The forestry sector needs time to diversify and move toward a sustainable future. That is why the transition fund announced in December will be placed in trust – so it is available for use over multiple years.

The amount will be topped back up to $50 million. So far, $13.5 million in initiatives has already been endorsed and announced by the Forestry Transition Team.

Lands and Forestry Minister Iain Rankin announced the new trust to about 180 members of the forestry sector today, Feb. 12, at the Forest Nova Scotia Annual General Meeting in Halifax.

“We know this is a challenging time for forestry workers and their families as the sector goes through a period of significant change,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “I made a commitment to workers that we would be there for them in this transition. That’s why we have set up new supports in the short term and are creating this trust - so we have the flexibility to fund more initiatives going forward.”

A three-member trustee board will oversee spending decisions and will include one government nominee and two transition team nominees. The trustee members will be announced once appointed.

The transition team will continue to listen to and work with those in the forestry industry to provide their best advice on short-term supports for workers and businesses, and on innovative approaches that support the sector over the long-term.

Source: Release

Nova Scotia welcomed a record setting 7,580 new permanent residents in 2019 helping to grow the population and strengthen the province’s economy and communities.

According to recently released federal government data, the 7,580 new permanent residents surpass the previous record of 5,970 in 2018.

“Our immigration growth is something to celebrate. We plan, support and invest in immigration and it’s making a positive change in our province,” said Immigration Minister Lena Metlege Diab. “The outreach we do to attract the labour force our employers say they need is making a difference.”

The province endorsed 1,208 newcomers and their families under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot in 2019 compared to 872 in 2018. The pilot was created in 2017 to address labour shortages in Atlantic Canada by allowing eligible employers to hire foreign-trained workers and international graduates.

Based on estimates from Statistics Canada, Nova Scotia’s population reached a high of 976,768 as of Oct. 1, 2019. This is the fastest growth over a 12-month period since 1972, at 1.28 per cent.

Source: Release

Exports totalled $6.05 billion last year, up 5.7 per cent from 2018. This reflects three years of continued increases for the province as products and markets have diversified.

“More and more customers around the world are recognizing the high quality of Nova Scotia products,” said Premier Stephen McNeil. “I want to congratulate business people across our province for their global success. We have worked hard to build strong international trade relationships and will continue those efforts.”

The largest export increases from last year were from seafood products with exports over $2.3 billion, an increase of $277 million or 13.5 per cent from 2018.

Tire shipments were up $55 million or 4.9 per cent to $1.2 billion while frozen fruit exports increased $34 million or 32 per cent to $138 million.

Source: Release