[Haliguy]

Huge potential for trade gateway: report
Last Updated: Friday, October 5, 2007 | 1:39 PM AT
The Canadian Press
A new study concludes that the concept of an Atlantic Gateway will not only enhance economic opportunities for the region but for the country as a whole.

The 144-page report was released today in Halifax by Nova Scotia MP Peter MacKay, the federal minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The study says there is a compelling case for focusing efforts on growing international container trade in the region.

It says the region's already strong transportation infrastructure has the potential to improve links between North America and the emerging economies in China and India.

It concludes that success of the Atlantic Gateway concept depends on transit times, reliability and cost competitiveness, but the concept won't become a reality without collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The business case report was prepared by InterVISTAS Consulting Inc., MariNova Consulting Ltd., and TranSystems Corp.

[kwajo]

Is the Atlantic Gateway you speak of in competition with this article below, or are they part of the same initiative?

Port, city will study possibility of becoming trade corridor

Mike Mullen
Telegraph-Journal
Published Thursday October 4th, 2007
Appeared on page C6

SAINT JOHN - The Saint John Port Authority, in cooperation with the City of Saint John, will undertake a Southern Brunswick Gateway study as a means positioning the area as vital trade corridor.

A gateway is a system of marine, road, rail and air transportation infrastructure that has national importance to global trade.

Consultant Paul Ouiment, executive vice-president of InterVISTAS Consulting Inc., has been engaged by the Port Authority to guide the organization through a planning and research phase that will lead to the formation of a Southern New Brunswick Gateway Council.

InterVISTAS is considered an expert on Canadian gateways, having worked closely with gateway councils in Vancouver, Halifax and southern Ontario.

It will begin preliminary consultations in southern New Brunswick from Tuesday to Friday of next week.

"The southern New Brunswick region - with its border crossing, strong port, airport and rail systems is ideally situated to benefit from increased international trade," Saint John mayor Norm McFarlane said in a Port Authority news release announcing the initiative."By creating a Southern Brunswick Gateway, we are increasing our ability to market this potential to trading partners globally, an make a better case for federal investment in infrastructure."

The gateway initiative came out of a meeting the mayor called to discuss transportation in Greater Saint John.

In addition to the mayor, Veterans Affairs Minister Greg Thompson, Saint John MP Paul Zed and Fundy Royal MP Rob Moore, the study involves industry, the Port Authority, the Harbour Bridge Authority, the Saint John Transit Commission, the Saint John Parking Commission, the Saint John Airport Authority and the New Brunswick Department of Transportation.

Capt. Al Soppitt, president and CEO of the Port Authority, said the Port of Saint John is Atlantic Canada's "most diverse marine gateway and one of the largest ports for cargo throughout the nation.

"While the port's priamry cargo is bulk commodities, it is also a container port and is a major cruise port in Atlantic Canada," he added. "The port is poised for future growth, with projected increases in bulk cargo, opening of the LNG terminal, expansion of postash (shipments) and increases in cruise, and with partners in positioning itself in the proposed Atlantic Gatetway aimed at increasing international trade through Canada's east coast."

McFarlane said the Southern New Brunswick Gateway will help strengthen Canada's competitive position in international commerce. "By marketing our facilities, we will gain critical mass that wil reduce costs, and open new opportunities for other trade and tourism," he said.

He said jobs, increased taxes and a stimulation of regional business are just a few of the potential benefits.

Zed said he was pleased to be a participant in the gateway study group.

"We have proved time and again that by working together as a team, we are able to accomplish great things," he said. "The previous and current federal governments have supported gateway initiatives in other parts of Canada, and I am confident that by working together we will be able to put forward a compelling case for the creation of a Southern New Brunswick Gateway."

[Wishblade]

Atlantic Gateway investment could create 60,000 jobs in eastern Canada


BRIAN FLINN

Investment in the Atlantic Gateway could create 60,000 jobs, according to a business plan ACOA Minister Peter MacKay will release today.

MacKay has scheduled a news conference in Halifax to release a study on the potential impact of upgrading the region's transportation links. A source said the document will make the case for massive federal investment, suggesting it will significantly increase Canada's economy. About 80 per cent of the new jobs will be in the Atlantic region.

