On behalf of Parliament, the Minister of ACOA is responsible for
the policies and programs designed to encourage economic development in Atlantic
Canada and, particularly, to enhance the growth of earned incomes and employment
opportunities. More detailed information can be obtained in the ACOA
Act.
The Minister is also responsible for the Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation
(ECBC) and the Cape Breton Growth Fund Corporation (CBGFC).
The Office of ACOA's President is in Moncton, New Brunswick. The
President of ACOA is also the Chair of the Agency's Atlantic Canada Opportunities Board, President
and CEO of ECBC, and Chair of ECBC's Board of Directors.
While ECBC and ACOA have a close working relationship, ECBC is
a separate entity. It is a Crown corporation that reports separately to Parliament.
Further details regarding ECBC can be obtained in the ECBC Act.
ECBC is the sole shareholder of the CBGFC. The Vice-President
of ECBC is its CEO. The CBGFC works in partnership with other public sector
organizations, the private sector and other community stakeholders to make investments
that complement the existing programs designed to foster sustainable economic
growth and job creation in Cape Breton.
This organizational chart features several active links. For example, click on the box labelled 'President' and you will find more information about the President of ACOA.
The President of ACOA is responsible for the administration
of the Agency's operations and its employees.
Located in Moncton, New Brunswick, ACOA's Head Office is home to the President's
Office as well as the branches responsible for Policy and Programs, Finance
and Corporate Services, Human Resources and Legal Services.
Regional offices are located in each province's capital city. There, Vice-Presidents
have the required authority to approve projects and proposals, and are responsible
for implementing ACOA's programs and policies.
The President also calls on the services of a special advisor.
Through its Ottawa office, ACOA ensures
that Atlantic Canada's interests are reflected in both the policies and programs
developed by other departments and agencies of the federal government. This
office, which reports to the Vice-President of Policy and Programs, also works
to ensure Atlantic Canadians are aware of and able to take advantage of the opportunities to provide
services and sell products to the Government of Canada.
ACOA's legislation provides for an Atlantic Canada Oportunities Board. Atlantic Canada Opportunities Board members
represent all areas of Atlantic Canada.
Key Responsibilities
- Vice-Presidents working in each of the Atlantic provinces
- Federal-provincial development strategy
- Delivery of services / programs at provincial and local levels
- Liaison with provinces, business community and other stakeholders
- Tourism Atlantic (Vice President - Prince Edward Island)
- Vice-President, Policy and Programs
- Regional level co-ordination of priorities and programs
- Delivery of pan-Atlantic agreements
- Policy and research
- Advocacy and procurement
- Co-ordination of federal-provincial relations
- Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Services
- Finance
- Corporate Secretariat
- Communications
- Review Services
- Corporate Systems and Administration
The Honourable Joseph McGuire
Minister, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
E-mail: minister-ministre@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Riding: Egmont (Prince Edward Island)
First elected to the House of Commons in 1988, Joe McGuire
most recently served as a member of the Standing Committee on
National Defence and Veterans Affairs. Mr. McGuire has also
held the positions of Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Chair of the Standing Committee on
Agriculture and Agri-Food, Chair of the Standing Committee on
Fisheries and Oceans, Vice-Chair of the Atlantic Caucus, and
Chair of the Atlantic Caucus sub-Committee responsible for drafting an economic
development strategy for Atlantic Canada.
Prior to entering public life, Mr. McGuire worked as a teacher and vice-principal,
community development worker, and as a staff member for the Member of
Parliament for Egmont, as well as the Premier of Prince Edward Island.
Mr. McGuire studied at Prince of Wales College for Teacher's Training and
obtained a Bachelor of Arts at St. Dunstan's University. He and his wife, Mary, have
two children.
MONIQUE COLLETTE
President, Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
E-mail: President-presidente@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Monique Collette assumed the responsibilities of President of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) on May 31, 2003, becoming the first former employee to lead the Agency.
Ms. Collette began her public service career in 1974 with the Department of the Secretary of State in Moncton, New Brunswick. She subsequently held several positions within the Department, including Regional Director for New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island, and Director General, Regional Operations, in Ottawa.
She returned to New Brunswick in 1987 to serve as an Executive Assistant in the newly created ACOA. Her duties with the Agency also included terms as Executive Assistant to the President, Corporate Secretary, Director General of Co-ordination, and Vice-President for Prince Edward Island.
Ms. Collette left the Agency in 1996 to assume the role of Director General, Communications, with Human Resources Development Canada in Ottawa. She later moved to the Department of Justice where she served as Executive Director of the National Crime Prevention Centre, and then as Assistant Deputy Minister, Integration, with responsibility for advancing the Department's Strategic Direction including key areas such as diversity and gender equality, the Office of Conflict Management, and the federal Centre for Workplace Conflict Management. She was appointed the Department's Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate Services, in November 2002.
