Federal Action Needed on Shipbuilding
PREMIER'S OFFICE- Federal Action Needed on Shipbuilding
Premier John Hamm hopes Friday's forum on a national industrial marine policy results in a strong call for federal action on Canada's struggling shipbuilding sector.
The forum, entitled Charting a Course: Towards a Canadian Industrial Marine Policy, will be held in St. John's, Nfld., and will feature presentations from business and labour representatives and the four Atlantic premiers.
The premier's presentation will focus on current opportunities for growth in shipbuilding and marine fabrication.
"Atlantic shipbuilders and fabricators- and indeed their counterparts in Central Canada and British Columbia -need a level playing field to compete internationally. In addition to positive domestic measures, the federal government needs to develop a planned consistent approach to meeting our country's marine procurement requirements."
Over the last decade, thousands of jobs in this industry have been lost across the country- affecting hundreds of Nova Scotians. The losses have been due to irregular federal ship procurement and Ottawa's elimination of support for the industry while foreign competitors subsidize their own shipbuilding industries. For the last several years, the Atlantic provinces have joined with the other provinces and territories to push the federal government for a national shipbuilding policy aimed at restoring competitiveness to the sector.
"Nobody supports the federal government returning to direct subsidies of the industry," said Premier Hamm. "However, for our shipbuilding industry to not only survive, but grow, we need Ottawa to help it remain competitive through a stronger voice at international trade negotiations, in concert with positive action here at home, such as more aggressive tax measures, export assistance and domestic procurement policies."
A recent stakeholder consultation report by Industry Canada concluded that most stakeholders in the shipbuilding industry supported the need for federal action for this sector of the economy. Premier Hamm will be joined at the forum by interim Liberal leader Wayne Gaudet and former NDP leader Robert Chisholm.
"I want Ottawa to hear that Nova Scotia is united in favour of meaningful action to ensure that our province has a viable shipbuilding industry for years to come," the premier said.
Nova Scotia shipyards are located in Halifax, Dartmouth, Pictou and Shelburne.