British Columbia secured federal gateway funding in 2005. Ottawa pledged $591 million to help the province cope with rapidly expanding Chinese trade.

This year's federal budget promised $2.1 billion for other gateway projects over seven years. Ottawa has already signed a memorandum of understanding for investment in Ontario and Quebec.

The Port of Halifax is currently running at 50 per cent capacity. The new federal study will suggest rail, road and terminal upgrades will draw new customers to the port and other entry points.

Provincial and port officials are travelling to India next week to drum up business. The visit will include signing a new agreement with Chennai, India's second-largest port. The Halifax Port Authority sees trade with the India as its best chance for growth. India's economy is growing rapidly, and Halifax is the closest North American port.

[kwajo]

The Port of Halifax is currently running at 50 per cent capacity. The new federal study will suggest rail, road and terminal upgrades will draw new customers to the port and other entry points.

Provincial and port officials are travelling to India next week to drum up business. The visit will include signing a new agreement with Chennai, India's second-largest port. The Halifax Port Authority sees trade with the India as its best chance for growth. India's economy is growing rapidly, and Halifax is the closest North American port.
I hope the Port of Saint John gets some of this money, Halifax isn't the only large port on the East coast. I mean after all, we did have greater port tonnage than Halifax in 2006, and are growing our terminals as we speak.

[ErickMontreal]

I think there is a Inland port project on the table in the Moncton Int airport too

[Haliguy]

I hope the Port of Saint John gets some of this money, Halifax isn't the only large port on the East coast. I mean after all, we did have greater port tonnage than Halifax in 2006, and are growing our terminals as we speak.

I don't see Saint John and Halifax as the same type of ports. Saint John is more of a feeder port and Halifax is more of a main port. The toonage may be more but Halifax is one of three major ports in Canada Vancouver, Monteal and Halifax when it comes to container traffic 550,000 containers a year. I think the port of Saint John will be incleuded in this gateway concept just like Sydney and the Staight area are. Thjey will all compliament each other.

[kwajo]

True, but even given the container advantage, Saint John in 2006 had a total tonnage of 24,870,000 metric tonnes, while Halifax only shipped 6,753,984 metric tonnes. I think Halifax is a more "significant" port because of the Canadian Forces presence, but I feel like the port's overall importance gets exaggerated because it is within a larger populated city. I mean heck, by next year, the cruise ship traffic will almost be equal too, but I bet no one in Hali realizes that.

Now obviously the numbers are in Saint John's favour because of the oil & gas tonnages, but those are incredibly important, and will only get bigger as the new refinery is built and the LNG terminal goes online. Basically it boils down to Halifax being the major container ship and military port in Atlantic Canada, while Saint John is the major East Coast port for oil, gas, timber and minerals. Again, that fits into your argument about feeder/main ports, but my concern is that the new money will be more focused on the higher-profile market that Halifax caters to, while un-proportionately leaving the resource-based port of Saint John in the lurch.

[Keith P.]

Halifax and Saint John aren't even in the same league. No major carriers call at Saint John and the port has little container capacity in comparison to Halifax. The tonnage numbers are meaningless because of the oil refinery there. Saint John isn't even on the world map for major shipping lines.

[Haliguy]

Halifax and Saint John aren't even in the same league. No major carriers call at Saint John and the port has little container capacity in comparison to Halifax. The tonnage numbers are meaningless because of the oil refinery there. Saint John isn't even on the world map for major shipping lines.


This is true....thats what I was trying to get at.

[Haliguy]

Plus Halifax has the such things as the autoport as well as an oil refinery all be it smaller than the on one in Saint John.

[kwajo]

So just because you guys have more container ship traffic means that our tonnage is meaningless? How much Liquid Natural Gas do you ship? How much potash? How much oil? How many timber products? I might as well say your tonnage numbers are meaningless because they include container terminals.






(pardon my Saint John homerism, to steal a sports term)

[someone123]

How much is a ton of potash worth? How much is a container full of electronics worth?

[mylesmalley]

Honestly, people... this doesn't have to be an us vs. them situation.

