Province to spend $200M on economic development plan
Posted Nov 23, 2010 02:06:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Darrell Dexter is out to turn the tide of economic decline in Nova Scotia by spending $200-million on a plan he calls “jobsHere”.
“Anything with an economic development mandate has been told, this is the New World Order,” says the premier. “It’s time to get on board.”
The money, most of which is either already budgeted or already accounted for under previous initiatives, will be spent on helping businesses compete, fostering business innovation, and training workers for higher-value jobs.
Of the overall dollar figure announced Tuesday at the NSCC Waterfront campus, about $60 million will be spent on skills development while the remaining $140 million will go toward productivity, innovation and international commerce initiatives.
The premier says the plan should put Nova Scotia companies in a position to trade globally, and develop the workforce to do the jobs of the future.
To boost the potential pool of skilled workers, the province will also expand recognition of foreign credentials and prior learning. The government says it plans to double the number of immigrants to Nova Scotia to 7,200 by 2020.
Funds will also be established to boost venture capital and to help companies access international markets.
No business tax cuts are in the plan.
