We're in this together.

Dear APEC Members and Stakeholders,

As we all work together to slow and reduce the spread of COVID-19 and to minimize the economic effects of the various measures that are being put in place, APEC is doing its part and we are looking for your help to share you economic updates with us (see below).

APEC staff have been working remotely since Monday. Anyone looking to contact staff, please email staff directly. We will be in touch soon regarding plans for our Major Projects events, currently scheduled for June. 

We have also initiated a COVID-19 Economic Impact Action Plan:

• Research focus 
  APEC has refocused and prioritized its immediate research activities to collect, assess and provide information, insights and ideas on the economic impacts of COVID-19 to assist regional decision making and minimize the economic impacts. For the next few weeks, staff time will be split between COVID-19 research and our existing research commitments.
   
• Webinar
  We held a webinar yesterday on "COVID-19: Assessing the Potential Economic Impacts for Atlantic Canada". The slides and recording are available on our website.This was made freely available in the public interest, but we could not provide these services without the ongoing support of our Patrons and other members. 
   
• Website
  APEC has set up a COVID-19 website to track and report on economic impacts as they develop. With the webinar complete, we will now focus on adding to and updating this information on a regular basis as it becomes available. Let us know what information would be most helpful to you at covid@apec-econ.ca . 

However, we cannot do this alone - we need your help! 
As official economic statistics will not be available for some time, APEC is reaching out to its members, partners and other stakeholders to collect, synthesize, assess and share information that will help Atlantic businesses, governments and other stakeholders understand the economic impacts to assist their own decision making and to better target their responses to where help is most needed. 
 
We appreciate everyone is busy responding to COVID-19 - ensuring employee safety and the integrity of their operations. However, if you or someone in your organization can take a moment to Share your Economic Updates of what is happening in your business, industry or association it would be appreciated. For more details of what we are looking for and to read our confidentiality guarantee, please visit our COVID-19 site. Email us your economic update at covid@apec-econ.ca and share this request within your own networks.
 
Thank you for partnering with us in this endeavour to help everyone get the best information possible to help us all through this situation. We sincerely appreciate your continued support as we serve the region as the source of independent research, insights, and ideas vital to supporting a healthy, inclusive and sustainable Atlantic Canadian economy. 

Please look after yourselves, your family, co-workers, clients and neighbours as we work through this together.

David Chaundy 
President & CEO
APEC