Atlantic Canada Economies Must Unite: Panel

A new report from the Atlantic Economic Panel has called for the four provinces in Atlantic Canada to act like one regional economy, considering everything together from education, skills training, housing and workforce planning.

The report's seven recommendations include creating a 'One Atlantic Canada' approach to deal with common economic challenges, removing barriers, making project decisions faster, strengthening regional collaboration, and focusing on opportunities that can deliver the greatest benefits for Atlantic Canadians.

The panel also recommends easing the federal government's clampdown on immigration and striking a 'made-in-Atlantic Canada' agreement to keep population growth at around 1.8 per cent, much higher than current levels.

The report targets a desired outcome of doubling exports to Europe to more than $30 billion by 2035, growing the region's share of Canada's defence and security industry to at least 25 per cent, and increasing the value of Atlantic Canada's natural resource economy by at least 50 per cent.