If we focus on what each center specializes in, everyone can win. Halifax, indisputably, has one of the deepest harbours in the world. As such, they are able to handle the newest classes of super-ships that carry hundreds or thousands of containers. Saint John is probably better situated as a resource-port with its two oil refineries, natural gas, and even potash. It doesn't need to stop there, either. The inland port initiative in Moncton and Dieppe could maximize the distribution of goods coming from both directions, as Moncton is already well positioned to be a transportation and distribution hub.

Arguing about tonnage and container numbers is counter-productive at best. A much better alternative would be thinking of ways to capitalize on the windfalls such cooperation could produce.

[skyscraper_1]

This money should be more or less focused on one port of entry and the infrastructure to promote its efficient operation and maximum benefits for the region. The last thing we want to see if the over politicization of this money...the old Maritime way of spreading the money equally over the region so that each town has something, but the region as a whole is no further ahead.

Halifax is the natural point of entry or perhaps the strait terminal (because it has room to expand if business takes off) secondary ports like Saint John or Sydney have a role as well.

[Seely32]

Powering the Gateway
Trade: Federal study lays out case for luring more trade through the East Coast

HALIFAX - The port of Saint John and the Greater Moncton airport seem poised to be New Brunswick's main contributions to an economic development plan that could pump thousands of job and billions of dollars into Atlantic Canada.

On Friday a report commissioned by the federal government stressed great potential in a so-called Atlantic Gateway initiative.

The idea is to build the region as an entry and exit point for international commerce.

Stronger marketing and improvements to local infrastructure, it says, will increase the amount of goods that enter local sea and airports and then travel by rail and road to North American markets.

Specifically, the report cites immense potential in growing container traffic from emerging economies in Asia.

The key is to make the Atlantic provinces the key eastern access point for trade coming through the Suez Canal.

"The study clearly demonstrates that an Atlantic gateway would help strengthen the region's economy and Canada's position in international trade," said Peter MacKay, the federal minister responsible the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

"The race is on to capture a growing share of the container trade coming from China, India and the Americas. We need to be better at marketing our assets and we need to be more efficient to win the race," he told a luncheon crowd gathered in a packed downtown Halifax ballroom.

"Success means greater prosperity for Atlantic Canada through a more robust presence and increased participation in international commerce."

According to the study, the economic boost of the gateway could, by 2025, produce 61,100 new jobs, $2.1 billion in wages and $3.4 billion in GDP growth.

Yet most indicators, from the focus of MacKay's speech to the opinion of local regional development experts, points to Nova Scotia, and specifically Halifax, as having the most to gain in direct benefits.

"New Brunswick is very much a secondary (area). That's the message that has to get out here," said Charles Cirtwill, acting president of the Atlantic Institute for Market Studies, a Halifax-based think-tank, following the announcement.

"This isn't a question of does the main gateway go to the port of Saint John, because it simply will never happen," Cirtwill said of Halifax's all-but-declared status as the main peg.

New Brunswick, he predicted, will be the beneficiary mainly of indirect spin-offs, particularly as goods make their way over land - to and from the Nova Scotia capital.

The role of Saint John, the province's largest seaport, is still to be defined. But the report lists it as key to container traffic and boosting the number of cruise ships that visit the area.

Capt. Al Soppitt, the port's president and CEO, hopes Saint John and Halifax can forge a strong partnership as the gateway is developed.

"Together we can form a powerful alliance"¦. We're both (working) under capacity," he said in an interview. "I think there is opportunity for both.

"We're going to make sure Saint John is a leader in this initiative."

InterVISTAS Consulting Inc., the main firm behind the 144-page report, is now set to study the idea of a southern New Brunswick gateway, which will plug into the main project, Soppitt said.

The report also discusses an expected boost in air travel and air cargo. Listed as the province's major airport, the Moncton facility looks primed to be a second hub, behind Stanfield International in Halifax.

Rob Robichaud, the airport's CEO, says he is pleased to see airports mentioned in the plan.

"It makes excellent sense that we would be considered a cargo gateway," he said of site's close proximity to road and rail and warehousing facilities.

"Not all communities will be, on day one, benefiting as much as (perhaps) Halifax," he continued, "but as time progresses more communities will benefit."

