Photo: Sean Fraser is the Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
The Atlantic Economic Panel, an independent group of business leaders, has released “Bolder Ambitions: Greater Prosperity for All,” a report with seven recommendations seeking to promote the region’s economic growth, productivity, and ability to compete and attract investors.
In its report, the panel suggests that the region:
- Take a “One Atlantic Canada” approach to economic issues
- Make speedier project decisions a competitive advantage
- Create an integrated regional electricity system
- Fully develop natural resources
- Win the competition for talent
- Adopt a business growth mindset, driven by productivity and artificial intelligence (AI)
- Establish a $1 billion Atlantic prosperity fund
According to a news release from the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), the panel’s recommendations aim to help the region scale AI adoption, improve regulatory processes, and tackle the financing gap.
More on Atlantic Economic Panel
Established in November 2025, the panel is composed of seven business leaders from across the region: Don Mills, Cathy Bennett, Joyce Carter, Mike Cassidy, J. Scott McCain, Chief Terry Richardson, and Anne Whelan.
“Last year, I asked seven Atlantic Canadian leaders to take an honest look at our economy and tell us the hard truths, not simply what we wanted to hear,” said Sean Fraser, federal justice minister and attorney general and minister responsible for the ACOA, in the news release. “This report is their answer.”
“We are grateful to Minister Fraser for giving this Panel the independence to take an honest, unvarnished look at Atlantic Canada's economy,” added Mills, the panel’s chair. “What we found is a region with the people, resources and entrepreneurial spirit to compete with anyone in the world – and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring prosperity to every part of it, rural and urban alike.”
The panel unveiled the report at an event in Riverview, New Brunswick. Apart from panel members, attendees included Susan Holt, New Brunswick’s premier; Tim Houston, Nova Scotia’s premier; Atlantic economic development ministers; business and community leaders; and Indigenous representatives.
The federal government said it would consider the panel’s recommendations and decide which recommendations have the potential for swift action, when regional collaboration is necessary, and where governments, businesses, and other partners can adjust existing approaches.
Atlantic Economic Forum next year
To assist with the efforts to improve prosperity in Atlantic Canada, Fraser also announced federal support of almost $400,000 for St. Francis Xavier University to host an Atlantic Economic Forum in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, from May 31, 2027, to June 2, 2027.
The ACOA noted that the forum will unite regional and national leaders, who will further discuss ideas to spur Atlantic Canada’s economic growth, identify relevant opportunities, and address areas for improvement.
“Now is the time to build on this momentum and work together to help businesses in the Atlantic region forge connections, grow, and build a more competitive regional economy,” said Dominic LeBlanc, minister responsible for Canada-US trade, intergovernmental affairs, internal trade, and One Canadian Economy, in the ACOA’s news release.
More finance news
Here are some other news stories involving finance.
In July, Joël Lightbound, federal minister of government transformation, public works, and procurement, and Mélanie Joly, federal minister of industry, announced the launch of the first series of measures under the Small Business Procurement Program.
In February, the Nova Scotia Department of Finance and Treasury Board announced the introduction of the Financial Measures Act (2026), creating an independent dispute resolution service with binding decisions for investment-related complaints under the Securities Act amendments.
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