Province Announces Jobs and Building Plan

The province is investing $610 million in more than 150 projects that will generate direct employment equal to 4,500 full-time jobs in communities across the province.

Graham Steele, Minister of Finance, today, Dec. 9, released the province's Jobs and Building Plan. The plan outlines capital expenditures for the province for the 2012-13 fiscal year and focuses on creating good jobs and growing the economy, improving health care, and making life better for families across the province.

"The Jobs and Building Plan invests in projects that are most important to Nova Scotians like emergency rooms, schools, roads, and hospital equipment, while providing good jobs in communities from one end of the province to the other," said Mr. Steele. "Nova Scotians want their government to respond flexibly to economic conditions and that is why this year's capital investments are clearly focused on job creation and infrastructure."

Spin offs resulting from the Jobs and Building Plan are expected to employ a further 3,100 Nova Scotians.

The Jobs and Building Plan will invest:

• $281 million in highways
• $158 million in buildings
• $57.2million in information technology projects
• $13.1million in vehicles and equipment
• $ 87.9 million in capital grants
• $12.8 million in land purchases

"For the last three weeks, my colleagues have traveled the province to share the details of the Jobs and Building Plan with the people of the province," said Mr. Steele. "Nova Scotians learned first-hand that their government was investing in projects that are smart and strategic and will allow even more Nova Scotians to stay and build a life here."

Jobs and Building Plan details already announced include:

• $1.5-million for renovations at the South Shore Regional Hospital that will reduce overcrowding and improve patient flow
• $2.25-million to repair to the exterior of the Dominion Building, current home of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, to preserve a landmark pre-Confederation building in downtown Halifax.
• $79 million to construct, upgrade and modernize Nova Scotia's aging schools in dozens of communities like Glace Bay, Baddeck, Weymouth, Dartmouth, New Glasgow and Liverpool.
• More than $2 million to make courthouses and justice centres safer in Amherst, Antigonish, Bridgewater, Digby, Halifax, Kentville, Port Hawkesbury, Sydney, Truro and Yarmouth.
• $6.8 million to fund infrastructure upgrades to hospitals to be able to establish collaborative emergency centres in more communities throughout Nova Scotia like Annapolis Royal.

This is the only the second time in the province's history, the government is announcing the details of capital expenditures before the spring budget. This sends a clear signal of what the province intends to do in the year ahead and gives the private sector greater opportunity to prepare for upcoming projects, resulting in efficiencies and cost savings for the province.

For a copy of the Jobs and Building Plan visit www.gov.ns.ca/treasuryboard/ .