MacKay said specific funding amounts and exactly which communities and facilities should expect a cash windfall is all yet to be decided.

In its last budget, the federal government allocated $2.1 billion for so-called for gateway projects - basically efforts to boost trade to and within Canada.

A separate pot of $1 billion dollars has already been invested into gateway projects on the west coast.

Premier Shawn Graham could not comment directly on the report late Friday, having yet to receive a complete copy.

He hopes some of the gateway money will be used to improve the province's highways, which will serve as gateway arteries to the U.S.

Graham rarely refers to the Gateway project - in stark contrast to Nova Scotia's Rodney MacDonald, one of the project's main boosters.

Still, Graham downplayed any slant toward Nova Scotia.

"I feel there is going to be a benefit here to the entire region," he said.

[kwajo]

This money should be more or less focused on one port of entry and the infrastructure to promote its efficient operation and maximum benefits for the region. The last thing we want to see if the over politicization of this money...the old Maritime way of spreading the money equally over the region so that each town has something, but the region as a whole is no further ahead.

What's wrong with the old Maritime way? Spreading out the money seems like a good idea to me, because as you say, various towns/cities get a share. The idea that the region doesn't get "further ahead" is based on the hope that the region becomes Halifax's periphery, not an advanced version of what it is now. Why does development of our economy have to mean centralization?

Let's say all the money does go to Halifax, well then Halifax develops, but what about everyone else? Well apparently we're not supposed to think about that, because Halifax being rich = the Maritimes being rich. But that's just not true. All it means is that a strain is put on smaller communities as people are forced to relocate to Halifax in order to find work. And how does that help the rest of us? Sure one city does well, and maybe there are some spinoffs in the short-term, but we are also left with dozens of ghost towns, a shell of a resource and agriculture industry, and a homogenized culture. Wow, sign me up for that.

We need to cooperate, work on spreading the benefits of windfalls such as this, not just funnel all the cash to a city that flirts with bankruptcy every 6 weeks. I'm sorry but Halifax seems to have the attitude of Toronto, where they can't understand why anyone would support any other backward region except their own, and that by forking over all your money to them, you're helping yourself.

[skyscraper_1]

What's wrong with the old Maritime way? Spreading out the money seems like a good idea to me, because as you say, various towns/cities get a share. The idea that the region doesn't get "further ahead" is based on the hope that the region becomes Halifax's periphery, not an advanced version of what it is now. Why does development of our economy have to mean centralization?Halifax is the natural location for atleast one Maritime city to reach "critical mass" because of its existing population and economy. "Critical mass" meaning the city begans to snowball, attracting more and more people, industries, etc. These cities become the major drivers of the regional and national economy( think Montreal, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver.)

Let's say all the money does go to Halifax, well then Halifax develops, but what about everyone else? Well apparently we're not supposed to think about that, because Halifax being rich = the Maritimes being rich. But that's just not true. All it means is that a strain is put on smaller communities as people are forced to relocate to Halifax in order to find work. And how does that help the rest of us? Sure one city does well, and maybe there are some spinoffs in the short-term, but we are also left with dozens of ghost towns, a shell of a resource and agriculture industry, and a homogenized culture. I am not saying all the money should be spent in Halifax. I said Halifax could be the main point of entry, however a lot of investment needs to be made in rail, road and port upgrades thoughout the region. Creating a corridor of trade from Halifax, though New Brunswick and Maine ultimately to Toronto, Boston, on to points further south and east. Currently the region is poorly integrated into the North American transportation network. THIS is what I want to be currected.

Now if this investment is spend around, like say a new road for Baddeck, a wharf for Digby, a highway on the eastern shore under the blanket of "Atlantic Gateway" then there is no money left to fix the road/rail integration issue.


We need to cooperate, work on spreading the benefits of windfalls such as this, not just funnel all the cash to a city that flirts with bankruptcy every 6 weeks. I'm sorry but Halifax seems to have the attitude of Toronto, where they can't understand why anyone would support any other backward region except their own, and that by forking over all your money to them, you're helping yourself.

