Premier's remarks: State of the Province

Thank you for having me here.

I am pleased to be able to speak to you today about the state of the province.

To begin, I would like to acknowledge our province’s professional public service, particularly Bob Fowler, who has been a tremendous help to me, and the new government, during the past six months.

As senior deputy minister, Bob has done a great service to this government, and to Nova Scotia, no matter which party was in power.

For that I thank him, and wish him all the best in his retirement years.

When I spoke to the Chamber in March of this year, I talked about leadership, and the attributes needed in a Premier.

I said then that “to truly provide leadership, a Premier has to show discipline and focus. A Premier has to explain why progress must sometimes be slow and a Premier has to demonstrate how he is advancing the best interests of our province.”

I intend to do just that.

We were elected with a plan to make life better for today’s families.

Nova Scotians rightly expect that a party will honour its commitments if they elect it to government.

Our plan is made up of seven key commitments that we will implement over four years.

I take that plan seriously, as do my colleagues in government.

Each commitment for the current year has been kept, or is now in the process of implementation.

We are well on our way to accomplishing everything we said we would in this current year.

We have stimulated the economy and are creating thousands of jobs by maximizing federal infrastructure dollars.

In fact, that commitment led to the investment of more than $600 million in new libraries in Halifax and Antigonish, new bridges and roads across the province and new recreation facilities.

Over three years, we expect this commitment alone will create and maintain 7,000 jobs.

By introducing a new home construction rebate, we’ve helped kick-start the economy and keep tradespeople here at home.

Nationally, building permits are down by 27 per cent to date, compared with the same period last year.

In our province, building permits have remained stable.

A Manufacturing and Processing Investment credit will go into effect Jan. 1.

That credit will create jobs and encourage manufacturers to invest.

The improved equity tax credit will make it easier for entrepreneurs to get access to capital.

We are following through on our commitments to improve health care and to make life more affordable.

We hired Dr. John Ross to act as our emergency room advisor.

And over the next three years we will take further steps to ensure emergency rooms stay open across the province.

We took the HST off basic home electricity, saving families millions in home energy costs.

My government announced it would fast-track increased funding for transition houses across Nova Scotia.

This spring, for the first time in more than a decade, transition houses will see an increase in funding.

We are making life better for Nova Scotia families.

My government will continue to move forward with the commitments we made to Nova Scotians for the upcoming year.

These include doubling provincial immigration targets and initiating an immigrant job strategy;

...providing 1,300 home insulation grants for qualified home owners;

...creating 250 new community college seats targeting high-demand trades and professions;

...setting up pre-hab teams to reduce wait times for surgery;

...and creating a Prior Learning Assessment Pilot Program, just to name a few.

These are modern, smart initiatives that will help make Nova Scotia a leader again.

Over the next four years my government will maintain jobs and put the province on a sustainable path.

That is a better deal for Nova Scotia families.

When Nova Scotians voted in June, they chose genuine leadership.

They chose a government that will live within its means.

We intend to deliver.

We will restore the sound financial foundation needed to once again make this province a leader in Canada, and the world.

Nova Scotia has all the ingredients to be a thriving and successful province where people can secure jobs, and enjoy the incredible quality of life we have to offer.

To reach our potential, we must live within our means.

If government does not act, the debt of the province will grow by more than a billion dollars every year, threatening public services like health care and education.

The Economic Advisory Panel laid out three basic tools for governments to address this situation...

We can raise taxes, cut spending and spur economic growth.

As we go forward, we must choose the right balance.

We will bring forward a multi-year plan–starting with the next budget.

We will balance the books at the earliest reasonable opportunity.

As the Economic Advisory Panel recommended, the Finance Minister will hold a series of public consultations leading up to the spring budget.

We are asking Nova Scotians for ideas and input to help shape these important decisions.

The Panel has told us that along with growing the economy, we must increase revenues and reduce spending…tough choices.

But I know that the only thing worse than making these tough choices is to do nothing.

My colleagues and I are prepared to make the difficult choices now so the province can afford to maintain programs and services like health care and education in the long run.

Already an expenditure management review is underway.

That review will force government to be more strategic in delivering public services.

We will be smarter in how we spend.

This comprehensive review will take time.

We are expecting it to last about two years.

We know the results will be critical to help put Nova Scotia on a sustainable path.

The Department of Finance will also continue with its tax review.

It will focus on how the tax system can best support the economic growth, spending and revenue initiatives recommended by the Advisory Panel.

I have also asked my MLAs to talk to their constituents.

And, more importantly, I have asked them to listen.

We want to provide ample opportunities for Nova Scotians to share their ideas so that we are able to make informed choices....and the right choices for the province.

With challenge comes opportunity, and there are plenty of opportunities in Nova Scotia.

I am optimistic about the tremendous potential for economic growth, particularly through training and education.

This was evident during the recent trade mission to Vietnam.

It’s a natural fit for Nova Scotia.

Vietnam is the second fastest growing economy in Asia, second only to China.

Nova Scotia destination imports from Vietnam have increased steadily over the last five years.

Vietnam is rapidly growing as a hub for container traffic and Halifax offers the closest all-water connection to North America for ships crossing the Atlantic ocean.

