Education Key to Future

Nova Scotia needs to invest in education today, so young Nova Scotians are prepared to take advantage of the opportunities inherent in the "new global economy," Premier Russell MacLellan said today.

"I'm talking about a new global economy, where knowledge is the currency and education is the mint," the premier told the Metropolitan Halifax Chamber of Commerce in the annual State of the Province address.

Last year, Nova Scotians "increased their investment in education by almost $100 million," and the premier said, given the province's tight finances, the question was asked: "Can we afford to spend more on education?"

"The answer from this government was clear. Given the opportunities at our doorstep, given the fact that without superior learning, our children would be lost in the 21st century, we can afford nothing less."

He said public investment in education will pay off, and he advocated reinvesting some of the proceeds from offshore gas development in education.

"The legacy we leave, even after the gas is gone, must be Nova Scotians who are ready to meet and to shape their own future."