 Members | House Business | House of Assembly | Committees | Library | Visitor Info | Facts
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
  |
If you need the free Acrobat PDF Reader, please click on the following link to go to the Adobe Acrobat download page. The 2nd Session of the 60th Assembly
opened on November 22, 2007 with a Speech from the Throne. Click here for the Throne Speech Highlights. Her Honour Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, the people of Nova Scotia: I welcome you to the second session of the 60th General Assembly. When we met in this House in May, celebrations were announced for the 250th anniversary of the birth of representative government in Nova Scotia in 2008. As I noted then, “may all Nova Scotians celebrate and embrace this anniversary. May we truly understand its significance and never take it for granted.”
Laying the Foundation It is so fitting, then, that our Select Committee on Participation in the Democratic Process will soon consult with voters, many of whom feel disengaged from our electoral process. Our government looks forward to the committee’s recommendations. While a disturbingly high number of Nova Scotians choose not to exercise their right to vote, every November the red poppy reminds us that our democratic rights have come with a high price. To ensure accountable, responsible government, citizens must participate in our political system. But to truly engage Nova Scotians, it is the duty of our legislature to give them something in which to believe. As we prepare to celebrate our democratic heritage, it is vital that all members in this historic chamber continue to work constructively within the minority government delivered by the people of this province, finding positive common ground and ideas to change our province for the better. As part of our democratic system, we welcome both our newest MLA, representing the people of Cole Harbour–Eastern Passage, and our new Speaker. I know all members wish them well in their duties in this chamber. We are so blessed in Nova Scotia that we sometimes take for granted the very real reasons we choose to live, raise families, and thrive here. From my own Whitney Pier and the experiences and wisdom of the many immigrants who made a life in our community, to the rugged shores off Lockeport, a community built on the riches of our fishery, I have had the privilege of seeing this province in a new light in my first year as the Queen’s representative. I appreciate, more than ever, our unrivalled natural beauty, our abundant resources, and the vibrant spirit and hard work of Nova Scotians. And it is thanks to that combination that the economy of our province is healthier and stronger today than it has been for decades. Our unemployment rate has become the lowest the province has experienced in a generation, with an unemployment rate in Halifax even lower than in Toronto. Help wanted signs are everywhere. And there’s more good news on the horizon. Over the next five years, we are looking at 600 new high-paying jobs in aerospace, 1,100 in the financial services sector, and 2,500 in information technology. EnCana will develop its $700-million Deep Panuke natural gas project, creating over 1,000 jobs and helping to keep our skilled petroleum workers at home. Of course, ensuring that the full benefits of our offshore petroleum resources flow to the people of our province is an extraordinary victory for our economic well-being, now and for our future. The 2005 Atlantic Accord is alive, well, and better than ever. In fact, it is anticipated that Nova Scotians will gain more dollars over the original estimates of the 2005 Accord and also more than the 2007 federal budget offered us. Resolving this dispute with the federal government on the Atlantic Accord confirms that Nova Scotians are the principal beneficiaries of their offshore resources. Our Premier’s negotiations also secured a federal promise to finally settle the 20-year-old issue of our Crown share of offshore resources. Our government is confident the Crown share will mean hundreds of millions more dollars for the people of this province. The resolution of these important issues and our positive economic outlook, combined with our government’s sound fiscal management, have put Nova Scotia firmly on the path to becoming a “have” province. From one end of our province to the other, local entrepreneurs are using their ingenuity and determination to make a better future. In Yarmouth, for example, Tri-Star Industries opened doors in Panama through a $2-million contract to provide this new market with emergency ambulances. Our provincial business development agency’s new five-year plan will build on the 18,600 new direct and spinoff jobs created over the last five years and continue to help transform our economy and help us get to The New Nova Scotia. This growth has been cultivated by positive leadership. Six back-to-back balanced budgets, with the seventh on its way, a plan that has put us in a position to start paying down the debt, and increasingly positive credit ratings from major bond-rating agencies are drawing the world’s attention. We are getting out of the way of business growth by cutting red tape and taxes. Our government will continue to provide leadership in growing our economy. While a strong dollar is great for consumers, it challenges our exporters, as do high energy prices, plummeting housing starts in the US, and changes in global market conditions. Just ask the Christmas tree growers, our people in the forest industry, or our tourism operators. Our Premier has joined other provinces in urging the federal government to quickly set up a meeting of first ministers to discuss the impact of the high dollar on Canadian companies and workers. In the meantime, our government will continue to help our fisherman and farmers and others adapt to these challenges and take advantage of emerging opportunities and new technology. Our growing cultural sector not