Atlantica

Below you will find highlights of just some of the AIMS publications, commentaries, events and activities related to Atlantica: the International Northeast Economic Region (AINER). Please check through the postings below or the library listings found at the left of the screen to see the full scope of AIMS’ work on Atlantica.

Hot Topics
13-Dec-2010
Barbara B. Pike
Based on testimony to a Select Committee of the House of Commons, this Commentary makes the case for the free flow of electricity across provincial borders so hydro from Labrador can power homes in Toronto, not New York.
14-Apr-2010
AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill says he is in favour of a proposal new container terminal for Melfrod in Nova Scotia, but only it if is completely privately funded.
The sixth edition of AIMS' public policy magazine Ideas Matter takes a revised look at Atlantica and provides an update on what has been accomplished and what is left to do.
24-Feb-2010
AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill explains in this article what is holding up the Atlantic Gateway strategy. He says there isn't a vision and the region hasn't shown it can work together.
Books & Papers
07-Oct-2009
John Huang
It's the second largest harbour in the world, yet the Port of Halifax is far from being considered one of the busiest. However, its importance to the city and the region could be significant as a generator of economic growth. It needs a kick start, and now during this downturn may be just the time. In Go East Go West, John Huang reviews the routes to get goods from Asia to North America, and examines what needs to get done to make Halifax a significant link.
Stephen Kymlicka
This Paper, the 4th in the AIMS Atlantic Port Series, looks at the port typology and determines where the Port of Halifax fits.
Marry Brooks
In this Research Paper, Dr. Mary Brooks looks at Canada's shipbuilding industry and the damage done to the shipping industry by outdated cabotage legislation in the US and Canada.
Art Woolf
Vermont is driving retail business out of state with its sales tax. The Atlantica project is examining the International Northeast as one interconnected economic zone. As part of this multi-year research initiative, AIMS is releasing A RIVER DIVIDES IT: A Comparative Analysis of Retailing in the Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire authored by Art Woolf, Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Vermont.
Gordon L. Weil
THE ATLANTICA POWER MARKET: A Plan for Joint Action by Gordon L. Weil argues that the region is primed for the development of a more competitive regional market for electricity. The problem he considers is how to get the provinces and states to operate their power grids to promote the development of this market.
Charles Cirtwill
As a gateway to North America for world container traffic, the port of Halifax is dying a slow, lingering death. For the past ten years, its share of the North Atlantic market has stagnated. This stagnation has been caused by a failure to achieve real privatization in port governance. Despite supposed efforts at commercialization of ports in Canada, the federal government retains strict centralized control on ports and port policy. This is a drag on innovation, efficiency, and investment.
Commentary
07-Nov-2008
Brian Lee Crowley
The compelling case for free trade. How trade makes us rich as well as free. Based on a talk to the North America Works Conference in Kansas City by Brian Lee Crowley.
23-Jun-2008
Brian Lee Crowley
This Commentary is based on remarks by AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley as the Distinguished Speaker at the 2008 Sumner Bernstein Forum for International Understanding.
13-Jan-2006
It's just days from the federal election, days of political promises and political finger-pointing. In this series of commentaries, AIMS lays out the public policy issues that will mean make a difference in Atlantic Canada. It is not a wish list for handouts or preferential treatment. Collectively they are a request that whoever forms the new government thoroughly scrutinize and quantify the actual effects of existing policies. We believe that such an examination will lead to the same conclusions that many authors published by AIMS have arrived at over the past several years.
26-Oct-2003
Brian Lee Crowley
Momentum builds in the Atlantica project as a variety of initiatives bring people together from both sides of the Canada - US border
21-May-2003
Brian Lee Crowley
AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley was again in 2003 a guest panellist at the annual retreat of senior managers of the federal Department of Finance that took place in Cornwall, Ontario. Four panellists were set the task of painting a picture for the Finance officials of the main policy challenges facing the country.
