Province Législature Session Type de discours Date du discours Locuteur Fonction du locuteur Parti politique Nouvelle-Écosse 56e 5e Discours du Trône 10 Avril 1997 John J. kinley Lieutenant-gouverneur LIB Nova Scotia: Speech from the Throne, Fifth Session of the 56th General Assembly, April 10th, 1997 In the name of our Sovereign, I welcome you today to this, the opening of the Fifth Session of the Fifty-sixth General Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia. Since our last meeting, death has removed a number of distinguished Nova Scotians from our midst. My Government wishes to gratefully acknowledge their lives of service and mention here by name: - Clarence Gosse, a former Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. - D.L. George Henley, a former Minister of Lands and Forests and MLA for Cumberland West. - James Vaughan, a former MLA who represented Halifax North, Halifax Chebucto and Halifax Needham. - Ross Bragg, a former Minister of the Nova Scotia Economic Renewal Agency and MLA for Cumberland West and Cumberland North. - Ian Palmeter, Associate Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. - Martin Haley, a former Judge of the Provincial Court. - Dominic Melanson, a twice decorated veteran of two world conflicts, and the last surviving member of the Royal Canadian Regiment to have fought in the Great War. - Archie Neil Chisholm, a celebrated Cape Breton broadcaster, educator, storyteller and fiddler who enlivened and promoted his Island culture. - Jessie Morrison and Tena Emiline Morrison, Victoria County residents who made important contributions to the preservation of Gaelic culture. - Jim Pittman, a founder of the Folk Harbour Festival in Lunenburg. Also since we last met, there have been a number of Nova Scotians who have honoured their province by their achievements. Notable among them are Donald Mills of Eastern Passage, The Honourable Alan Abraham of Halifax, John Bragg of Oxford, and Marilyn Peers of Halifax who were inducted into the Order of Canada. Mary Ona Bjornson of Antigonish and Master Corporal Robert Fisher, of Dartmouth were made recipients of the Star of Courage; and Darren Meery of Scotchtown was awarded the Medal of Bravery. As well, Dr. John O'Connor of Dartmouth was named Family Physician of the Year by the College of Family Physicians of Canada. In Nova Scotia the tide has turned. My Government's biggest challenge in the coming months will be preparing Nova Scotians to take advantage of the economic opportunities that lie ahead. Four difficult years of tough decisions and rapid change are starting to pay off. The trends speak for themselves. Our economic growth is expected to improve again this year, then accelerate. A recent Bank of Montreal outlook put it this way: "we expect economic activity in Nova Scotia to rev up in 1997, then shift into higher gear in 1998." Furthermore Statistics Canada reports Nova Scotia will lead the country in new investment this year. Only Alberta is expected to come close to Nova Scotia's gain which is projected to reach 18.1 per cent. This compares with an anticipated national increase of 5.2 per cent. Nova Scotia's construction industry will be in the vanguard. Chief among the capital projects under way this year is a $750-million expansion at Stora Port Hawkesbury Ltd., and the $112.9-million construction of the Highway 104 western alignment. These two undertakings alone will put more than 1,000 construction workers on the job. More growth will follow this sector, next year, when anticipated construction begins on a pipeline to transport offshore Sable gas to market. Under the Benefits Plan for the Sable Offshore Energy Project, an estimated 3,900 short-term jobs could materialize in the development phase. Another 260 permanent jobs will open up during the production period. The good news is not confined to the construction industry or Sable gas. Nova Scotia, with 25,500 net new jobs to its credit since May 1993, is the undisputed leader in job growth in Atlantic Canada. Nova Scotia now has the lowest unemployment rate in the region. Moreover, this province has emerged from the last 12 months with the best job creation rate in the country. Based on current trends, Nova Scotia is expected to achieve record employment levels in 1997. In step with this new reality, My Government's focus will shift. The bulk of its reform measures is now complete. This means public services will stabilize, and in some areas, such as health and education, they will even expand. Buttressing this significant achievement will be a second consecutive balanced budget. This accomplishment, unmatched in this province for more than 20 years, assures the long-term survival of government-funded health care, education, and help to the disadvantaged. What was financially untenable is now secure. Government activities will now concentrate, more fully, on promoting economic growth and self- reliance. At the same time My Government will use its financial resources to improve and protect Nova Scotians' quality of life. That term embraces such things as good health care and education, respect for our natural environment and its resources, and responsible management of the province's finances. These new directions are apparent in government activities connected with Sable