Good afternoon, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

It's good to see my cabinet colleague, Minister Bolivar-Getson here today.

Thank you for the invitation to return to the beautiful South Shore to speak with the valued members of the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce.

I want to start off this morning by recognizing a significant, in fact, outstanding achievement by the business community here.

As I'm sure most of you are aware, the Bridgewater Development Association recently launched its own Business Retention and Expansion or BRE program.

Just one year after receiving its BRE certification, the BDA has won an international award for its efforts. At the 2007 Business Retention and Expansion International Conference in Regina last month, the BDA walked away with the top Community Award for a North American town with a population under 50,000.

This effort was the only Canadian project nominated and the decision panel was made up entirely of American judges.

I know Ida Scott, the Bridgewater Development Association's BRE project co-ordinator is here today. Congratulations, Ida. I also know you shared the award with Everett Backman, a regional development officer with Nova Scotia's Department of Economic Development.

I want to thank you both for representing the kind of innovation and dedication that my government believes is critical to creating the winning conditions for a healthy, sustainable economy.

Now, neither Ida nor Everett, would want to leave the impression that this was just a two-person effort. It took the support of the Chamber, including President Judy Koster, and the participation of hundreds of businesses and volunteers to generate the positive response BRE received here in Bridgewater.

That's the kind of positive climate my government wants to support and encourage.

It's a key focus of my government: Re-investing the hard-earned tax-dollars of Nova Scotians in ways that make real differences in the lives of individuals and their families.

Some of those investments are taking shape before your eyes; like the new Lunenburg County Justice Centre under construction now on High Street. This investment will provide a new level of service for the people of Lunenburg County. For the first time, all justice-related services will be under one roof in a modern, accessible building.

Justice, and its administration, are the cornerstones of any healthy society. They are essential to the safer streets and communities we all want.

This year, the Task Force on Safer Streets and Communities made 44 stops around the province and heard from more than 800 Nova Scotians. One of the most common issues was the need for better access to recreational facilities.

It simply makes good sense. Young people are less likely to resort to mischief, or worse, when they have better ways to occupy their time.

My government's ten-year, $50 million infrastructure investment plan will help build recreational facilities where youth can spend their time and energy and where society can exercise and interact.

Facilities like the Multi-sport Field-house and outdoor track for Bridgewater announced in April by Health Protection and Promotion Minister Barry Barnet. The Department of Health Promotion and Protection will invest another $470,000 in existing sport and recreation facilities on the South Shore this year alone.

That includes a new learn-to-sail wharf at the LaHave River Yacht Club and court improvements at the Bridgewater Tennis Club.

But, we all know, raising healthy children requires more support than providing appropriate outlets for their energy. Early childhood experts - and I include parents in that category - know that the first five years are critical.

That's why it's so important that working parents know their infants, toddlers and pre-schoolers have access to quality child care. Places that fuel mind, body and spirit can build on the foundation established at home.

That is why the Department of Community Services Early Learning and Child Care Plan will invest $130 million of taxpayers money in child care over the next ten years.

This year, in Bridgewater, that means $385,000 for the Small World Child Care Centre to build a new facility. It means funds to upgrade another nine centres in the Western region.

While we encourage more active lifestyles and support the youngest in our province - we are also working on ensuring care for the elders in our society. We are talking about a generation of people who sustained and built this province.

We must do better by them. We will do better by them. By 2010, the Province of Nova Scotia will have 832 new long-term care beds and another 721 will be replaced.

We are also expanding the definition of family members when it comes to applying for unpaid time from work to care for an ailing loved one.

Now, you might be wondering, why is the Premier talking to the Chamber of Commerce about social programs?

Well, how many of you here today are strictly business people 24 hours a day?

I'm willing to bet everyone here either has children, cares for aging parents or volunteers for any number of organizations. Maybe it's coaching the local soccer team or fund-raising for the food bank.

Individuals do not operate in isolation and neither should government. But government must recognize that people can't live on lifestyle alone - they need livelihoods; they need jobs.

I believe that the health of our economy, our environment and our society are linked.

That's why my government continues to work at creating the conditions for economic success. A strong economy will ensure we can sustain care for those who need it.

We support initiatives like the BRE program with policies that encourage existing business and entice new entrepreneurs.

As a government, we know that the only thing that frustrates business more than taxes - is red tape. Our Better Regulations Initiative will reduce paperwork by 20-percent in less than three years. It will streamline the approvals process to encourage development and growth.

As a government, we will continue to make smart investments in companies with strong employment and community track records. We're proud to be a part of Michelin's recently announced $40 million expansion project. Our $6 million investment will help create dozens of jobs and help Michelin remain competitive in the world economy.

And the world, I believe, is at our doorstep.

Just six weeks ago, I hosted the Atlantic Gateway conference. Nova Scotia is in a perfect position to capitalize on increased trade from India and China.

Container ships are facing backlogs in the Panama Canal - and post-Panamax vessels are simply too big to fit. The alternate route is via the Suez canal. And guess what?

Nova Scotia offers the closest North American port from there. We can't sit back and wait for the world to discover this accident of geography. And we won't. We'll continue to promote ourselves as the commonsense entry-point to North America.

My government will encourage trade by supporting small and medium enterprises.

Sometimes, that support can boil down to something as simple as access to high-speed internet.

Time is money and I know the sound of that dial-up can seem like the sound of coins slipping through your hands.

By 2009, in less than two years, all Nova Scotians will have access to Broadband.

The closing date for the request-for-proposals to provide that service is just two weeks away.

I know I've just spent a lot of time talking...given you a lot of information.

But I hope, if nothing else, you will leave today with a sense of just how hard my government is working to make Nova Scotia an even better place to work, live, and play.

We want to do more. But we must work within our means - it's the responsible thing to do. It's the reason why we are fighting so hard to restore the Offshore Accord.

I know none of you believes the spin being perpetuated by the federal government.. that Nova Scotia is just another have-not province trying to grab our cake and hungrily eat it too.

As John Crosbie so eloquently put it, "we haven't even had the friggin' cake yet."

All Nova Scotia wants is the economic development agreement we signed in order to accelerate our economic independence.

Killing the Offshore Accord will undermine our efforts to create the kind of climate that allows businesses like yours to flourish.

Make no mistake - the federal budget alters the hard-fought, signed agreement that protects current and future offshore revenues from equalization clawbacks. An agreement five years in the making.

In this room full of self-made women and men, I ask you : Would you walk away from a five year investment of time and energy that resulted in a signed contract? Would you compromise your future success for easy-money today?

No. You wouldn't.

You already know it will help pay off provincial debt and aid our efforts to build the New Nova Scotia; a globally competitive leader in the green economy, a safe place that can afford the kind of social programs that ensure no Nova Scotian is left behind as we work toward a better future.

The Offshore Accord - in its original form - will make all of our responsible, but difficult decisions worthwhile - because it will free us from our provincial debt that much sooner.

I know the Bridgewater and Area Chamber of Commerce has added its voice to those calling on the federal government to restore the accord. Your support is vital and I thank you for it.

This government - our citizens - need your influential voice. Remember..it's not just Nova Scotia's name on that contract..it's Canada's.

A country that respects the law and the right of hard-working citizens to improve their lives. If Canada breaks its word to Nova Scotia..who's next?

Make no mistake: Nova Scotians and this government will continue to do all of the hard work. All the federal government must do, is keep its promise.

Thank you.