Steele on shipbuilding benefits
Last week, the Premier and Jim Irving were finally able to tell
the story behind Nova Scotia’s historic shipbuilding win. It is a
story that could not be told during the bidding process for fear
of tipping our hand to competitors.
Nova Scotia Budget 2012 It is a story that began last May with the Premier’s commitment of up to $304 million in loans that, as Jim Irving himself said,
positioned Irving to win.
And it is a story that will continue for the
next 30 years as this province reaps 15 to 20 times its investment
in provincial tax revenue from the $25 billion contract.
This Premier recognized and seized an opportunity that will
change the history of Nova Scotia.
That opportunity fit perfectly within the jobsHere plan and the fiscal plan we laid out more than three years ago. Take the world’s best shipbuilders, throw the support of an entire province behind them, and Nova
Scotians will reap the benefits.
Steele on managing resources, forestry sector:
The idling of the NewPage mill in Point Tupper, along with the uncertain future of the Bowater mill in Liverpool, caused us to pause and consider the immense economic resource we have in our forests, and the need to manage them both to meet conservation goals and to maximize their economic value.
Nova Scotia’s forestry sector has supported tens of thousands of
families since the founding of our province. As world markets
change, our government has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the
Nova Scotia communities, businesses, and workers and their families who are focused on retaining Nova Scotia’s position in the world market.
Steele on NewPage idling:
The idling of the NewPage mill in Port Hawkesbury has been a significant reversal for the economy of the Strait Area, and indeed, for all of northern Nova Scotia.
But this government has stood with families and businesses in the region, investing a total of $27.3 million in new funding to protect jobs by
supporting the supply chain, and keeping the mill re-sale ready.
We are optimistic about the future of these two mills, which are centrepieces of their regional economies.
But make no mistake—a vibrant forest sector is not just about viable,
competitive pulp and paper mills.
Budget 2012 Builds on the Success of jobsHere:
In its first year, the province’s Productivity Investment Program trained more than 6300 Nova Scotians and helped more than 200 businesses become more productive and competitive through capital funding and workplace training incentives.
This year, $25 million will help more businesses make upgrades
in machinery, clean technology, software, and hardware.
Through a $1.5 million investment, Nova Scotia will focus
on developing its International Commerce Strategy, a strategy
that will help businesses compete globally and support
entrepreneurs who want to go global.
An additional $450,000 for the Business Development Program,
$500,000 to increase the reach of the Productivity and Innovation
Voucher program, and $200,000 to develop a Social Enterprise
strategy that will support communities and businesses, and
enhance their contribution to Nova Scotia’s economy.
jobsHere—$56.5 million
Budget 2012 will
• help fund the cost of technologically advanced machinery, clean technology, equipment,
software, and hardware for companies—$15 million, Capital Investment Incentive
• encourage companies to invest in skills development and certification—$9 million,
Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive
• increase the number of work placement opportunities for students enrolled in universities and
community colleges—$1.8 million, Strategic Co-operative Education Incentive
• launch International Commerce Strategy to support companies competing internationally—
$1.6 million
• increase funding to small businesses to improve productivity and innovation by working with
educational institutions—$500,000
• implement a Social Enterprise Loan Guarantee Program—$2 million
• implement a Social Enterprise Strategy—$200,000
• help businesses become more globally competitive by increasing the Business Development
Program—$450,000
• support business.novascotia.ca to create an integrated approach to economic development for
businesses—$200,000
• focus on commercialization of research and capacity-building in our post-secondary sector, through
investments in the Nova Scotia Innovation and Research Trust (NSRIT)—$5 million
• create a regional venture capital fund to provide early-stage seed capital, in partnership with the
private sector and other governments—$15 million
• increase the number of trade apprenticeships—$3 million
• launch HR Toolkit and Welcoming Workplaces program—$300,000
• help increase skill sets through the Recognition of Prior Learning Project—$1.45 million
• put career kiosks in high schools to help students think about jobs after graduation—$1 million
Nova Scotia’s economic stability is tied to our ability to compete and respond to changes in the global market. This requires a vibrant, skilled, and adaptable workforce.
Nova Scotia’s workforce strategy will build that workforce.
The province will invest $8.2 million this year to put that strategy to work.
This includes $2.5 million for apprenticeship, increasing the number of Nova Scotians in trades, and another $1 million toward workplace education.
Last fall, I outlined Nova Scotia’s Jobs and Building Plan, which is the capital plan for 2012–13. I am pleased to confirm the Jobs and Building Plan as part of this budget.
With 150 projects, this $610 million plan for jobs and infrastructure will generate direct employment equal to 4,500 full-time jobs, and spin-off employment for a further 3,100 Nova Scotians.
All parts of Nova Scotia will see this plan in action, in the form of school construction, land purchases, capital grants, and upgrades to hospitals, museums, and highways—$281 million in highway upgrades alone.
Steel on N.S. Agriculture/Dal merger:
Finally, under this heading, I would like to mention an exciting
development for our agricultural industry.
In Truro–Bible Hill, the province is in the process of finalizing
a partnership that will position the Nova Scotia Agricultural
College as an enhanced centre of excellence for applied research
and a national leader in agriculture education.
The merger between NSAC with Dalhousie will strengthen NSAC,
benefit students, improve the economy of Bible Hill and Truro,
and help NSAC fulfill its mission as a national and international
leader in agriculture research, education, and innovation.
Steele on healthcare:
Health, as we all know, is by far the biggest part of the budget.
And for years it has also been the fastest growing. But under previous
governments, that rapidly rising spending hasn’t done nearly enough
to promote wellness and make Nova Scotians healthier.
This government has reduced health-care administration costs
to below the national average, and has cut the rate of growth of
health spending.
That is no small feat, especially compared to the records of previous governments.
Steele on drug prices
This government has taken action to ensure better drug prices
for Nova Scotians. Our fair drug pricing plan means that Nova
Scotians are now paying less at the pharmacy counter. In 2012–
13, prices will go down to 35 per cent of brand-name drugs, which
is where they will stay. The province is also on track to spend $17
million less on drugs than we would have without these changes.
Steele on mental health and addiction services:
Mental health services need better support. This budget includes
a significant investment—$3.8 million this year—to revamp
mental health and addictions services in Nova Scotia, as part of
our plan to provide better care sooner.
Steele on education:
Education is the second largest piece of the budget. We are
dealing with a school system that has 30,000 fewer students
than it did 10 years ago.
This education budget will meet the needs of students in our
schools today.
The province’s new P–12 education plan, Kids and Learning
First, will better prepare students for post-secondary education,
good jobs, and active citizenship. Our education plan is the
first to recognize that we all must do a better job of educating
our children.
It lays out a plan to do just that in a challenging environment of rapidly declining student enrollment.
Parents want the very best for their children, including an
education that’s as good as anywhere in the country.
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