gas; improvements to the business climate; youth, training and jobs; research and development; marketing; investment in our economy; roads and highways; and health, education and children. One of the most important developments My Government must prepare for is the advent of offshore Sable gas. New legislation to regulate transportation and marketing of future gas supplies will be introduced shortly. The proposed Nova Scotia Gas Distribution Act will give this province one of the most progressive regulatory regimes in North America. My government will protect Nova Scotians' interests at regulatory proceedings on the Sable Offshore Energy Project and during hearings on the associated pipeline application. Meanwhile the Offshore Energy Office is working closely with business, industry, and the project proponents to optimize Nova Scotia's gains from this $3-billion gas and pipeline development. Many more opportunities are on the horizon for Nova Scotia besides Sable gas. To help bring them forward more steps will be taken to improve the climate for investment and job creation. July 1st, Nova Scotians will experience the first across-the-board income tax cut in the province's history. The personal income tax rate, payable to the provincial government, will drop 3.4 per cent. This will give consumers more disposable income and stimulate spending. An expanded Procurement Outreach program will help more interested Nova Scotian firms compete for government business. The Department of Business and Consumer Services will continue to eliminate, consolidate and re- package many of the nearly 300 government licenses and permits needed by business. A simplified fee structure will also be proposed this year. Three new multi-service centres for business and the general public are scheduled to open in Halifax, Dartmouth and Kentville. Fair and equitable terms will be sought to transfer the federal Halifax International Airport to a locally- controlled authority. Strong advocacy will also continue in the interests of improving the Port of Halifax's competitive position. Aquaculture, which last year doubled its Nova Scotia production to $13-million, will benefit from recent changes made by the Fisheries and Aquaculture Department. At the Environment Department, a one site, one inspector, one approval process will be instituted. This will end the expensive and time-consuming practice of sending several government inspectors, charged with different inspection tasks, to the same site. Concerning youth, training, and jobs, major strides have already been made to adapt our education system to the shifting needs of the economy. The Nova Scotia Community College will continue the march this year by introducing 11 new programs, ranging from business geographics to digital animation. The selections are based on job market demand. This responsiveness, including programs tailored to specific employer requests, has made the college increasingly popular with students. Enrolment is expected to exceed 8,000 full-time registrants in the new academic year. Action to help students leap the job barrier posed by inexperience is high on My Government's agenda. Well-paid work experience will be offered once again to college and university students through Nova Scotia Links. The federal-provincial program helps students pay their tuition, gain career-related work experience and find jobs after graduation. My Government will offer high school students more in the realm of co-operative and entrepreneurship education, and in school-to-work programs. New investment will be made to increase the number of job placements for co-operative education students in university and community colleges. Incentives will also be developed to sustain the placements. As well, students will be given more opportunity to catch the entrepreneurial spirit. Once again students will be helped to start summer businesses through the Youth Entrepreneurial Skills program. Of the 1,300 students who have been part of the program, 500 have parlayed their summer experience into full-time self-employment. On another front, the 4-H and Rural Organizations Section will join with two provincial departments and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency to hold the first youth entrepreneurship camp for 12 to 16 year-olds. The importance of research and development to our future economic growth has not escaped My Government's attention. The amalgamation of the Technical University of Nova Scotia with Dalhousie University, this month, is expected to attract substantial new investment from business and industry. The attendant economic activity could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Nova Scotia. The province's reputation as a place to do research has already obtained a huge boost this year with the announced $6-million heart study by Merck Frosst Canada Inc. Aware of these and other investment prospects, the Nova Scotia Technology and Science Secretariat, in partnership with post-secondary institutions and the private sector, is laying the groundwork for development of the province's first research and development policy. The Agri-Tech Park in Bible Hill has been designated the province's centre for commercialized agricultural biotechnology. This facility will make the province a