A native of New Brunswick, Ms. Collette was educated in Grande-Digue and Edmundston, and is a graduate of the Université de Moncton.
She currently serves as Chairperson of the Public Service Pension
Advisory Committee.
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Board
The Board assists the Agency in the performance of its duties and functions.
Board members are appointed by the Governor in Council on the recommendation
of the Minister responsible for ACOA. They hold office at the Minister's pleasure
for a term not exceeding three years. Members may be re-appointed for one
additional term only.
The Board members are:
Brian John Bonnell, C.A.
Partner, Bonnell Cole Janes, C.A.'s
President, BCJ Services Inc.
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador
Brian Bonnell is a partner in the firm of Bonnell Cole Janes, Chartered
Accountants, in Corner Brook, and is responsible for audits of companies
and non-profit organizations. Mr. Bonnell also assists clients in personal
financial planning and taxation matters, and he has extensive experience
in the preparation of financial proposals, business plans, and auditing
of government programs.
Since 1980, he has served as President of BCJ Services Inc., a firm that
operates BCJ Tax Centre, with eight offices located throughout the province
of Newfoundland and Labrador.
Mr. Bonnell graduated from Memorial University of Newfoundland in 1974,
receiving a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Accounting. He received
the Chartered Accountant designation in 1980. He is a former business instructor
with Memorial University of Newfoundland and was a Senior Accountant with
Touche Ross & Co. from 1974 to 1979.
Among his many activities, Mr. Bonnell was a member of the Professional
Development Committee of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Newfoundland,
Vice-president of the Corner Brook Minor Hockey Association, Treasurer for
the Newfoundland Speed Skating Association and, Manager of Newfoundland
and Labrador’s 1999 Canada Winter Games Speed Skating Team.
Brian V. Rodney
President, Mermaid Motel and Enterprises Ltd.
Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Brian Rodney is a business owner and manager with a specialty in hotel
administration. Since 1972, has served as President of Mermaid Motel and
Enterprises Ltd. in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. As well, he is the financial
chairperson for Holy Trinity Church and the Yarmouth County Historic Society
(Museum). Mr. Rodney’s related background includes: President, Yarmouth
County Tourist Association; a founding member of the Nova Scotia Tourism
Partnership Council; and President of the Rotary Club of Yarmouth.
A resident of Yarmouth, Mr. Rodney holds degrees in Commerce (B.Comm., Dalhousie University) and Business Administration (M.B.A., Saint Mary's University). He is also Certified in Hotel Administration (C.H.A.) by the American Hotel and Motel Association Educational Institute in East Lansing, Michigan.
Eleanor E. Norrie
Former provincial Minister and Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia
Truro, Nova Scotia
Eleanor Norrie has considerable experience in business, community leadership,
and as an elected public official. While serving as Member of the Legislative
Assembly for Truro-Bible Hill, she was responsible for a number of provincial
ministerial portfolios between 1993 and 1997. These included Natural Resources,
Housing and Consumer Affairs as well as the Status of Women.
Mrs. Norrie has been actively involved in a number of community and volunteer initiatives in the areas of youth, education, sports, health and the arts. She is currently Chair of the Board of Directors of the Colchester Community Workshop Foundation, Past Chair of the Official Board of First United Church in Truro, and a resource to the Board of Directors of the Central Nova Women's Resource Centre.
Before her election to public office, Mrs. Norrie was a restaurant owner and manager in the Truro area for more than 20 years. She is a graduate of the Nova Scotia Provincial Normal College, married with three daughters.
Isabel P. Gagné
Entrepreneur
Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, New Brunswick
Isabel Gagné has wide-ranging experience in the fields of arts and entrepreneurship. She has been a stage and tour manager, lithography and print workshop technician, and managing director of the Galerie Sans Nom. She has worked as stage manager and liaison officer, general manager and programming director of the Pays de la Sagouine. In 1997, she created Les Ateliers du Verso Inc. (Olivier Soapery), where she holds the positions of president and artistic director and manager of the business, which produces olive-oil-based natural products.
Her spirit of entrepreneurship has earned her several awards, including that of regional Woman Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001, the provincial Small Business of the Year award in 2002, the Ernst & Young Atlantic Entrepreneur Of The Year award in the business-to-consumer products and services category for 2004, and the national Laurier de la PME award (tourism category) in 2003.
Ms. Gagné lives in Sainte-Anne-de-Kent, New Brunswick.
