News Release Archive
PREMIER--ECONOMIC DIVERSIFIVATION AGREEMENT REMARKS ----------------------------------------------------------------- Following are remarks by Premier John Savage at today's Economic Diversification Agreement announcement at Province House: In Nova Scotia today we have one major priority--one single-minded agenda. That priority--and that agenda--is jobs. Jobs that will enhance community economic development right across this province, from Cape North to Cape Sable. We want to develop an economy that provides meaningful employment for our people -and particularly our young people who deserve the chance to live and work at home. What we want is not short term work, but sustainable work that will strengthen our communities and take us into the global environment of the 21st century. The Nova Scotia government is working in partnership with our private sector to create a diversified economy that addresses these challenges -and I give full credit to the entrepreneurial spirit of Nova Scotians, not only in our business sector, but in our research and university sector as well, for generating the kind of dynamic new economy that is gathering momentum in this province. But there is no question that--at this stage in our economic development--federal dollars are still very important in helping us to build prosperity and to overcome our stigma as a "have not" province. That's why I as premier, together with my fellow premiers in the Atlantic region, have consistently supported a strong central government for Canada. Today's announcement adds $188 million dollars to the $52 million already in the previous EDA agreement. That's a total of $240 million available for promoting economic development in this province. We welcome this investment in our province. We will use it wisely to help build a brighter future for ourselves and for our children. Let there be no doubt--Nova Scotia has all the ingredients for success. We have the educated workforce, the world class universities and job training facilities, the prime geographic location for global trade, the transport links that make us a gateway to NAFTA second to none--that's a big drawing card particularly for European investors. We have all these natural assets--but capital sure helps us to make use of them, and this is a large amount of capital. This government has made it very clear that it is not government --but the private sector--that will generate the activity and the jobs that will take us into the 21st century. But government has an important role to play in creating an environment that encourages growth. We are challenged--as a government--not only to adapt to change, but to lead change. That's another reason why I consider this agreement to be of particular significance to Nova Scotia. Not only have the federal and provincial governments earmarked a significant amount of capital to help develop the economic successes of the future. We have mutually identified the strengths on which to build that success. We have developed a common strategy. As a proud and determined people, with rich talents and resources upon which to build, we Nova Scotians are anxious to move beyond the dependence on federal dollars that has prevailed in recent years. But first we need to consolidate our natural strengths so that we can be competitive. This agreement helps us to do that. It is a partnership with our federal colleagues which helps us to reach our full potential as Nova Scotians. It is an investment in our future. A province that offers tremendous advantages to investors as a competitive gateway to North America, a province that is an international centre for education and research, a province that builds growth through increased foreign export and trade, a province that is committed to developing its internationally renown strength in technologies based on the ocean and the environment, a province that celebrates its unique culture and heritage... This agreement is based on that vision. The common strategy which we have developed with our federal partners will enhance our capacity to develop new products, new markets, and to increase our foreign exports. This is a personal priority for me as premier. It is the reason I have become involved in leading trade missions to selected regions of the world. It is Nova Scotia's best hope for economic growth -and we are already seeing the results, with a 15% growth in foreign exports in the past year alone. I am also pleased with the focus on marketing our strength in education and research, and the export potential of our universities. In the past couple of months alone we have seen the expansion of a local pharmaceutical company--Efamol in Wolfville; the marketing of Dalhousie's physiotherapy training in Kuwait, the development of a new advanced business program at Saint Mary's. Clearly by investing federal dollars in these trends, we are making an investment in excellence. I also would like to publicly applaud the fact that this agreement will inject much needed capital investment in the economies of communities across the province. As a province of small towns and rural communities, nothing could be more important. We are committed to strategies--such as this one --which will help to diversify the economies of our smaller communities, because they are the areas that need capital the most. They are the heart and soul of Nova Scotia. And so, let me just say in closing that I am very pleased to be here today, I am pleased to be participating in this agreement. Mr. Dingwall, Mr. MacAulay ---Nova Scotians will make good use of this capital, I can assure you of that. We will use this money to build our strengths, to revitalize the economies of our communities, to create sustainable jobs and to recover our traditional economic leadership in this region! -30- Contact : David Harrigan 902-424-6600 mfm