Like i said, the major port is located in one area for efficency and cost effectiveness. However, the transportation upgrades are regional. Remember, we have to compete with not only the rest of eastern Canada ports, namely Quebec...but as well eastern American ports.

Imagine a business in Saint John that could ship there products right into the mid Atlantic or midwest in a matter of hours rather then days. Time is money!!!

[someone123]

Most of the young people who in the future could contribute the most to the economy of the region end up leaving. More of them are moving to Alberta than to Halifax. The simple dilemma of moving to Halifax vs staying in a small town doesn't exist in practice. In reality the only option is often to move away, and the real choice is where to move to. From the point of view of people in the Maritimes, Halifax is probably a much better option than a city thousands of kilometres away. Halifax provides a market for other towns to feed off of and it pays the bills.

There were a lot of factors at play but I think the division of what little wealth and power the region has contributed heavily to its (steep, relative) decline. If Ontario were carved up into three provinces that each demanded equal spending and implemented regulations to divide up manufacturing jobs, etc. there would be no Toronto and the whole area have ended up considerably worse off.

Where the actual city is located is unimportant. What's critical is that in the Maritimes somewhere there should be a city large enough to be a major draw to many people and businesses. Right now there's no such city, so a larger share of people have to leave the region. Halifax may potentially become such a city. No other place in the region is even close.

[Haliguy]

Officials set to sign Atlantic Gateway document

By TOM PETERS Business Reporter
Sat. Oct 13 - 4:47 AM

Atlantic Canada is expected to take another step on Sunday in the process of becoming a fully integrated gateway to North America markets for international trade.

Transportation representatives from the Atlantic provinces and Transport Canada are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding on the Atlantic Gateway on Sunday afternoon in Halifax.

Deputy transportation minister David Darrow, said Friday the memorandum is a document "that articulates our commitment to work together in pursing the opportunity."

The Atlantic Gateway concept promotes the movement of international trade and people to and from North American destinations through marine, air, rail and road transportation.

A case study recently released by ACOA said the initial focus of gateway and marketing strategies should be the container cargo business, with growth in the sector expected from China, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Mr. Darrow said Nova Scotia has the necessary assets to develop the gateway, and "we see an opportunity to work with the other provinces and the federal government."

"At the end of the day it is not going to be Nova Scotia working in isolation that is going to enable us to capitalize on this opportunity, it is going to be four provincial governments and the federal government."

Mr. Darrow said the memorandum will be an undertaking to work together and will lay out some of the things the provinces need to do collectively to understand the opportunity and develop an action plan.

"We need to bring groups together and the (memorandum) is really an attempt to bring five groups (governments) together," he said.

"It is not the entire answer but I think it is a start. It is good to have provinces working together as opposed to competing against one another, and I think to that extent there will be benefits that will accrue. We need to bring in the private sector; we are doing that in the Halifax area through the Halifax Gateway Council."

( tpeters@herald.ca)

[skyscraper_1]

This is somewhat related to the Atlantic gateway.

East-west toll road proposed for Maine

Bangor Daily News

Dated: 24/8/07


by Anne Ravanna

ORONO - The president and CEO of Cianbro Corp. on Tuesday unveiled a proposal for an east-west toll highway in Maine, his contribution to a series of discussions on how Maine can better align itself with Canada to pursue economic development.

A toll highway from Calais to Coburn Gore is the only solution to the pressing need for a better way to cross the state, Peter G. Vigue said. The highway would significantly reduce travel time, costs and fuel emissions for the 1,000 heavy American and Canadian trucks that travel through Calais daily and are banned from the interstate because of their weight.

"The largest investors in this state in the last 10 years are the Canadians. Let’s accept it, embrace it, understand it. We’re not competitors," Vigue said.

The notion of a taxpayer-funded east-west highway is not worth entertaining any longer as the state cannot afford to purchase the rights of way to cross private property, nor does it have the money to construct such a road, Vigue said. He has pitched the idea of a privately constructed and operated highway to a New York bank, which gave him "the thumbs up," Vigue said.

Before an attentive audience of 250 members of the local business community, Vigue delivered with authority his ideas in a speech titled "Why Not Maine?" The breakfast event was organized by the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce and the Action Committee of 50, another Bangor business association.

