CHURCH POINT, NS - September 8, 2010- Today, the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), along with Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, announced that Université Sainte-Anne will develop a comprehensive information technology (IT) strategy for Atlantic Canada’s francophone businesses, thanks to support from the Government of Canada.

“Our government is investing more than $320,000 in this project to expand markets and help to create long-term economic opportunities across Atlantic Canada,” said Minister Ashfield. “Through this investment, we are helping businesses increase their competitiveness while promoting our vibrant francophone and Acadian business community.”

Université Sainte-Anne will develop a comprehensive strategy, involving public and private sector partnerships, to foster the growth and development of the knowledge economy in Atlantic Canada’s Acadian and francophone communities.

“I am very pleased to have my colleague, Minister Ashfield, here in Church Point to mark this occasion,” said Mr. Kerr.

Key elements of this project will include a diagnostic of the current state of the IT industry in official language minority communities, an Atlantic-wide forum focusing on the knowledge economy, the development of tools for private sector businesses transitioning into this industry, and the development of the pan-Atlantic strategy.

“This investment will help Acadian and francophone businesses build economic development capacity that will benefit our region for years to come,” said Dr. André Roberge, President of Université Sainte-Anne. “Université Sainte-Anne is pleased to partner on this forward-thinking initiative.”

The $320,813 Business Development Fund (BDP) investment stems from the Economic Development Initiative (EDI), a component of the 2008-2013 Roadmap for Linguistic Duality. ACOA is responsible for implementing the initiative in Atlantic Canada to strengthen linguistic duality, reinforce Canada’s national identity and provide economic benefits for all Canadians.