Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency : The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA,) was established by the Government Organization Act, Atlantic Canada, 1987 (assented to August 18, 1988). The Act came into force September 15, 1988. Part I of the Act established ACOA , while Part II of the Act established Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC).
Both ACOA and ECBC were created from existing organizations with mandates to promote regional economic development. ACOA was an amalgamation of the Federal Economic Development Coordinators Branch of the Department of Regional Industrial Expansion (DRIE) in the Atlantic Provinces, and the Atlantic Enterprise Board (AEB). ECBC was the former Industrial Development Division of the Cape Breton Development Corporation (CBDC, sometimes called DEVCO). Like its predecessor DRIE, ACOA was subject to the National Archives of Canada Act. Like its predecessor DEVCO, ECBC was not. Consequently, ACOA was obliged to transfer to the National Archives any of its records "that, in the opinion of the [National Archivist of Canada] are of historic or archival importance," while ECBC was not. The holdings of the National Archives of Canada reflect this difference.
Although ACOA and ECBC were different organizations subject to different laws, they worked closely together. The Government Organization Act, Atlantic Canada, 1987 provided that the president of ACOA was simultaneously president and chief executive officer of ECBC. On Cape Breton Island, ECBC delivered ACOA's programs in addition to its own.
ACOA was organized and operating under the name Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency before the Government Organization Act, Atlantic Canada, 1987 was proclaimed. On June 5, 1987, Order in Council 1987-1160, pursuant to the Financial Administration Act and the Public Service Employment Act, designated as a department the offices of the Federal Economic Development coordinators Branch in the Atlantic Provinces and the Atlantic Enterprise Board Secretariat as a department. The new organization was "to be known as the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency."
Since the creation of Industry Canada in 1995, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has been part of the Industry Canada portfolio, and is one of three region-specific organizations within the portfolio. The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) serves the four Atlantic provinces. The Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec (also known as Canada Economic Development, and formerly known as the Federal Office of Regional Economic Development (Quebec) or FORD(Q)) serves Quebec. Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) serves the four Western provinces. The same program might be delivered by one organization in one region and another organization in another. For example, the Canada Infrastructure Works Program, was delivered by ACOA in Atlantic Canada, by FORD(Q) in Quebec, by Industry Canada in Ontario, and by WD in the four western provinces.
The legislative mandates of ACOA and its Minister are broad and flexible. They must coordinate the policies and programs of the Government of Canada in relation to economic development in Atlantic Canada. Beyond this requirement, they may, among other things, enter into agreements with provinces, with the approval of Cabinet as well as "make loans to any person with respect to the establishment and development of enterprises, and more particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in Atlantic Canada".
ACOA carried on the work of the Atlantic Enterprise Board and many of the programs of DRIE.
It continued DRIE's role of co-operating with other levels of government, largely through Economic and Regional Development Agreements (ERDAs) under which subsidiary agreements were signed. ACOA also continued to co-ordinate the ERDA subsidiary agreements administered by other federal government departments and agencies in Atlantic Canada. Two business incentive programs, the Industrial and Regional Development Program (IRDP) and the Atlantic Enterprise Program (AEP), which were brought forward to ACOA, formed the core of ACOA's principal financial assistance program available to business, called the Action Program.
ACOA Headquarters are located in Moncton, and regional offices are located in St. John's, Charlottetown, Halifax, and Fredericton. There is also an office located in Ottawa. ECBC has an office in Sydney. InfoSource, 1989-90
ACOA annual reports, 1987-89, 1989-90
Main Estimates, Part III, ACOA, 1995-96, 1999-2000
Roderick McFall, ACOA records appraisal report
Gordon Osbaldeston, research notes, ACOA, ECBC, and Cape Breton Development Corporation
Canada. Treasury Board. Population Affiliation Reports
