Fall Session Focused on Jobs, Preparing for Future Opportunities

Government secured almost 1,000 new jobs this fall and was busy helping workers, businesses and communities prepare for the jobs and opportunities already coming to Nova Scotians.

Premier Darrell Dexter said the fall session of the House of Assembly, which wrapped up today, Dec. 6, shows how Nova Scotia is starting to turn the corner on 20 years of the worst economic growth in Canada.

"Nova Scotians today have extraordinary opportunities, the likes of which this province has never seen," said Premier Dexter. "Shipbuilding, the Lower Churchill project and construction of the Maritime Link, offshore exploration and innovating Nova Scotia's resource sectors, like building the forest of the future -- everywhere you look the province is poised for prosperity."

Last month, Nova Scotia saw its most significant week of job creation in a decade, with almost 1,000 good engineering and high-tech jobs. PROJEX Technologies announced it will expand its business into Nova Scotia, creating 440 jobs for new and experienced engineers, while IBM announced it will establish a global contact centre in Halifax, creating another 500 jobs.

Premier Dexter also appointed the Commission on Building Our New Economy to seize the opportunities and ensure the benefits are shared by communities across the province.

Government opened the province's fifth collaborative emergency centre to keep emergency rooms open and reduce wait times. People in Pugwash and the Annapolis Valley are getting better care, with 24/7 access to emergency services and same-day or next-day medical appointments.

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador recently secured the federal loan guarantee for the Lower Churchill project, which will save Nova Scotia ratepayers about $100 million over the life of the project.

That means Nova Scotians are that much closer to the good jobs, lower, more stable power rates and 35 years of clean energy that will come with development of the Lower Churchill.

Government is also ensuring lower, fairer power rates for Nova Scotians with legislation passed this fall. The act caps the amount ratepayers cover for executive salaries at Nova Scotia Power, it eliminates executive bonuses from the rate base and makes multi-year rate hearings mandatory so families can better plan a household budget.

"There is such potential right now for a transformation in this province," Premier Dexter said. "Nova Scotia is in a very unique position -- we can give the next generation a better opportunity. That hasn't happened here in a long time."

The legislature sat for 30 days during the 2012 fall session of the 62nd General Assembly. Under the previous government, the legislature sat for 21 days in the fall of 2008, 17 days during the same session in 2007 and 19 days during that period in 2006.

"This government made a commitment to put the legislature back to work, and we continue to do that," Premier Dexter said. "Longer sessions ensure a much greater opportunity for the opposition to ask questions. This government welcomes that accountability."

During this session government passed 33 bills, including five private and local bills.

Other highlights from the session include:

• hiring 12 new family doctors to provide better care for people in the Annapolis Valley and northeastern Nova Scotia
• opening a new primary care clinic in Guysborough
• investing in improved satellite dialysis services for patients in the Annapolis Valley
• passing legislation that allows domestic violence victims get out of their lease early, without worrying about the financial implications
• expanding Lucentis and Avastin treatments to Cape Breton for patients living with wet age-related macular degeneration
• approving legislation to better support Nova Scotia's creative economy, with a one-stop shop for creative businesses
• investing in expansion of radiation treatment centre in Halifax to ensure better care and shorter waits for cancer patients
• imposing strict rules for debt collectors, debt managers and settlement service companies to better protect Nova Scotians in debt and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect
• making life a bit more affordable for Nova Scotians with a spouse or partner in long-term care by ensuring they keep more of their shared income
• launching the Emergency Department Physician Coverage Program to further reduce ER closures
• passing legislation that gives police another tool to help bring missing persons home to their families and loved ones
• amending the Human Rights Act to include gender identity and gender expression to protect the rights of transgender people

For a complete list of bills passed this session, visit http://nslegislature.ca/index.php/proceedings/status-of-bills/ .