only represents economic success for our province, but also offers the world a picture of who we are. We recognize that enriching the opportunities for our musicians, our artists, our organizations, and our communities is vital to our growth. To help develop and promote the talent of our people, we will double our spending on culture over the next three years. An increase in our film tax credit will help us compete in the film production industry. Our economy is doing well. We will continue our efforts to ensure that all parts of Nova Scotia enjoy the benefits of our economic growth. A healthy economy is our province’s foundation. Without it, we would be unable to reach our vision of The New Nova Scotia. Vision of The New Nova Scotia The New Nova Scotia is our destination for this province for the year 2020. ... It is a place that offers everyone a fair shot at life’s success, while helping those who need a hand. ... It is a place with safe streets and safe communities. ... It is a place with world-class health care and education and a vibrant economy with a bright future. ... It is a place where protecting our environment and growing a green economy have a central place in economic planning and daily decision making. ... It is a place where people and governments understand that living within your means is crucial to sustained growth. The New Nova Scotia is a place where people stay to build careers, raise families, and realize their dreams. It is a place where proud and determined people work hard to ensure that their province secures its rightful place in Confederation. Our vision is supported by carefully developed economic and social plans elevating what truly is, as others constantly discover, one of the best places on earth to live. Economic Plan Our economic plan, as outlined in Opportunities for Sustainable Prosperity, outlines a bold vision for making Nova Scotia one of the economic leaders of the 21st century. This plan sets out a framework to achieve economic competitiveness, as well as defining specific actions that will produce results for years to come. This plan calls for investment in and strategic access to our human, social, financial, natural, and built capital. It calls for tax and regulatory regimes that encourage competitiveness, more efficient transportation, and better communication links and infrastructure. It calls for investments in clean air, water, and natural spaces and a skilled work force to sustain vibrant communities. Our economic plan will ensure that we have a foundation for positive growth throughout this century. Social Plan Sustainable economic progress can only occur if we are also making progress on the social issues facing Nova Scotians. Our social plan will outline how we will reduce the barriers that prevent Nova Scotians from enjoying and participating to the best of their abilities in the economic life of our province. Our government will shortly unveil the Social Prosperity Framework, expanding on how existing programs and planned initiatives will be co-ordinated to support social prosperity now and in future. The Strategy for Children and Youth and the Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy will flow from that framework, as we begin to put this plan into action. Public consultations are taking place on a Poverty Reduction Strategy. Strategies relating to labour force development, caregivers, improvements to health-care delivery, and educational achievement will follow. The focus of our plan is to offer essential social support for our citizens and our communities to enable them to become full participants in The New Nova Scotia. Our economic and social plans are inextricably linked. One’s success depends on the other. Five Immediate Priorities Five immediate priorities, flowing from our economic and social plans, will move us along the path towards The New Nova Scotia.
Over the next 12 months, our government will focus on
Educating to Compete The skills shortage we once said was on the horizon is here, now. Nova Scotia must compete with other strong economies, with Alberta leading the pack, for every skilled trade and profession. It is telling when, in Nova Scotia today, it is easier to get an appointment with a dentist or optometrist than it is to find a skilled, experienced— and available—carpenter. Because our skills shortage is driven by long-term trends in trade, technology and demographics, a solution to the skills shortage will not be found overnight. We must act now to address these challenges and prepare Nova Scotians for the jobs of the future—a future that can be realized to its fullest potential only with a skilled and educated workforce, ready to compete in the economy of the 21st century.
Educating to compete means raising the bar for our children’s education.
In just three years, we have invested almost $50 million to achieve the
goals of the province’s four-year plan for public education, Learning
for Life II: Brighter Futures Together. We will continue to fund the goals
outlined in Learning for Life II and work with our education partners to
develop the next steps. The Premier’s Forum on Student Achievement generated ideas that
will help us reach new global standards in classrooms across our
province, forming the basis for Learning for Life III: Learning to Excel. We are making a difference for all students by
We know that the cost of post-secondary education often dictates
the career choices our young people make, so we have lightened the
student debt load for our future leaders.
While we have made progress, more will be done to bring Nova Scotia
tuition in line with the national average by 2010–11. Recent losses in our manufacturing sector have seen good-paying jobs
disappear. Our government is helping these distressed workers
through a new and often difficult chapter in their lives.
Educating to compete means capitalizing on the skills and ideas
of newcomers to our province and providing opportunities to lure
expatriates back home.
