Strategic Canadian location for the efficient movement of goods and people by road, rail, air and sea.

Home>About>Strategic Plan

The Halifax Gateway Strategic Plan

Loading air cargo at Halifax Stanfield International AirportDeveloped in consultation with Gateway stakeholders and members the Halifax Gateway Council’s (HGC) 2010-2015 Strategic Plan: Building the Halifax Gateway highlights the role of the Gateway as a major transportation hub for the movement of goods and people to and from the east coast of North America.

It also recognizes the economic and social benefits of the Halifax Gateway for Canada as a nation and as a key component of Canada’s greater transportation system and network.

Vision

To be the preferred eastern Gateway for North America for the economic and social benefit of Canada.

Realizing the Vision

To attain this vision, the Halifax Gateway must be competitive and able to offer shippers and travelers superior service, connections, value and efficiency.
Over the next five years, the Halifax Gateway Council will focus on achieving five overarching goals:

  1. Ensuring the Halifax Gateway offers efficient transportation networks to meet shipping and travel needs;
  2. Improving Halifax Gateway infrastructure to capitalize on gateway related business opportunities;
  3. Ensuring government policy supports gateway development and that barriers to trade and travel are minimized; 
  4. Establishing the Halifax Gateway brand nationally and internationally; and
  5. Coordinating with the myriad of gateway councils and organizations in Atlantic Canada and supporting the Atlantic Gateway Strategy.

Download Halifax Gateway Strategic Plant

Loaded cargo ship leaving the Port of Halifax

2010-2011 Highlights

  • Extension of Halifax Stanfield’s main runway from 8,800 to about 10,500 feet allowing the airport to handle larger wide-bodied and heavy aircraft. This means Nova Scotia and Maritime Canadian products - particularly seafood - can be exported overseas more efficiently, fetching higher market prices.
  • Halifax Stanfield International Airport served 3,508,153 passengers in 2010, up 2.7 per cent from 2009. This marks the airport's second busiest year in its 50 year history
  • Record cruise season with over a quarter of a million cruise passengers in Halifax. This equals 8% of Halifax tourism. 
  • Container cargo rebounds at the Port of Halifax. Containerized cargo grew by more than 25% 
  • The Port of Halifax continues to be diverse and in partnership with the Federal Government has invested over $100Million on its two key terminals to ensure long-term competitiveness
  • Halifax Stanfield International Airport processed 28,450 metric tonnes of cargo in 2010 - up 5.7% over 2009