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Premier's Speeches
Yarmouth and Area Chamber of Commerce
Rodd Grand Hotel, Yarmouth
Remarks by Premier Rodney MacDonald
February 15, 2007
Thank you ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Tetford, and congratulations to incoming chamber president, Mr. Barro. Of course, it's great to be here with my colleague and a true champion of this community and his constituency, Minister Richard Hurlburt.
Earlier today I had the pleasure of joining folks in Greenville to officially open the new community centre. It's truly a community-led project and a partnership with the province and the Nova Scotia Community College. A lot of people deserve thanks and congratulations for their hard work.
It's a special pleasure to join all of you and to be here in Yarmouth again. Our first trip as a government, over seven years ago, was to Yarmouth. I was struck by the tenacity of the people here and your MLA, Richard Hulburt, is no exception.
To the Chamber, I applaud your leadership on advocating for your area and for improvements to key infrastructure such as highways 101 and 103, the airport, and the ferries.
We are all working towards the same goal: a vibrant business community, opportunities for our people, and a stronger and more prosperous future.
Like many of you, I have a young child and I want him to have real options to want to stay in Nova Scotia, to work here, and to grow. I want that for all our children and future generations.
Business is the engine driving this growth and prosperity, but what about government? What can a government really do? This is a question I ask myself all the time. Nova Scotia has two choices about how to advance the economy, pay for essential services, sustain our health and education systems, and have the clean environment that we cherish and deserve.
One choice is to turn to the federal government for more and more transfers. Another choice is to turn to one another and grow our economy for ourselves by building on our strengths, marketing ourselves, and growing our connections and opportunities in the global economy. Let me ask all of you which option would you choose?
I want us to choose our own path—a path to a New Nova Scotia.
One year ago, I became premier. I ran for this leadership role because I want to see things done in four key areas:
- Creating winning conditions through a globally competitive business climate, workforce and connections, such as the Atlantic Gateway and a province that is fully connected with broadband Internet.
- Seizing new economic opportunities by being a leader in information technology, R&D, innovation and in the clean and green economy.
- Advancing our democracy—engaging youth and voters, and taking positive steps such as campaign and political party finance reforms to make political fundraising more transparent and limiting donations.
- Building for individuals, families, and communities by taking steps so Nova Scotians are healthier and more active, steps for accessible services, safe communities, neighborhoods, workplaces and vibrant communities.
Government must take a big-picture view. We're taking steps now that will reap positive results tomorrow and 10, 15, 20 years down the road.
When I said winning conditions through global connections, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is the Atlantic Gateway. Nova Scotia ports are North America’s closest mainland links to Europe and to southern Asia via the Suez Canal.
Gateway will mean faster delivery of goods throughout the world and thousands of new jobs. It's not only about containers. We would also use our infrastructure to increasingly become ports of call for cruise traffic and we would also grow air cargo. Better connections and winning conditions will also benefit tourism.
In the Yarmouth area, we’re working on a ‘total market readiness program’ with 50 tourism businesses to help them raise the quality of their products and services. We’re also working with the South West Shore Development Authority on a long-term destination development plan for this area.
Ladies and gentlemen, earlier I said the path to the New Nova Scotia means seizing opportunities like IT and the green economy.
I am talking about our province becoming a leader in information technology. Our businesses and workforce are technologically savvy. This is attracting companies to the province and enabling home-grown successes. Our strength in technology is one of the best opportunities to keep young Nova Scotians in our province because the jobs that used to draw them away will instead be right here.
And, my friends, the green economy is here to stay. Within six years, renewable energy sources (wind, tidal, solar, biomass and hydro) will produce enough electricity to supply 100,000 homes in Nova Scotia.
Local companies like Scallop Shell Pollution Solution Ltd. in Freeport are finding success in the environmental industry. They produce hand cream and cleaners for tiles, woodwork and glass from scallop waste.
And my government is establishing a green forum at the deputy minister level so that the issues before government will have a green filter.
The New Nova Scotia will also be a place where every child and every worker is prepared for the challenges and opportunities ahead. My government is working with a number of partners on this front, including linking employers with skilled tradespeople who are just starting their careers. Here in Yarmouth County, Germain Mechanical and Graves Electrical are among 55 employers taking on apprentices.
I believe the new Nova Scotia will be a place that attracts and welcomes visitors, immigrants, and a place that beckons home our friends and relatives who have dispersed across the country.
When I was in Alberta recently with the other Atlantic premiers, my regional colleagues and the media who covered our trip noted that Nova Scotia is doing something different—something right.
Let me conclude with this: We are well positioned and we’re positioned much like Ireland was years ago. If you take a look at Ireland today, it’s a vibrant place to live, a vibrant economy, and a lot of young people have returned to Ireland.
It takes leadership, it takes decisions, and it takes teamwork to get it done.
If our industries are successful, the province will be successful. Success depends on being globally competitive and globally connected.
Here at home, the New Nova Scotia is about defining ourselves as one of the most attractive places to live, work, and play on the planet.
Thank you.