Protecting Our Environment There is no concern with such far-reaching consequences for our planet
than climate change. The world is slowly waking up to this threat. Our province has become a leader in tackling this issue head on.
Nova Scotians have given us the momentum through their desire to
protect our environment. Some believe that protecting the environment is bad for business, but
we know that the health of our environment, the economy, and our
people are interconnected. We legislated this crucial connection in our
Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act. Real progress will be made on our 2008 environmental goals as
we move aggressively to meet our 2020 provincial targets. The
province’s Round Table on Environmental Sustainability will hold our
government accountable to those aggressive targets.
In our commitment to protect 12 per cent of Nova Scotia lands by
2015, consensus was reached between stakeholders like the Colin
Stewart Forest Forum members, along with industry players and government,
to designate a large new wilderness area at Ship
Harbour–Long Lake in Halifax County.
This follows the designation of the Blue Mountain–Birch Cove Lakes
Wilderness Area, situated on Halifax’s doorstep. Nova Scotia has one of Canada’s best conditions for wind power
generation and some of the highest tides in the world. These present
opportunities for Nova Scotia to become a leading producer of
renewable energy. The Bay of Fundy is a prime example. We will
champion efforts to make tidal power a key and growing component
of our energy mix.
So that local communities can meet higher environmental standards,
we will
Our coastal areas are essential to our economy, our environment, and
our heritage. Our government will ensure that a coastal management
framework is in place within two years.
While the benefits are obvious, reaching our environmental goals
costs money. The $42.5-million Canada ecoTrust for Clean Air and
Climate Change, which includes the Nova Scotia Municipal Climate
and Clean Air Fund for local governments, will help.
Our actions to reduce the impact of our carbon footprint are working.
In response to our renewable energy standards, Nova Scotia Power is
increasing the availability of renewable wind energy six-fold over the
coming years. This will result in enough clean, renewable energy
to power 100,000 homes and contribute to Nova Scotia’s growing
reputation for leadership in climate change.
In the next fiscal year, a dedicated Ministry for the Environment will
be created. While the task ahead is monumental, greater still is the reason for
reducing the effects of our carbon footprint on this planet. It is, and
always will be, our priority to adhere to our commitments, meet the
targets we’ve set, and help change the habits of Nova Scotians so that
all will act as stewards of our environment.
Better Roads and Infrastructure In order to compete in the global economy, in order to better connect
Nova Scotians to each other, in order to provide the services that a
modern economy and all Nova Scotians demand, our province
requires better roads, libraries, courthouses, schools, hospitals, and
Internet connections.
Our problem is that Nova Scotia has an $8-billion infrastructure
deficit standing in the way of our ability to provide the connections
and public buildings that Nova Scotians need.
Despite our financial constraints, progress has been made.
Aggressive efforts to maintain and enhance our vital road links mean
that our government has met the first half of its four-year goal
to pave 2000 kilometres of roads in the province. Every cent from
the gas tax, plus tens of millions dollars more, has been invested in
our highway system.
The most significant infrastructure program is bringing high-speed
Internet to every corner of our province by 2009. Nova Scotia will be
the only jurisdiction in North America to put broadband within reach
of all its citizens.
This is one of the building blocks of The New Nova Scotia and will
invigorate lives, both young and old. The expansion of broadband to areas beyond the successful
Cumberland County pilot project is under way. Rural businesses will
be able to participate in the online economy for the first time. Lack of
high speed will no longer be a barrier to rural investment. No longer
will IT jobs be urban jobs only. Becoming Canada’s Atlantic Gateway is a significant achievement of
our government.
The agreement with the federal government recognizes that the
distance from many Asian ports through Suez to Halifax is shorter
than the distance from those ports to Vancouver. It recognizes that
Halifax is a vital link to markets as far as Chicago and beyond.
While the Port of Halifax is central to the gateway, there are
opportunities for projects in other ports such as Sydney, the Strait of
Canso, and Yarmouth.
Gateway funding will be used to market our ports to shippers around the
globe, build a Centre of Excellence for Transportation Logistics, and
address the issues of truck congestion in downtown Halifax. We will begin
the design work on the Burnside-Sackville Expressway in 2008.
Construction will begin in 2008 connecting Highway 101 with Trunk 1 in
Middle Sackville.
The time to plan for a growing Port of Halifax is now.
Creating a brighter future for the entire province requires lifting the
potential of our capital city, Halifax, to a higher level. The heritage of
our capital is a treasure but often is used to block or slow development.
