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Question: We are working to enhance economic opportunities in our province
Politics is often – like construction – male-dominated. You are one for those already in the province and those who want to come
of 13 male premiers in the country. What would you say is needed home. We have an ambitious agenda over the next several years,
to get more women into politics? with major health-care redevelopment projects in Halifax and Cape
Breton, and a robust highway program, to go along with other
Premier McNeil:
capital spending. We are looking forward to the jobs and economic
We should continue to make sure there is more consensus-
activity these projects will create, and would welcome our
building in the political process and be mindful of the tone of
daughters and sons home to help build our province.
political discourse. We also have to ensure our daughters see
themselves in politics and our other institutions. It was important Question:
to me to have a female deputy premier since I was first elected. What are the biggest challenges ahead for the province of Nova
I’ve also appointed more women to the executive council than any Scotia? And further to that, what are some of the biggest
other premier, and my party has seen more women elected as opportunities?
MLAs than any other party. We also have many women in highest
Premier McNeil:
ranks of the civil service. Outside government, we were able to
Some of the biggest challenges are around labour and the
achieve gender parity on the provincial and family court bench
workforce. We need to grow our population, ensuring we have the
through our judicial appointments.
skilled workers required for the infrastructure and economic needs
Question: of today and tomorrow. We need to continue to enhance our
Construction is cyclical, and our members often times have to apprenticeship program, creating opportunities to see more red
travel to where the jobs are. For Nova Scotians, like others, this seal certified apprentices. We need to make sure we are attracting
could take them to Alberta or elsewhere. Other professions are and developing more skilled workers; the Nova Scotia Community
permitted travel and accommodation incentives and tax credits College and our universities are doing great work in that regard.
when they travel for work. The skilled trades are not. What is your Through workforce attachment programs like Graduate to
government’s commitment to offering tax credits or incentives Opportunity and Innovate to Opportunity, we are also supporting
around worker mobility to address geographical labour shortages young skilled workers as they start their careers.
that are arising in the country?
Question:
Premier McNeil: Do you have any thoughts and/or messages you would like to
Incentives or reimbursement for travel and accommodation would convey to Canada’s Building Trades Unions over 500,000
normally be provided by the employer. We are not aware of any members as we head toward the fall election?
Canadian jurisdiction providing tax credits for workers that travel
Premier McNeil:
to another jurisdiction to work, for skilled trades or other
My message to the trades is we need to continue to build Canada
professions. For apprentices who receive on the job practical
to see economic opportunities open up from coast to coast to
training in another province, we would recognize that training
coast. That means building the infrastructure, whether it’s
towards their apprenticeship program.
highways, buildings, pipelines, telecommunications, transmission
lines, etc. that will enhance the economy and create jobs for the
skilled trades and other workers.
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