economy grow
Two Atlantic Canada MPs met with representatives from P.E.I.’s Food Island Partnership (FIP) and local food industry stakeholders in Charlottetown Friday to discuss the role that food plays in Atlantic Canada’s economy.
They also discussed how governments and industry can work together to help the food industry grow to play more of a leading role in economic growth for the region.
“The Atlantic Growth Strategy is a blueprint for economic growth – it’s a collaborative approach between governments and industry, and since it was launched just over a year ago, we’ve already started to see positive results,” said Scott Brison, president of the Treasury Board and MP for Kings-Hants in Nova Scotia, who attended the meeting with P.E.I. MP Wayne Easter
“I am pleased to meet and work with our food industry to explore ways to help it grow our economy and create good jobs for Atlantic Canadians.”
Atlantic Canada has a strong and diverse food industry with deep historical roots, and it has great potential for growth. With the federal and provincial governments’ focus on economic growth through the Atlantic Growth Strategy, and the findings of the Dominic Barton-led Advisory Council on Economic Growth on the growth potential of the agri-food sector, the time is right to look at how the region’s food industry can meet that potential.
John Rowe, chairman of the Food Island Partnership and president of Island Abbey Foods Ltd., says the partnership is well-positioned to help lead this unprecedented opportunity for growth in the food industry.
“We look forward to working with the federal government and Atlantic provinces to ensure that our region’s quality food products have a brighter future than ever before.”
All agreed there is tremendous potential for Atlantic Canadian food products in foreign markets. The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) will remove tariffs on these products, and growing economies in other parts of the world are creating more and more demand for quality food products.