The morning consisted of Vigue’s talk, the unveiling of Access Atlantica — a renewed effort to form a business alliance between Bangor and Saint John, New Brunswick — and a panel discussion on truck weight limits on Maine’s interstate.

In his speech, Vigue announced that Cianbro secured at midnight Wednesday its first client for the modular building structure assembly facility it plans to construct in Brewer. The new business will take over the former Eastern Fine Paper Co. mill site and will employ at least 500 people, Vigue said.

"We’re still not allowed to communicate who our first customer is," Vigue said.

Immediately after Vigue’s address, Miles Theeman, CEO of Affiliated Healthcare Systems of Bangor, formally introduced Access Atlantica with his Canadian co-chairwoman, Nancy Thorne. Theeman and Thorne are volunteers who have given a new name to the long-term effort to create an "economic trade corridor" between the sister cities of Bangor and Saint John.

"We want to revamp our tourism image and make it regional. We talk about one vacation, two nations, but we share so much else [with Saint John] in terms of our goals for economic development, energy, transportation, Maritimes issues," Theeman said.

Access Atlantica is part of a larger movement called Atlantica, which is backed by 127 chambers of commerce and boards of trade in Maine and four other New England states, upstate New York, southeast Quebec and the four Canadian Atlantic provinces. Atlantica’s goal is to encourage trade and economic growth in all industries in the region.

http://atlantica.org/library.asp?cmPageID=93&fd=0&id=1858&p=1

This highway if completed could quite radically change transportation patterns for the region and provides easy access to central Canada. The time to travel from Saint John to Montreal would be about equal to a trip from Montreal to Toronto.

[ErickMontreal]

Where the actual city is located is unimportant. What's critical is that in the Maritimes somewhere there should be a city large enough to be a major draw to many people and businesses. Right now there's no such city, so a larger share of people have to leave the region. Halifax may potentially become such a city. No other place in the region is even close.

On a large macroeconomic perspective, you`re right, Halifax is poised to draw a large influx of business, however, on a distribution issue, the geographical location is a asset. In this sense, Moncton could play a more efficient role than Halifax in that issue, the city remains the logical choice for a inland port.

[Haliguy]

On a large macroeconomic perspective, you`re right, Halifax is poised to draw a large influx of business, however, on a distribution issue, the geographical location is a asset. In this sense, Moncton could play a more efficient role than Halifax in that issue, the city remains the logical choice for a inland port.


The inland port idea is valid, but at this point in time what the Atlantic gateway initative is concentrating on is container traffic.

[someone123]

A highway across Maine would cut travel times significantly. Right now the Saint John to Montreal driving trip is over 900 km but the two cities are only 500-600 km apart. An East-West highway from Calais would also hook up to the I-95, cutting down travel times to Boston/NY.

[ErickMontreal]

The inland port idea is valid, but at this point in time what the Atlantic gateway initative is concentrating on is container traffic.

Well, I though that initative included a vision for major airports and intermodal freight transport facilities as well

[someone123]

The thing is, Moncton's appeal is mostly as a regional distribution point. The domestic market in the Maritimes is small and not growing very quickly. The increase in container traffic would come from serving large areas such as the US Midwest. Nobody is going to change over containers to trucks in Moncton to drive them to Chicago.

[ErickMontreal]

The thing is, Moncton's appeal is mostly as a regional distribution point. The domestic market in the Maritimes is small and not growing very quickly. The increase in container traffic would come from serving large areas such as the US Midwest. Nobody is going to change over containers to trucks in Moncton to drive them to Chicago.

Likely, anyway, I don`t know the Inland port project very well. First off, in the case Halifax wants to increase their container traffic, they need to set up plan to increase the efficient of the railway network with central canada/usa insofar they want to be a strong competitor with Montreal in that issue.

[Haliguy]

Likely, anyway, I don`t know the Inland port project very well. First off, in the case Halifax wants to increase their container traffic, they need to set up plan to increase the efficient of the railway network with central canada/usa insofar they want to be a strong competitor with Montreal in that issue.

You're right this is something that has to be addressed which will be strengthened through the Atlantic gateway hopefully.