It’s a bit strange but I have five emails in my inbox suggesting that Keith Ashfield getting the ACOA portfolio would be great news for New Brunswick. The kind of legacy that McGuire left in PEI, one said.
Maybe. But I would be more concerned that Ashfield will be presiding over the slow unwinding of ACOA.
Tony Clement gets the Industry Canada portfolio and all the pundits I heard today say it is so that he can come up with the bailout packages for Ontario’s manufacturing sector. That will be the ED focus out of Ottawa for the forseeable future.
Dont’ get me wrong. I would love to see a rejuvinated ACOA with a strong mandate to support the attraction of industry and foster serious business investment in the region.