Three Years Later, Stronger Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is becoming a better place to live, work and raise a family after three years of strong leadership, Premier John Hamm said today, Aug. 16.

In releasing the government's third annual report card at a breakfast this morning in Fall River, the premier cited more than 150 commitments kept since August 1999.

"Finally, after 40 years of living beyond our means...we have the power to do a lot more of the things we know are crucial to making life better for you, your families and all Nova Scotians," said the premier. "Our government knows that to secure vital social programs in the future, to secure greater opportunities for more Nova Scotians to live and work at home, we need to live within our means."

The report card, Strong Leadership...a clear course: Three Years Later, outlined the progress made during the last three years, including:

• passing a balanced budget this spring for the first time in 40 years;
• an economic growth strategy that has helped put 14,000 more Nova Scotians back to work since July 1999;
• an energy strategy to build on a growing industry that already employs 3,000 Nova Scotians;
• hiring more nurses and recruiting more doctors to the province;
• adding more than 600,000 new textbooks to Nova Scotia classrooms since 1999 and implementing new programs focused on grammar, reading, math and Canadian history; and
• nearly tripling capital spending on the province's highways, roads and bridges -- reversing a 20-year trend of spending reductions.

"In each and every year we have been in office, we put more money into our hospitals, schools and roads," said Premier Hamm. "We increased spending in these and other areas knowing we were investing in your priorities, protecting our children's future and advancing Nova Scotia's prosperity. And we still delivered on our promise to bring in a balanced budget in year three."

The premier indicated that work will continue to complete the remaining government commitments within the next year.