Prime Minister visits Team Canada Success Story

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and Dartmouth MP Ron MacDonald today witnessed first-hand the perils of a mid-Atlantic helicopter crash -- all within the safe simulation facilities of Survival Systems Ltd., a Dartmouth-based company which negotiated deals in the recent Team Canada trade mission. An award-winning exporter, Survival Systems manufactures training simulators and provides crash survival training to people who work in the offshore, industrial and military aviations sectors.

"Trade and technology are key parts of our government's jobs strategy," stated the Prime Minister. "Survival Systems is a great example of a Canadian company selling Canadian expertise abroad -- which translates into jobs and prosperity back home."

With exports averaging 35 to 55% of the company's sales, Survival Systems counts more than nine countries as its customers, including the U.K., Norway, Indonesia and the United States. "In excess of 55,000 jobs in the Halifax/Dartmouth depend on exports," noted Mr. MacDonald. "With its 21 full-time employees, Survival Systems proves that even small companies can be big players on the international scene."

During last January's Team Canada mission to South and Southeast Asia, Survival Systems successfully negotiated a $80,000 contract with a Jakarta-based company, as well as identified other business opportunities in Indonesia and Malaysia. The contracts and joint ventures that resulted will sustain at least four jobs at the company's manufacturing and training facilities.

PMO Press Office (613) 957-5555