LUNENBURG (NS) – The Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan, is urging Atlantic Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises to pursue supply chain opportunities related to the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. With that in mind, MP Gerald Keddy today visited with officials from the Lunenburg Foundry, a successful supplier company.

“There are a number of companies in Atlantic Canada that are already successfully competing for supply chain opportunities on major procurements around the globe,” said MP Keddy, who is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade, for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and for the Atlantic Gateway.

“Our Government is encouraging other Atlantic businesses to follow the example of the Lunenburg Foundry by preparing themselves to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities related to our national shipbuilding initiatives. Lunenburg Foundry has been serving the fishing industry for generations and is currently playing a key role in refitting Nova Scotia’s iconic schooner the Bluenose II. This is a firm that understands what it means to compete and succeed in winning contracts.”

This visit was undertaken in the context of the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan announced on February 13, 2012. By visiting companies throughout the Atlantic region, the Government of Canada is showcasing the best practices being employed by these businesses that are successfully competing for various supply chain procurement opportunities around the world. These companies can serve as role models to other Atlantic businesses that may want to prepare themselves to compete for some of the significant supplier and sub-contracting opportunities that will flow from upcoming shipbuilding procurements in the Atlantic region and across the country.

The Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan, which is part of the Government’s Economic Action Plan, focuses on maximizing opportunities for Atlantic businesses looking to participate in the shipbuilding supply chains. It includes measures aimed at:

• Making sure Atlantic Canada’s small and medium-sized enterprises are fully aware of the process and the requirements to access supply chain opportunities;

• Giving small and medium-sized enterprises access to ACOA programming to proactively support their development so that they can capitalize on these opportunities in areas such as marketing, acquisition of certification, process improvements, training, and technology acquisition;
• Engaging with community colleges and the provincial governments on skills and labour force research and planning.

As part of this Action Plan, ACOA, in partnership with Irving Shipbuilding Inc., is hosting supplier development information sessions in Bathurst and Moncton, New Brunswick; Summerside, Prince Edward Island; Truro and Shelburne, Nova Scotia; and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador between February 21 and March 12, 2012. These sessions will provide the region’s small and medium-sized enterprises with an overview of the procurement process and the critical information they need to address any business gaps or requirements in order to become suppliers and sub-contractors with marine supply chains.