I guess it’s a case of good news, bad news. The confusion and angst surrounding the difference between Atlantica and the Atlantic Gateway is raging in certain circles. The good news is that seven years ago, most people had never heard of either.

To add to the confusion, the Halifax Gateway Council is doing research and
setting out a plan of global and domestic promotion, marketing and sales to bring the city’s port facilities to full capacity.

There is tremendous clarity revealed in this issue of Progress on Canada’s
national transportation and supply chain challenges and opportunities vis a vis the Pacific and Atlantic gateways.

And yet we have politicians at all levels, economic development leaders, and
entrepreneurs all wondering: what should they put their efforts behind? Atlantica, the Atlantic Gateway or the Halifax Gateway?

There is a right answer. It is “Yes.”

None of the three is the same. Yet none of the three exists without the other two.
And all are intellectually and physically necessary if the northeast region of North
America ever hopes to realize on its potential.

Atlantica is the most difficult to comprehend because there is no structure. It’s a big idea that involves individuals and organizations that have shared similar fates for the past 150 years coming together to grow our economy, diversify our communities, and
create prosperity.

It involves businesses, educators, governments, unions, hospitals, social and environmental agencies and anybody else who wants to get onboard for that matter.

Atlantica is simply a new way of thinking

(or if you know the history of the region, thinking more like our early 19th century ancestors) for those living in southeastern Quebec, northern New England and Atlantic Canada. We can no longer think as three disaffected, isolated regions. We need to think as one mighty region connected through geography, experience, assets, enterprise and historical roots.

Atlantica consists of networks and ports and airports and highways and railways
and entrepreneurs and big thinkers and access to markets and capital. We have it all and if we have more people thinking in a positive new way about ourselves and our place in a global economy, then we will be prosperous, relevant and influential. And we will do it on our terms.

The Halifax Gateway Council is a group of vested interests committed to making
the Port of Halifax the key hub for the shipment of goods both to and from North America. For these interests not to pursue that agenda would concede our natural advantages to the Atlantic ports in the U.S. Shame on us if we let that happen again.

The Atlantic Gateway is a national issue. Canada needs an Atlantic Gateway to
grow and flourish if the whole country is to realize on its greatness.

How can a nation with so much Pacific and Atlantic coastline invest only in a
Pacific Gateway? The Atlantic Gateway is much closer to major markets in North
America as well as Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, and Southwest Asia. This isn’t us against the west. It’s about making all of Canada a more competitive, prosperous, and desirable country.

The three initiatives are connected but operate on different levels. But they all
have to work together. They all require commitment, understanding, faith in new ideas, and private and public investment. Let’s just get on with it.