Themes from the meetings

Aerospace

• There is no support for aerospace industry in government.
• Aerospace is stable, has a high potential for growth and the industry is NOT going to disappear. Nova Scotia must jump on the aerospace band wagon or risk losing potential business.

Culture

• The quality of life is also a result of the cultural life in Nova Scotia.
• Festivals are a source of community development.
• Festivals are growing so need a full-time, professional staff rather than just volunteers.
• Build on existing culture strategy.
• Must develop partnership with art/culture community.
• Our culture makes us unique - as we become better known on the world stage, who we are becomes important.
• We must be proud of who we are.
• The cultural sector is underdeveloped. Should communicate more and better with the media.

Film

• The development of film industry needs little physical infrastructure (investment tax credits, etc.)
• The added value in the film industry appears to be making an impact - now is not the time to step back.
• Need to identify organizations that can speak for the industry.

Gas & Oil

• Include a gas and oil strategy in the economic growth strategy .
• The economic growth strategy should link to overall energy strategy.
• Link to federal climate change strategy.
• This will be a major industry in next 5-10 years - set targets.
• Real growth lies in potential of current exploration sites.
• Understand and explain trade-offs, e.g., access to gas and eventual price.
• Real benefits lie in what we do with the gas once it is on shore.
• Exploit the potential of people to garner full benefits of gas & oil.
• Will gas make us as dependent as Cape Breton was upon coal?
• Need programs to promote renewable sources of energy - wind, solar, tidal.
• Could spin some of the Sable royalties off into renewable energy research.
• How can we get more women into gas & oil jobs?
• There is a danger that this industry will perpetuate the dual labour force. Oil and gas is seen as a "bad" industry for women. There are barriers. Companies have lied to women. There is a lack of access to unions. There are accommodation problems, at least perceived, on rigs.
• "Seize opportunity" in gas and oil and "gear up" the people.

Housing construction issues

• There is going to be a skill shortage of tradespeople.
• If there is a construction boom in Nova Scotia, we will not be ready for it.
• Industry is not taken serious in Nova Scotia. Housing industry is worth $893 million. People are always going to need a place to live.
• We cannot lump housing and commercial construction together.
• There needs to be some political will to identify construction sector as a vital component of economy.

Migration

• We must make it easy for those who have left to return.
• A retiring, aging population shouldn't be viewed in negative light, e.g., retirement villages.
• Must try to retain highly skilled immigrants.
• There is currently a declining rate of growth - immigration is the only hope for recovery.
• The current law governing immigration is rigid and outdated.
• Nova Scotia should have a policy allowing us to identify immigrants to fast track for acceptance, like New Brunswick and Newfoundland.
• There is no mention in the document of immigration or public-community partnerships.
• Need a critical mass of diversity.
• Need a separate place to house Immigration, will require investment to have any real impact.
• The situation surrounding immigrants is unique so the programs supporting them should be unique.
• The cities experiencing growth are those with strong immigration.
• Must balance development so that immigrants are not only settling in the Halifax/Dartmouth area.
• In the context of addressing systemic roadblocks, there has been a positive change in terms of multiculturalism filtering out from Halifax to the rest of the province.

Natural Resources

• Exploit opportunities: peat, slate, gas, barite, titanium.
• Enforce buffer zones around clear cuts.
• Examine capital gains tax on wood lots and impact on clear cutting.
• The document does "traditional" industries a disservice, does not acknowledge the contributions they make.
• Clear cutting is not regulated enough - most forests are privately owned.
• Need more value added in our forest products.
• Include fisheries in the strategy.

Tourism

• Systematically and gradually expand the tourist season.
• Display diverse culture in ads.
• Build higher standard accommodation.
• Interpretation centres needed.
• Too few marketing dollars chasing too many markets.
• Tourism industry is overrated. Seasonal workers do not create wealth.
• Sunday shopping and longer restaurant hours (would improve tourist image and increase economic activity)
• Only 2% of New Englanders know about Nova Scotia. Tourism should be recognized as an industry sector.
• Need year-round tourism, i.e., Martock, Dog Sledding Clubs, etc.
• Need more trails, development of the old rail lines.
• More effective marketing, i.e., more success stories in local papers, not just specialized trade journals.
• Funding cuts to tourism have affected the industry - fewer Visitor Info Centres.
• Huge opportunity for economic growth in this area is to expand on tourist business.
• We are overlooking eco-tourism, e.g., New Brunswick really promotes the Bay of Fundy on TV. We could develop an excellent eco-tourism trail along the bay in stages connecting the communities.

Volunteers

• There is not enough recognition given to the 3^rd sector. Need more investment in this sector.
• Need a better system of utilizing those willing to volunteer.