The new ACOA Minister is excited to have a direct line of funding to bring to rural Atlantic Canada.

Long Range Mountains MP Gudie Hutchings has added to her portfolio after last week’s federal cabinet shuffle. Hutchings will remain as the head of Rural Economic Development, but has also added ACOA to her duties.

This means Hutchings now has an aligned funding agency with one of her portfolios, something that was not built in to the new Rural Economic Development position.

She says the new position opens up more opportunities for rural development.

She says she is looking forward to putting her touch on it and working with organizations to grow the Atlantic coast.