BY JENNIFER HOEGG
Kings County Advertiser/Register
Eastern Kings Chamber of Commerce (EKCC) Breakfast with Brison July 5 offered campaign trail anecdotes and a Wolfville Lions’ Club breakfast.
The Liberal MP, re-elected May 2 in a hard fought race, was in good spirits as he regaled the early morning audience with few self-deprecating jibes about the state of his political party.
Moving on to more serious topics, Brison updated the mostly business crowd on topics he covered in his 2010 breakfast event:- debt, energy and demographics- saying debt is higher, energy prices are up and population continues to flow out of the province.
While national employment numbers look good, Brison said he is concerned about the reality in Kings-Hants, where unemployment topped 12 per cent last month. He pointed to anecdotal evidence of difficult times, like Wolfville food bank’s 50 per cent jump in clients since the fall of 2008.
Household debt is up, not because people are irresponsible, Brison says, but because “they have seen their full time jobs replaced by part-time work”
During this period of ““global economic restructuring”, the finance and national revenue critic says, “ Natural commodities are doing well”, so mineral rich provinces are seeing economic upswings.
“We know the reality is there are many areas of the country that are facing hardships”
Kings and Hants counties have a slight advantage over neighbouring Annapolis, because of their proximity to Halifax, Brison said.
Which is why, he said, EKCC’s focus on highway twinning is a good thing. However Brison upped the ante on transportation, suggesting EKCC “ramp up” its emphasis on public transit.
Demographic necessity
What would create jobs and opportunities in the area? Immigration, Brison said. Attracting educated, entrepreneurial, young new Canadians is important. “New Canadians create jobs for themselves and for others.”
Praising PEI’s success in attracting 500 new Canadians and Manitoba’s population and economic growth linked to immigration policies. He pointed out Wolfville has the most diverse population in Nova Scotia with 12 per cent of residents born outside of Canada.
Suggesting the province’s NDP government’s plan to double immigration by 2020 and their request to lift the cap on skilled workers coming in from other countries is a positive move.
However, getting Nova Scotians on side can be a challenge. Brison said a recent online survey showed “some people saw immigration as a threat to opportunity”. He called on EKCC members to “play a leadership role” in welcoming immigrants.
“We need new Canadians to keep growth and prosperity. This is not a zero sum game.”
Besides boosting local populations, Brison pointed out “immigrants are a natural bridge to hot economies globally. Personal connections make a difference- trade relations and foreign relations are simply human relations.”
Debt crisis?
Brison raised the alarm on government debt levels, and urged the EKCC to back government efforts to restrain spending.
Suggesting when federal and provincial gross debt for Nova Scotia is totaled, the province has a 119 per cent debt to GDP ration- troubled Greece has a 130 per cent ratio- he said “we need to put the brakes on now or hit the debt wall soon.
“Regardless of who is in power in Halifax, as a citizen of Nova Scotia, I want them to make good decisions.”
Solutions? Brison says governments could cut cost by working together, for instance in the area of procurement services. “The capacity to save is there.”
Further focus on the “green economy”, in part by greening government buildings, would also help save money and create jobs, he said.
I’m amazed at what Nova Scotia Power gets away with. - Scott Brison
Another strategy for economic success he suggested, is preparing for a strong Canadian dollar by discussing plans with manufacturers like Michelin to manage accelerated capital investment in sustainable energy.
Addressing energy costs is key, he said. “Energy costs are a predictor of how competitive we can be.
“I’m amazed at what Nova Scotia Power gets away with, as a citizen. We have the dirtiest, most expensive power, the oldest grid and the highest paid executives.
“They are getting away with murder.”
Active leadership
Urging EKCC members to take a leadership role in agricultural science investment, Brison mentioned the growing local wine industry.
“I think we should be talking to people in Niagara 30 years ago, Okanagan 40 years ago… and talk about how we can learn from those regions.”
He says he wants to see Acadia included in the “research triangle”, similar to the role of Brock in the Niagara region, and expressed concerns about the proposed Dalhousie- Nova Scotia Agricultural College merger. “They are not growing crops on Citadel Hill. This is where the research should be happening.
“I don’t like how this going.”
Thanking Brison, EKCC president Andy Woolaver agreed the “science cluster” is a priority, along with highway modernization and transit.
“If we are guilty of anything (at EKCC), it is our efforts are not visible enough.”
