Economic Development

Charles Cirtwill, AIMS acting president, says that New Bruswick's new business ambassador program is certainly creative, but it needs to be backed by business-friendly policies.

AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill warns that the federal Atlantic Gateway fund may result in Atlantic provinces battling for handouts instead of co-operating to strengthen the region.

In this Chronicle Herald editorial, AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill's comments that government should be cautious about funding private projects including business related to the Atlantic Gateway.

In his fortnightly column, AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill takes on the naysayers, who constantly decry the past injustices they perceive the region has suffered from Ottawa. He says by constantly bemoaning the past, we miss the opportunities of today and tomorrow. Instead, we should be looking to improve ourselves and increase our power so that the voice of Atlantic Canada means more on Parliament Hill.

In the rush to grab a piece of Asian trade, Atlantic shipping ports are in danger of working against each other say AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill. He explains that if the region wants to make money from the opportunities, it needs to make sure it's thinking about the customer's needs, not just its own.

In this newspaper article, AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill notes that the government's call to invest in Nova Scotian ports ignores the fact that there is a lot of spare capacity right now. He says we should try to reverse declining shipping numbers by using what we already have.

The release of the federal government's report on the Atlantic Gateway is generating a lot of buzz around the Maritimes. There is potential for significant regional growth. However, AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill says he's concerned that the Atlantic Gateway may be used to have public finances fund private interests.

Though New Brunswick certainly stands to benefit from the Atlantic gateway, AIMS acting President Charles Cirtwill explains in this newspaper article that Halifax will be the primary beneficiary of the project.

A report on the Atlantic gateway will likely see Halifax play a primary role in the project. AIMS acting president, Charles Cirtwill, notes that though Halifax will be the primary beneficiary of the gateway, New Brunswick willl also see benefits that result from infrastructure improvements.

As Atlantic Canadians wait to hear what kind of plans the federal government has for the Atlantic gateway, AIMS acting president Charles Cirtwill observes that just handing out money won't build strong businesses.