Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
October 31, 2006

The 41 companies and organizations participating in the Team Canada Atlantic trade mission to Florida this week celebrated the results of day one during the Taste of Atlantic Canada reception last night.

The Taste of Atlantic Canada reception, held on October 30 at the Renaissance Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida, was an opportunity for the Team Canada Atlantic delegation to showcase Atlantic Canadian food and seafood products to U.S. industry leaders and business representatives. Chefs Kimball Bernard and Linda Hellingman of the Culinary Institute of Canada presented a menu that featured a variety of products from AgraWest Foods, Ocean Choice International, PEI Mussel King Inc. and Mersey Point Fish Products Ltd.

"Canada�s new government is committed to helping Atlantic Canadian companies increase their exports to international markets through trade missions like Team Canada Atlantic," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "The Florida market represents tremendous opportunities for the Atlantic Canadian delegates participating in this mission."

"Newfoundland and Labrador businesses have held meetings with a number of dynamic companies and industry representatives in Florida, and are encouraged by their first day in this market. Day two also looks promising and we are optimistic our companies will benefit from this mission," said the Honourable Trevor Taylor, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, who is leading eleven Newfoundland and Labrador companies and organizations on the trade mission.

Today, Team Canada Atlantic companies will continue to meet with potential agents, brokers, distributors and strategic partners in Orlando, Tampa and Miami.

This morning, government officials will take part in a forum on aerospace and defence in Orlando with industry stakeholders from Atlantic Canada and Florida stakeholders. The forum is an opportunity to discuss issues and future trends in the areas of skills shortages, aerospace and defence career awareness and pathways, and worker attraction and retention.

Following the forum is a luncheon hosted by the Canadian Consulate General in Miami. Federal and provincial government officials, U.S. CEOs and business leaders will discuss trade development and partnership opportunities between Atlantic Canada and Florida.

Team Canada Atlantic is a partnership of ACOA, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada and the four Atlantic provinces. The initiative is committed to strengthening the trade and investment relationship between Atlantic Canada and the United States.

Eleven previous Team Canada Atlantic trade missions � to the New England states, Atlanta, New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago � have helped 360 Atlantic Canadian entrepreneurs to meet with close to 3,000 agents and business owners from across the United States, resulting in export sales of more than of $37 million.

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Visit www.teamcanadaatlantic.com for more information.

Media contacts:

List of Participating Companies and Organizations
Delegates� profiles are available online at www.teamcanadaatlantic.ca

Nova Scotia
Returning
Burnt Out Solutions Inc. (New Minas); Lunenburg Foundry & Engineering Ltd. (Lunenburg)

New
Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Nova Scotia (Halifax); A Palmer Training Ltd. (Fall River); Mersey Point Fish Products Ltd. (Port Mouton); Lasec Enterprises Ltd. (Debert); Artifacts in Clay (Chester)

New Brunswick
Returning
Cube Automation (Tracadie-Sheila); New Brunswick Aerospace and Defence Association (Fredericton); P & E Manufacturing Ltd. (Bas-Cap-Pel�); Provinent Corporation (Fredericton); Belledune Port Authority (Belledune)

New
Mariner Partners Inc. (Saint John); Triangle Kitchen (Dieppe); Al-Pack Enterprises Ltd. (Moncton); Lexi-tech International (Dieppe); CliniCall Inc. (Saint John); Fiready Inc. (Clair); Tin Design (Sackville); Estey Creations (Fredericton)

Newfoundland and Labrador
Returning
Tiller Engineering Inc. (St. John�s); Compusult Ltd. (St. John�s); MedicLINK (St. John�s); Tacamor (Placentia); Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Technology Industries (St. John�s)

New
Holly Howard Inc. (Conception Bay South); Pixecur Technologies Inc. (St. John�s); Dynamic Air Shelters (Grand Bank); Continental Stone Ltd. (St. John�s); Marine Institute (St. John�s); CCMC (St. John's)

Prince Edward Island
Returning
WebSMB Solutions (Charlottetown)

New
Aerospace Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown); Chandlers Cabinets & Millwork (Charlottetown); Vision Research Inc. (Charlottetown); Agrawest Investments (Souris); Ocean Choice International (Souris); P.E.I. Mussel King (1994) Inc. (Morell); Cavendish Figurines Ltd. (Borden-Carleton); Happy Glass (Charlottetown); Where Pigs Fly (Tyne Valley)