leader in the field with the help of InNOVAcorp, biotechnology companies and the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. Not to be forgotten either is the ongoing impact of Nova Scotia's research and development tax credit, which remains very competitive world-wide. This year My Government will continue to aggressively market Nova Scotia's products, skills and services abroad. The province's exports have climbed by 27.5 per cent since 1993. Building on that momentum, a strategic initiative will be undertaken, in partnership with the private sector, to further boost export sales. Our top export commodity last year was seafood which posted record values of $799.4-million. New sources of foreign sales are also being sought in this industrial sector. The province's Fisheries and Aquaculture Department is working with the boat building industry to tap into foreign markets for increased boat sales and technology transfers. Impressive inroads are also being made in drawing international attention to our new exports in education. The Nova Scotia high school curriculum, for instance, is being used by high school students in Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. More foreign students are discovering the excellence of our educational institutions. These initiatives are in keeping with My Government's plan, in partnership with the province's universities and community colleges, to attract 1,000 new international students to Nova Scotia by the end of the century. Attainment of that goal will give our education system cosmopolitan sophistication and a new source of revenue. Overseas sales in the new area of environmental industries, will be aggressively pursued this year. Trade missions to the Caribbean have already yielded contracts worth $12-million as well as jobs for Nova Scotians. More partnerships will be announced soon. Tourism will gain from our marketing efforts too. During two Years of Music which started this year, My Government will encourage foreign and domestic visitors to experience the rhythms of Nova Scotia. The theme will publicize our cultural achievements. In addition, visitors will be drawn to Cape Breton to take part in Cabot Meeting `97, marking the 500th Anniversary of John Cabot's arrival in North America. Ecotourism another tourism growth area along with culture, is also expected to increase again this year. My Government will continue to capture new business investment and put public money into key programs and activities that strengthen our economy. In partnership with the federal government, we have put together an investment program for economic diversification. The $240-million Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement has already invested in more than 150 projects in targeted growth areas. These include education and research, transportation, oceans and the environment. Leads will be aggressively tracked down and pursued to bring new businesses to this province. Recent successes from this endeavour in the form of Cisco Systems, Newbridge Networks, Mentor Networks, Keane Inc., Phonettix (Fonix) Intelecom and OSP Consultants Inc. show My Government is on the right track. Extensive planning by regional development authorities is reviving local confidence and enterprise. In partnership with the federal government and municipalities, My Government will support a one-year extension of the Infrastructure Works Program. Home repair assistance will be offered this year to eliminate health and safety hazards. Homeowners, people with disabilities, renters and rooming house occupants will benefit. The Shipper Assistance Program will help Nova Scotian companies stay competitive this year. To date 26 companies have taken advantage of the program which offsets the loss of the federal freight subsidy. The film industry will get a lift from My Government's support of three privately operated sound stages. The Film Development Tax Credit and the Film Development Corporation are also providing help to this industry which is expected to put $100-million into the provincial economy this year. Maintenance and expansion of our highway network have long-term significance for My Government. In recognition of how important these undertakings are for safe travel and commercial progress about $12-million has been committed to linking Highway 103 at Barrington. Another $54-million will be spent on twinning the corridor for Highway 104 from Salt Springs to Alma. Before Christmas, the four- lane western alignment of Highway 104 will be open to traffic. More announcements will be forthcoming, of particular interest to Halifax and Sydney area commuters. Underpinning all these attempts to further economic growth is the determination to give Nova Scotians the means to attain greater financial security and self-fulfilment. Critically important to that pursuit is the provision of reliable, first-class health care and education for our people. Additionally it requires a sensitive approach to the needs of our children and the disadvantaged. After four years of extensive restructuring in health care and education, the size and pace of change will diminish. Gains will be consolidated and some services will be bolstered. Efforts to remedy chronic doctor shortages in affected communities will continue this year. In