We enjoy our proud heritage because early entrepreneurs like
Alexander Keith and Samuel Cunard took advantage of business and
commercial opportunities to sow the seeds of prosperity that we enjoy
today. Today’s entrepreneurs should be encouraged, not discouraged,
from contributing to the growth of Halifax.
There is keen interest from financial service companies to locate here.
More Class A office space is needed to make room for new growth.
Shortening the appeal process for new development will help ensure
that we do not lose those opportunities to another city.
We will combine the old with the new to grow this beautiful region.
A perfect example is the revitalization and greening of an old city
tradition—the Halifax Farmers’ Market. A $2.25-million investment
made by this province will help bring our farmers’ goods to a bustling
market. This new eco-friendly seaport market will put money into the
hands of Nova Scotian farmers and entrepreneurs while building on
a historic tradition.
But what we have been doing so far to prepare for the future is
not enough.
To grow our economy for the 21st century, we will improve our road
system through a program to twin and modernize highways from
Yarmouth to Sydney by 2020.
Our need to grow our province for the new century also means new
courthouses and libraries, arenas and recreation centres, hospitals
and schools. What we do not need, and will not do, is increase our
debt burden to build this vital infrastructure.
Many governments are dealing with their infrastructure deficits
through partnerships between the public and private sectors. Bridges
and roads in British Columbia ... hospitals in Ontario ... courthouses
in Alberta ... highways and ferries in New Brunswick ... ring roads in
Australia ... public schools in England ... have been delivered on time
and on budget. Examples in Nova Scotia include the Cobequid Pass
and the East Coast Forensic Hospital.
Our government is building its expertise to develop and manage
strategic infrastructure partnerships. Our first step was to create the
Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. Our
second step will be to make it mandatory that significant government
infrastructure investments will pass through a filter forcing
consideration of them as a transparent, accountable Strategic
Infrastructure Partnership.
Nova Scotia has learned from the mistakes of the P3 schools of
the 1990s. Instead, our government will build responsibly, with
a transparent financial process, the infrastructure needed for
communities and people.
Safer, Healthy Communities While ensuring that our communities grow economically, there is no
greater need than to ensure that our communities are safe. Building safer, healthy communities is a priority for Nova Scotians
and for our government.
News in the past months of random acts of violence startled all who
value the otherwise safe communities in which they live and raised
fears about the effects such violence could have on our streets, our
way of life, and how others view us.
We have acted by
In addressing the roots of crime, we must continue to battle against
the growing gap between rich and poor.
Of course, the best weapon in the war against poverty is a job. Our
healthy economy is helping to make a difference.
Between 1996 and 2005, the number of Nova Scotia families living
in poverty has fallen by 35 per cent. With 65,000 more Nova Scotians
working today than in 1996, more of our neighbours are earning
a living, contributing to our economy, and growing stronger
as individuals.
For many families, no matter how hard they work, it is difficult to get
ahead because providing the essentials for their children consumes so
much of their pay cheque. That leaves too many mothers and fathers
in our province forced to make the agonizing decision to go without
family prescription medicine insurance, when their employer doesn’t
offer it and private coverage is too expensive.
That is about to change.
On March 1, 2008, all Nova Scotians will have access to a new
Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare program. There will be no cost to sign
up. This will offer the 180,000 Nova Scotians without coverage of any
kind the support they need.
Even those with insurance know there are some life-saving prescription
drugs that are so expensive that private insurers will not cover them.
There is more we can do. We are
Wayne MacNaughton, who lived in shelters for six years,
said, “people living in poverty know what the solutions are.” Our
government is listening to those suffering in our communities and
will find new ways to raise their standard of living, and their sense of
independence, self-worth, and hope.
Shorter Wait Times
Nova Scotians are justifiably proud of their health-care system. That
we dedicate so much of our hard-earned tax dollars to ensure that our
fellow Nova Scotians have universal access to health care is indicative
of the caring and compassionate nature of our people.
Too often, however, Nova Scotians who need medical care are waiting
too long to get the attention they need. Waiting for months or
sometimes years for a specialist appointment or a necessary procedure
robs the individual of their quality of life. These delays can prolong a
person’s pain, interrupt careers, and disrupt family life.
Working harder to shorten wait times is crucial.
Immediate relief is being prescribed through the following:
On the issue of retaining and recruiting health professionals, the good
news is:
Having enough hospital beds for those in need means opening
vital long-term care beds throughout our communities. Within weeks,
72 new beds will open up for seniors in the capital region. Like the
new beds scheduled for 2010, they will reflect home-like environments
for smaller numbers of residents, modernizing the way we treat our
most valued members of society.
