Stream Another Success Story
Stream International has quickly become another Nova Scotia success story, Premier John Hamm said today, May 24.
Since the call centre began operations last fall in Glace Bay, the workforce has exceeded initial targets, now totalling more than 900 workers. This number also includes dozens of former miners and mine employees now working for Stream.
"Stream workers are a tangible example of Cape Breton's world- class labour force. This is your day. So be proud of your achievement," Premier Hamm told employees at the company's official grand-opening ceremony. "You are a vital sign that Cape Breton workers can compete with anybody in the world and succeed."
Recent surveys by Stream have shown that Glace Bay is the top location among the company's 22 operations around the world. The ranking is based primarily on efficiency and productivity. The federal, provincial and municipal levels of government worked together last year to promote Glace Bay to the company.
"It's clear that when governments work together with the community, we can achieve positive results," said the premier, who was joined in Glace Bay by Stream company officials and John Morgan, Mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
According to Statistics Canada, Nova Scotia recently posted the second-highest rate of economic growth in the country, finishing only behind Alberta. Last year, 3,800 jobs were created and an additional 3,000 new jobs are expected to be created this year. A recent report from Human Resources Development Canada also reported that employment numbers in Cape Breton were at their highest level in 15 years.
"Our job as a government is to make sure that all Nova Scotians, be they in Glace Bay or Yarmouth, share in this prosperity," said the premier. "Not only does our economic growth strategy reflect this belief, it also recognizes the unique challenges and opportunities of the Cape Breton economy."
Launched in the fall of 2000 following months of consultation around the province, Opportunities for Prosperity became Nova Scotia's first economic growth strategy in about a decade. More than 10,000 Nova Scotians currently work in the call centre industry, most at above-average salaries.