Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share information with my hon. colleagues regarding the real value of ACOA, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, to the four Atlantic provinces.
In Atlantic Canada ACOA partially funds or administers many co-operative agreements, programs and projects. Often in the past the public heard only of the failed projects. Today I wish to share one of the many success stories with the House.
Earlier this month I had the pleasure of participating in a sod turning to announce a $16 million expansion at Intertape Polymer Group in Truro. The parent group of Polymer Group contributed $14.6 million, while the federal and provincial government through ACOA contributed $1.4 million to the total project.
This expansion creates 45 new jobs, for a total of 300 full time, long term sustainable jobs. This is an international company that can compete locally and globally-