More Nova Scotians Secure New Jobs

More Nova Scotians than ever have found jobs under the province's economic growth strategy, Premier John Hamm said today, Jan. 9.

According to today's monthly employment report from Statistics Canada, more than 7,000 new jobs were created in Nova Scotia during the last 12 months. The total number of working Nova Scotians now stands at 439,500 for the month of December 2003 - an all-time high.

"Despite the challenges of the last year, our government's plan for growth and job creation through lower taxes is clearly working," said Premier Hamm. "By growing the economy through lower taxes, not only will more Nova Scotians find jobs, but Nova Scotia will also have more money for the things people care about, like health care and education."

Numerous independent private-sector forecasters, including the Conference Board of Canada and the Atlantic Provinces Economic Council, predicted economic growth and job creation in the province for 2003 and 2004. This was based in part on Nova Scotia's plan for lower taxes, a key part of Opportunities for Prosperity, the economic growth strategy launched in the fall of 2000.

"Lower taxes help working families and they help build a stronger, more prosperous Nova Scotia," added the premier.

During the summer of 2003, the government issued taxpayer refunds to more than 400,000 Nova Scotia taxpayers. Starting Jan. 1, 2004, income tax rates were reduced by 10 per cent, making Nova Scotia income tax rates the lowest east of Ontario. The lower-tax plan also removes 3,500 low-income Nova Scotians from the province's tax rolls.