Atlantic Economic panel appointed to catalyze growth in region

From the Springboard Content Lab

The private-sector-led Atlantic Economic Panel has been connecting with business leaders, innovators, and community voices from across Atlantic Canada to identify the opportunities and specific steps needed to drive long-term economic growth.

The seven-person panel was appointed in late November by the Government of Canada to catalyze economic transformation in Atlantic Canada. It will identify opportunities, barriers and interventions to drive productivity growth, strengthen competitiveness, and secure long-term prosperity for the region.

ACOA minister Sean Fraser

“We are bringing together top local business leaders because we want Atlantic Canadians to get their fair share of the opportunities coming to our region. The panel will be on the road next year to hear directly from people and businesses about what is working and what is holding us back. They will produce a report that will help guide both governments and the private sector in making the right investments to grow good jobs and strengthen our communities. This work cannot fall on government alone and I am thankful these leaders are stepping up for our region.”

Sean Fraser, Nova Scotia MP and Minister for Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

Panel led by business leaders

The panel consists of seven prominent business leaders from all four Atlantic provinces.

• Don Mills (Chair) – President of Crane Cove Holdings; co-founder of Narrative Research; former CEO of Corporate Research Associates; co-author of Toward Prosperity.
• Cathy Bennett – Co-founder of Sandpiper Ventures; former CEO of Bennett Group; experienced leader in energy, tech, and public policy.
• Joyce Carter – President and CEO of Halifax International Airport Authority; recognized for driving economic growth and aviation leadership.
• Mike Cassidy –  CEO of the Cassidy Group, which owns Coach Atlantic and Maritime Bus. He is an entrepreneur with 40+ years in diverse sectors; leads companies in transportation, tourism, agriculture, and real estate.
• J. Scott McCain – Chairman of McCain Foods; President of JSM Capital; former senior executive at Maple Leaf Foods.
• Chief Terry Richardson – Chief of Pabineau First Nation; former CAF member; advocate for mining programs and community health.
• Anne Whelan – CEO and principal shareholder of Seafair Capital; lead director of the Bank of Canada; corporate director with CSA Group and Nova Leap Health; Vice-Chair of The Gathering Place.

The panel members will meet with people and businesses across Atlantic Canada in 2026 to hear what is working, what is holding the region back and where Atlantic Canada can win. They will identify not only sector-specific opportunities, but also the structural, regulatory, and cultural barriers that may be limiting the region’s full economic potential. More details on engagement will be announced in the new year. 

The panel will:

• build and sustain momentum toward a more prosperous and resilient regional economy
• identify ways to increase productivity and GDP per capita through targeted interventions
• deliver a business-led vision that sets out bold, practical steps to realize Atlantic Canada’s economic potential
• foster a common direction and a shared sense of purpose across sectors and provinces
• prepare and present a final report in September 2026, with recommendations publicly released along with next steps for targeted implementation

Focusing on key economic questions:

• What would make the difference in Atlantic Canada reaching its full economic potential?
• To what extent is this a matter of economic structure, public policy, regulatory entanglement or culture, including our own attitudes toward ambition, risk and growth?
• What is it about “how we do things here” that needs to change?

To answer these questions in a cumulative report, the panel will engage businesses, business leaders and other stakeholders as required to help define a new path forward and help guide the region’s economic future.

The panel will deliver a final set of recommendations by the end of Summer 2026. They have been given a clear mandate to provide a one-time report, focused on practical steps to grow jobs, raise productivity, support small and medium-sized businesses, and strengthen communities. The panel’s work will reflect the Government of Canada’s broader economic missions, from diversifying trade to attracting world-class talent, while identifying where Atlantic Canada is uniquely positioned to lead in delivering national outcomes. The panel’s work will highlight solutions that require collective effort from both government and the private sector so that long-term growth is shared and driven by the people who know the region best.