It connects businesses to a vast transportation network, with quick and cost-effective access to major North American markets.

We recognize the global economic downturn significantly changed the value proposition of the Atlantic Gateway.

My government will take an efficient and effective approach to this initiative – through the creation of the Nova Scotia Gateway Secretariat.

The Secretariat will identify our most important advantages and the best business case for Nova Scotia as an international transportation Gateway.

This initiative reflects Nova Scotia’s responsibility to provide leadership on an issue of great importance to our economy, to the region and beyond.

I want Nova Scotia to become a learning province, because a well-educated, well-trained work force is a real incentive for investment.

We must meet the educational needs of two-year-olds through to the literacy requirements of workers in their 40s and 50s.

This will help us to keep the jobs we have, and create more.

In the private sector, Michelin’s Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative is another example of innovation embracing the needs of labour.

This initiative has been successful in recruiting, retaining and promoting Aboriginal employees through skills training.

The program helps to remove obstacles that can sometimes separate employers and employees.

People are Nova Scotia’s greatest single selling point.

That’s a major reason that RIM and Manufacturers Life value their operations in Nova Scotia — because they know a stable and loyal workforce is a major asset.

Turnover is low....which cuts down on costs...and provides the added value that only experience can bring.

There are also new opportunities for Nova Scotia to market its considerable learning expertise.

For example, the number of Vietnamese students studying abroad is expected to grow by 25 per cent per year.

I am ready to vigorously pursue Nova Scotia’s opportunities.

I take a page out of Joe Howe’s book, when he said “Brag about your country. When I am abroad, I brag of everything that Nova Scotia is, has, or can produce; and when they beat me at everything else, I turn around on them and I say ‘How high does your tide rise?’”

This evening, I leave for Copenhagen, joining government and business leaders from around the globe.

Some governments will go to Copenhagen to resist the inevitable change.

My government will stand proudly among those who embrace that change and intend to benefit from it.

We are going to promote Nova Scotia businesses–who lead the way in innovation.

We’re also going to ensure that Nova Scotia’s interests are considered in Canada’s position on climate change.

This province is prepared to do its part to contribute to national and international climate change commitments.

We are leading the way in climate change policy, with legislated commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase the use of renewable electricity sources.

We are committed to increase renewable energy to 25 per cent by 2015. We have appointed Dr. David Wheeler of Dalhousie--who will consult stakeholders on ways to achieve this target.

When the necessary regulatory changes are made in the spring, Nova Scotia will have the most aggressive renewable energy standard of any government in North America.

In fact, Nova Scotia will go to Copenhagen and stand proudly as the only jurisdiction in Canada with hard caps on green house gas emissions in the electricity sector.

The world is also noticing our leading edge companies.

Nova Scotia Power and its partner, Open Hydro, recently installed the largest in-stream tidal device in operation in North America — in the Bay of Fundy.

With the highest tides and some of the fastest currents in the world, we know that if the technology can work there....we can make it work anywhere.

We’ll also shine a spotlight on LED Roadway lighting--recognized around the globe for its innovative, energy-saving technology.

As we work to address the financial challenges we are facing, we need to focus on growing our renewable energy sector — as a source of stable, reliable power.

I know that it is important to work with industry to address climate change and to strive to continuously reduce emissions.

I believe that it is important to advance the efficiency with which society uses carbon fuels.

That’s why an integrated approach to growing the economy is so important.

A good business climate is vital, as is the recognition that success must take place in a world that recognizes the importance of sustainability.

Nova Scotia is positioned for success in this new economy.

Nova Scotia businesses and industries are proving every day they can compete...and can seize the opportunities that lie before us.

This investment will help to keep us competitive.

So will a creative economy.

I know that each table has members of the creative community sitting with them.

This thriving sector is one of the reasons that the metro area is already so attractive and can be an even stronger magnet for investment.

Today, Nova Scotia is showing the strongest signs of recovery anywhere in the country. According to CIBC’s world market report, Halifax has the strongest momentum coming out of the recession in Canada. That’s right.

Halifax leads Toronto and Montreal. Halifax leads Calgary and Vancouver.

In fact, Halifax leads 21 other major Canadian Cities in nine different measures of economic activity.

Our diversified economy and reduced vulnerability to economic shocks have ensured we have fared better than many other parts of the country.

I want that trend to continue.

This government’s door is open to business, labour, public and non-governmental groups, because no one has a monopoly on good ideas.

We are taking our place in the world, knowing that Nova Scotia is home to world class industries and universities, the base for Canada’s navy and the home to so many men and women serving their country in far away fields of action.

Let me pause here to say that regardless of the political debate that takes place in a free society, Canadians understand the sacrifices and service undertaken by members of the Canadian Forces, and their families.

Nova Scotia supports the women and men who serve our country.

Nova Scotia will do its part to be nation builders, partnering with the federal government, side by side with our Atlantic neighbours and the other provinces.

While our opportunities are plentiful, so are our challenges.

Difficult choices must be made.

Our resolve cannot weaken.

Our leadership will not waiver.

Even in the face of these steep challenges, I know the choices we make today — will lead us to a brighter tomorrow — and the best of times for Nova Scotia.

Thank you. I would now be pleased to take your questions.