this connection there will be further consideration of a major change in the way doctors' services are paid for and organized, as outlined in the discussion paper, Good Medicine: Securing Doctors' Services for Nova Scotians. These matters are being pursued in consultation with the Medical Society of Nova Scotia and the general public. Nova Scotia's home care will continue to grow faster than any other government program. Already 18,000 people have been served by its operations. This year Home Care Nova Scotia will stabilize its basic offerings in home hospital and chronic home care and begin to selectively phase-in new services. These will include such things as home oxygen, palliative care, occupational therapy, social work, mental health services and orthopaedics for children. Regional health boards will re-deploy millions of dollars, once spent on administration, to patient care this year. Hospital funding will stabilize. In keeping with the new emphasis placed on promoting good health and preventing disease the Health Department will launch a healthy communities initiative in four locations. More improvements in Emergency Medical Health Services are on the way. The emergency health system has already been redesigned and re-equipped. Medical care, impossible to provide at the scene of an accident or injury only two years ago, now routinely saves lives. In a related move, Enhanced-911 service will become available province-wide when the entire Halifax Regional Municipality joins the grid this summer. The three-digit phone number will summon emergency help anywhere in Nova Scotia. Our province will be the first in the country to enjoy complete coverage. The wisdom of My Government's actions to modernize our education system is becoming apparent. Administrative streamlining has meant more education dollars are reaching students in the classroom. As an example, a four-year plan to reduce class sizes will be unveiled this year. Attentive to other aspects of the learning environment, My Government will work to ensure our schools are sate places where students and teachers follow high quality curricula and maximize their scholastic achievements. The Education and Culture Department, in co-operation with its education partners, will work to support overall school improvement including special education services at the elementary level, re- organization at the junior high level, and programming that supports the future career and educational choices of all senior high school students. My Government is also responding to the needs of minorities. The Department of Education and Culture is working with the Council on African Canadian Education to develop a proposal for an Afrocentric Learning Institute. And for the first time, the Mi'kmaq community will have a representative on each regional school board. There is more meaningful parental involvement than ever before in our schools. School Advisory Councils have mushroomed from 50 last year to 225 this year. The success of public-private partnerships in producing new high-tech schools will speed the pace of construction. More schools will be built more quickly. Seven of these schools are now in various stages of construction. Sherwood Park Education Centre in Sydney, the first school completed under the program, has captured national and international attention for its design and technological sophistication. Children with serious emotional and behaviour problems as well as their families will receive new help through more timely intervention and specialized child placements. In addition, a new secure treatment facility will be set up in Truro that will keep children in Nova Scotia who would otherwise be sent out of province. My Government is also committed to participating in the National Child Tax Benefit program. It aims to reduce child poverty and encourage families on social assistance to attain financial independence. The Ministers of Education and Culture, Community Services, Health and Justice, together with the Minister responsible for Youth, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding. It commits My Government to an integrated approach to child and youth services. A Children and Youth Action Committee, staffed by representatives from the four departments and the Youth Secretariat, is working to bring this about. No more eloquent testament to the importance My Government places on helping the disadvantaged exists, than the budget record. There have been no cuts to the Department of Community Services' global budget since 1993. In fact the allocation actually increased within the last three years. Few governments in Canada, in similar financial circumstances, can make that claim. My Government is proud of the principled way it deals with public affairs. It has steadfastly followed a four-track strategy in simultaneous pursuit of economic growth, financial stability, social responsibility and governmental renewal. This course has not resulted in the massive layoffs experienced in some other jurisdictions, nor has it placed social programs in jeopardy. Instead it has put our finances in order, saved programs and services, and laid the groundwork for the new optimism and confidence our economy points to today. God Save The Queen; God Bless Nova Scotia; God Bless Canada.