Mr. Speaker, in the month of January I had the opportunity to visit a number of businesses in my constituency.
These businesses have several things in common. They are successful and employ many Atlantic Canadians. They focus on innovation, technology and the developing markets, not only in Atlantic Canada but around the world. Another thing they have in common is that ACOA has been involved in their success, not through grants but through loans, providing support and accessing capital investment, innovation, marketing and training.
These companies are forming the backbone of the Atlantic Canadian economy and providing jobs that are innovative, well paying and sustainable. Companies like Ocean Nutrition are finding great success based in Dartmouth with a plant in rural Nova Scotia and potentially plants around the world.
The Atlantic innovation fund has played a very strong role in ensuring the success of Atlantic Canada and it must continue. ACOA is a success story. I congratulate the leadership of ACOA, our current minister and those who have gone before him, for seeing the long term potential of Atlantic Canada and helping us to reach it.