Atlantic growth strategy highlights digital health, immigration and trade

Atlantic premiers and federal ministers made a series of announcements about immigration, trade and health care at a meeting in Summerside, P.E.I., on Tuesday.

Federal Agriculture Minister LawrenceMacAulayand P.E.I. Premier WadeMacLauchlanco-hosted the Atlantic Growth Strategy Leadership Committee meeting.

The pair werejoined by New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant, Newfoundland Premier Dwight Ball and Nova Scotia Premier StephenMcNeil, as well as a number of federal cabinet ministers.

Trade mission to China

MacLauchlansaid an Atlantic Canada delegationwill visit China in November on atrade missionto promote food and tourism.

"In the case of Prince Edward Island, we have been growing quite dramatically in fact, our trade in terms of sales to China and we've also been growing our tourism from [there] and we're looking to grow both of those," he said.

Trade relations with the U.S. werediscussed, but MacAulaysaid diversifying trade at this time is important.

"We have great products and we need to make sure the rest of the world knows what we have," he said.

'Future looks bright'

Immigration was top of mind,as the ministers launched a pilot project in 2016 to promote newcomers to the region.

Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bainssaid 16,000 jobs were createdsince the strategy wasimplemented.

"Our common goal was to build a more innovative, diverse and globally competitive economy," he said.

Bains said that a record9,000 newcomers have immigratedto Atlantic Canada.

Indigenoustourism was also mentioned as something the regionwas looking into launching.

"Werecognizethat we can and must do more but the future looks bright," he said.

Digital Health

Health Minister GinettePetitpas Taylor made an announcement about health care in the region.

She said that three out of the four provinces signed a bilateralagreement to provide federal funding for mental health and addiction.

Petitpas Taylor said discussions with Nova Scotia were still in the works.

Infoway,a not-for-profit that promotesaccess to digital health care, is investing $70 million dollarsto Access Atlantic.

The investment will createa digital health system across the province and patients will now be able to access prescriptions and health care recordsonline.

Skilled workers

Minister of Immigration Ahmed Hussenoutlined the successes of both the immigration pilot project and the Study and Stay program.

"We've had over 900 permanent residence applications andoverhalfof them already, have beenapprovedto AtlanticCanada," he said.

The federal governmentwill also increase the size of the pilot program by 500 spaces, so businesses can bring an additional 500 skilled workers on a first come, first served basis.

Hussen said this is the first pilot program that is employer-led and encourages families to come so they will stay here.

"This program is essential to our country's future," he said.

The goal reiterated by those at the meeting was that investing in internationaltalent isimportant in ordertoattractand keep skilled workers.

When asked why it was difficult to retain immigrants to the region, Hussensaid funding has increased every year to enable newcomers to settle here.

He said uptakehas dramatically increased because more peopleare finding out about the advantages of the program.

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