09-Apr-2002
Derek Oland
Derek Oland, a long time friend and supporter of AIMS, recently spoke to the Empire Club in Toronto about the lost opportunities of regional trans-national trade initiatives. Speaking about the beleagured economy in Atlantic Canada, Oland was quick to point out that it wasn’t always this way.
In the Media
23-Nov-2010
The agreement between Emera and the Newfoundland and Labrador government to development the first phase of the Lower Churchill hydro project is welcome news. AIMS President & CEO Charles Cirtwill explains how this is resource royalties spent well.
26-Jan-2010
As the NB government considers tax free zones, this article points out that it is a policy considered in a recent AIMS study.
27-Mar-2007
Maine Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins Media Release
21-May-2002
“Free and fair trade will prevail” was the promise Deputy Prime Minister John Manley made to his Halifax audience during the highly successful Economic Leadership Speaker Series event, held on May 15, 2002 and co-sponsored by AIMS. Mr. Manley discussed the need for an aggressive stance by Canada when negotiating settlements for the boiling trade disputes with the United States.
10-Apr-2002
In his regular column appearing simultaneously in the Chronicle Herald and the Moncton Times and Transcript, AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley, shares his recent frustrating experience while crossing the Canada/U.S. border. With new areas of border cooperation constantly being explored between our two nations — including an eventual jointly administered continental perimeter, having U.S. customs inspectors working in the Port of Halifax — the importance of intelligent border priorities is crucial. Crowley explains how the current focus on what the U.S. does at the border has caused Canadians to lose sight of their own country’s priorities. For a country whose livelihood depends on free trade with its neighbour to the south, Canada’s border operations look unorganized and petty to an individual trying to bring in commercial goods in a tiny one-time transaction. Just imagine what a nightmare it must be for those who have to get that $1-billion in commercial trade across the line every day
18-Aug-2001
The potential economic and social benefits that Atlantica offers to Atlantic Canada are highlighted in a recent article in the National Post. In exploring efforts to improve the free flow of people and goods across the Canada-US border, the National Post looks at AIMS' recent Pugwash Thinkers Lodge conference on the Atlantica concept - a cross-border region embracing Atlantic Canada, much of New England, northern New York state and Quebec's Eastern Townships. AIMS President Brian Lee Crowley is quoted in the article as saying "Open borders have signalled a renaissance in Europe's previously neglected regions. A very similar development can and will happen across Canada, and there are few places for which it can be more beneficial than Atlantic Canada." As the National Post reports, elected representatives of the people of Atlantica are very much aware of the benefits of closer ties across the border.
Media Releases
28-Mar-2004
How Vermont’s tax regime drives business to New Hampshire
10-Nov-2003
Closer U.S. ties would create jobs, provide more choice, and promote prosperity
16-Jul-2001
Three-day conference to consider the future of the “International Northeast”
Event Proceedings
12-Nov-2003
AIMS and ECANS present an update on how power markets are evolving, what it means for this region - and which region is the “right” one for electricity purposes.
22-Nov-2002
AIMS pathbreaking conference on the importance of all facets of the Canada-US relationship
15-May-2002
AIMS Economic Leadership Speaker Series welcomes Canada's Deputy Prime Minister to discuss Canada's US agenda.
Newsletters
17-Jun-2004
Urban Chic, Plugging Atlantica into the Emerging Global Network, Social Policy and the New Economy, David Zitner on Health Care Innovation and more.
10-Jun-2004
Nation States and Economic Regions in the Global Network: Michael Gallis at AIMS. Also Nova Scotia's Knowlege Economy, Brian Lee Crowley on taxes and AIMS debates federal NDP leader Jack Layton before Atlantic mayors.
13-May-2004
Atlantica: Moncton’s New Neighbourhood in the Global Economy. AIMS addresses Greater Moncton Chamber’s AGM, Five Big Ideas: AIMS’ Roadmap for Atlantic Prosperity, Brian Lee Crowley's commentary in the National Post on Canada's first aboriginal-run MRI clinic and more.
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