Toward Prosperity: The Transformation of Atlantic Canada's Economy

Atlantic Canada has long been seen as a "have-not" region in terms of economic performance. Many factors have played into this underperformance: stagnation in population growth, chronic unemployment, an aging population, a high number of people living in rural communities, and an overdependence on government.

But that story is changing. New opportunities are emerging in areas such as natural resources--especially in light of the federal government's goal of net zero by 2050. Post-secondary education has been playing a significant role in immigrant attraction, a key factor in the region's economic prosperity, especially in smaller urban communities. Incubators and accelerators have led to a vibrant start-up community and the re-emergence of a strong entrepreneurial environment in Atlantic Canada.

Opportunities now exist for Atlantic Canada to become a leader in the green economy through new energy alternatives including tidal power, wind power, green hydrogen, and small modular reactors. Successful economic clusters, including the PEI Bio-Alliance and Canada's Ocean Supercluster, are driving significant growth in various parts of Atlantic Canada.

In Toward Prosperity, social scientist Don Mills and economist David Campbell (co-hosts of the Insights podcast) examine, with the aid of numerous explanatory graphics and visuals, the economic transformation that is currently under way in Atlantic Canada and provide a blueprint for sustaining that momentum in the long term.