Province Supports Families, Protects Good Jobs
Hundreds of Nova Scotia families will continue to benefit from well-paying, long-term jobs at BlackBerry.
"BlackBerry has been a solid employer in Nova Scotia for nearly a decade, providing hundreds of good jobs for Nova Scotia families," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "BlackBerry could have picked another place to bring its jobs and to establish a Centre of Excellence, but they feel the energy, enthusiasm and expertise in Nova Scotia.
"Working with partners like BlackBerry is one more way to ensure more Nova Scotians can build a great life for themselves and their families right here at home."
BlackBerry is one of the world's top information technology and wireless companies. Last week, the company launched its highly anticipated BlackBerry 10 platform.
The province announced today, Feb. 7, it will support BlackBerry to maintain its Nova Scotia base, establish a BlackBerry 10 Centre of Excellence and, over the next five years, protect hundreds of well-paying jobs it provides Nova Scotia families and people like Cynthia Sullivan.
"The job I have at BlackBerry matches my skills and education," said Ms. Sullivan, a technical support employee in Halifax. "Because of BlackBerry, I don't have to leave home to find a good quality job, it's right here."
Four-hundred employees would earn almost $120 million over five years, money they can spend in their communities and to make life better for their families.
"BlackBerry is pleased to partner with the province of Nova Scotia to create a Centre of Excellence on the East Coast. These partnerships help to foster innovation and support BlackBerry's competitiveness on a global scale," said Andrew MacLeod, BlackBerry managing director for Canada.
BlackBerry will employ at least 400 people annually with an average salary of at least $60,000, and invest $4 million annually in the centre of excellence to upgrade skills, purchase new equipment, hardware and software to support the new platform, and for research and development. In return, the province will invest $2 million annually for five years, gaining more than $9 million in estimated direct tax revenue generated by BlackBerry's $120-million payroll.
BlackBerry is a global leader in wireless innovation. The BlackBerry smartphone revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Since launching BlackBerry, the company's customer base has grown to more than 79 million BlackBerry customers and operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.
The province's investment is from the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund, which pursues investment opportunities for communities in transition, industry sectors, regional support, small businesses programs, infrastructure and large industrial ventures.