2019-20 Departmental Plan
Minister's message

It is my pleasure to present the 2019-20 Departmental Plan for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). We are working across the Innovation, Science and Economic Development portfolio to support and develop the innovation ecosystem, strengthen science to support evidence-based decision making, champion the tourism sector, and help small businesses start up and scale up.

Our government committed to invest in Canadians to grow our economy, strengthen the middle class, and help those working hard to join it. With ACOA, we have delivered on those commitments over the last four years.

In Atlantic Canada, ACOA will follow through on these commitments by helping businesses and sectors pursue and adopt new technologies, including clean technology and automation, to become more productive and competitive. The Agency will ensure that high-growth companies have the support they need to reach their full potential, and will help more firms increase their activity in export markets to boost trade and attract foreign investment. To ensure the region has access to a strong and skilled workforce, ACOA will work with its partners to draw and retain talent, while further building an inclusive economy by strengthening relations with Indigenous economic development organizations. In addition, ACOA will help to develop and diversify Atlantic Canada’s traditional sectors, including seafood and agri-food, ocean resources and tourism, to maximize the economic benefits of the region’s natural assets.

Ultimately, the portfolio’s work will create the right environment to generate ideas, commercialize those ideas, and give Canadians the skills to access the jobs and opportunities presented by today’s economy.

Together with Canadians of all backgrounds, regions and generations, we are building a strong culture of innovation to position Canada as a leader in the global economy.