Our continuing care strategy, which includes a 50 per cent increase
in home care and over 800 new long-term care beds by 2010, will
continue to ease waiting times for a hospital bed. We will also focus
on efforts to ensure that more seniors are able to stay in their own
homes longer. Our new Department of Seniors will ensure that seniors
remain a vital part of our success.
To look at the issue of shorter wait times with a long-term view, we
must continue to promote a healthier population.
By focusing on health promotion and disease prevention, we can
create a generation less dependent on the health system, reducing
wait times and creating a healthier society.
Whether it be to prepare a soccer player for the 2011 Canada Games
in Halifax or simply to know that your child is a strong enough
swimmer to stay safe in our lakes and ocean, the ultimate goal is a
fitter, healthier society.
To ensure that the differences we are making and will make in the
future on wait times are protected, along with the vital day-to-day
health services Nova Scotians rely on, our government will introduce
legislation that will help avoid unnecessary interruptions in service as
a result of a strike, or the threat of a strike, as is more often the case.
The legislation will protect the collective bargaining rights of our
valued and hard-working health professionals.
Consistent with the Canada Health Act, our government will establish
protection, standards, and control that will allow publicly funded,
private facilities to play a clearly defined role in providing access to
certain and prescribed health services.
This initiative will help us shorten wait times, while adhering to
our firm pledge to honour the Canada Health Act and a universal,
publicly funded health-care system.
Conclusion
The New Nova Scotia will lay the foundation of the new century.
We have social and economic plans that describe our policies from
now to 2020. Our government will focus its energies on our five
immediate priorities for the next 12 months.
As I said at the outset, we are blessed to live in this province. As one
passenger on one of the dozens of planes that took refuge at our
airport on September 11, 2001, said of Nova Scotia, “I was flying from
Frankfurt to New York for a vacation, but landed in heaven.”
Our government and our people are building on our success and
reaching for the stars ... literally.
Members of the International Phoenix Science Team at Dalhousie lent
their expertise to the construction and operation of the Canadian-led
laser radar—LIDAR. When the Phoenix Mars lander touches down
near the northern polar cap of Mars in May 2008, our explorers of
today will be part of this historic moment.
Our military men and women stand in harm’s way in service to our
country here, in Afghanistan, and around the globe. Shaun Fevens of
Yarmouth is an outstanding representative of such bravery.
Our Nova Scotia farmers put food on our tables every day—food that
hasn’t cost our environment because of the miles it has travelled to
reach our plates.
The tremendous talent and depth of ability within this province was
recognized through Joyce Barkhouse, Peter Clarke, Tom Forrestall,
Flora MacDonald, and William Stanish—this year’s recipients of the
Order of Nova Scotia.
Groups like the volunteer fire department in Westchester prepared
food for area residents left in the dark when Noel blew through the
province. And our power crews worked through the nastiest elements
of that storm to restore light to thousands of residents.
Amherst resident Mike Fullerton ran into a burning building to save a
neighbour and the family’s pets with no thought to his own safety.
High school students David Shepherd and Travis Price stood up to
bullies and said, “enough” on behalf of a fellow student and, with the
help of hundreds of fellow students, sent a creative and peaceful
message to bullies everywhere.
Jackie Barrett, the “Hercules of Halifax,” brought home four gold
medals at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer games.
This summer, Joe DiPenta carried, with great pride through his home
community, the famous Stanley Cup. Cole Harbour native Sidney
Crosby won the NHL scoring championship, the Hart Memorial
Trophy for most valuable player, and the Lester B. Pearson Award.
Al MacInnis, the Pride of Port Hood, was honoured for his hockey
excellence when he became the first Nova Scotian inducted into the
Hockey Hall of Fame.
This is such a small sample of the many stories of heroics, of personal
conviction, and of purpose in Nova Scotians, both young and young
at heart. Our government, along with all those who wish for a better
future, will leave the beaten track when necessary to find solutions
and make new in-roads on the path to The New Nova Scotia.
It is what Nova Scotians have always done to succeed.
It is what Nova Scotians will continue to do. Thank you. Merci. Tapada Leibh.
God bless Nova Scotia.
God bless Canada.
God save the Queen. Note: Links to external sites
(pages outside the Nova Scotia Legislature web site) will open in a new
browser window. | |||||||||||||
| Top | |||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||
