SmartCity Blog

Economic development matters more than ever

(Originally published in the January/February 2012 edition of Business Voice) 

One of the things most commented on since Irving Shipbuilding won the right to build Canada’s next generation of combat vessels is the unprecedented level of support, enthusiasm and commitment that burst out in every part of our city and province.

As business people, politicians, civil servants, workers, and citizens, we saw – and felt – firsthand what confidence – real confidence – can do and just how strong a motivator self-belief can be. 

So, as Irving negotiates the fine details of the contract with the federal government, we at the Partnership are focusing on how to make the most of this new-found confidence as we identify and capture future opportunities to grow.

And, make no mistake; there are sound reasons to keep a beady eye on the future.  Economies from around the world are suffering the jitters – again. Growth forecasts in Canada and abroad is single digit at best.   We recognize that we have significant fiscal challenges ahead which must be met if we are to maintain the standard of living we enjoy today.

And this is why we are redoubling our efforts to put in place HRM’s Five Year Economic Strategy.  This plan was built – like the shipbuilding effort – by tapping into an equally unprecedented level of collaboration and alignment between the private and public sectors. 

Measuring Our Progress

The Halifax Index is how we will measure the economic progress of the region as well as the progress and impact of the Economic Strategy.  The Index, to be launched in May 2012, will provide a yearly overview of our challenges, make suggestions for action and inform of any necessary modifications to the Economic Strategy’s Action Plans. 

The Halifax Index is not just one number that tells us how we’ve fared in the past year. It will contain a comprehensive set of key indicators - people, business, culture, environment, activity and quality of place - that make Halifax what it is and make us who we are as citizens.  The Index will provide deeper insight into what’s happening in our community than anything currently available in any other city in Canada.

The Power of Partnership

We are convinced that rewards of partnership and collaboration will become increasingly evident as we implement our economic strategy and grow the confidence we have in our collective future.   

I hope we continue – at every level of our community and our province – to work together and to wring out every ounce of opportunity that this great city has to offer our people and the world.

For more information on the Strategy and implementation visit: agreaterhalifax.com. 

 

Paul A. Kent is the President and CEO of the Greater Halifax Partnership

 

Why 2% Growth is Awesome

The Conference Board of Canada released its Metropolitan Outlook yesterday showing a 1.58% growth in Halifax’s real GDP per capita for 2011. They even predicted a higher growth rate for 2012. As an economist, that’s the sort of news I like to hear.

Some people may see 2% growth as inconsequential, but this rate of growth is amazing. Looking at the province as a whole, over the past decade and a half real GDP per capita has increased by 2.19% per year. This means that every year, above and beyond increases in prices (inflation), everyone can buy 2.19% more goods and services than they could last year. This is exponential growth and it means great things for the future.

A simple growth equation shows us that it takes approximately 33 years, growing at 2.19% for our real income per capita to double. This means Nova Scotians will have twice as much purchasing power every 33 years (in about a generation). In 66 years, we will have quadrupled our purchasing power.

Say you make a decent living; you’re taking in an annual salary of $35,000 a year. You can afford the food you need, clothes, rent, the basics, and have a little extra money to spend from time to time. Now give yourself an extra $35,000 dollars a year to throw around, with your food, clothes, and rent already paid for. That’s pretty awesome. In a generation, people will be living this dream. In two, they’ll have twice as much as the generation before it.

This is why economic growth is so important. It’s why we should be striving to do more, to push ourselves into the future just a little bit faster. We should be looking at the economy as a tool to build our future, as an engine for growth that can be finely tuned.  We shouldn’t balk at 2% growth; it’s a job well done.

Economic growth leads to a better quality of life, and we are rapidly approaching an unparalleled time of prosperity. By the time I retire, I will have a quality of life that puts my parents’ to shame. It’s a lot to look forward to.

 

Paul Jacob is the Research Coordinator at the Greater Halifax Partnership. He is a self proclaimed nerd and academic enthusiast.

 

Arts will thrive in wake of Ships

On behalf of the staff, many volunteers and legions of artists that we celebrate each year throughout Halifax and the province, the Greater Halifax Arts Coalition (GHAC) would like to congratulate Irving Shipbuilding and its partners, including the province of Nova Scotia, on the successful bid to Build Ships Here!

GHAC is made up of the leaders of 18 professional arts organizations that are dedicated to supporting our community through the presentation of world-class events, bringing the artistic culture of our region to audiences around the world and to creating a vibrant environment to live, work and play.

We recognize that a strong economy is essential to ensuring that those who breathe creative life into communities throughout the region are able to thrive and flourish. The spin-off benefits of this historic contract will impact suppliers, fabricators, other business and the lives of so many around the region – including those in the Arts.

Now, as we all start to gear up for growth and innovation, we see a prominent role for the professional arts community and look forward to playing our part. Nova Scotia’s artists create great work and inspire creativity, innovation, and excellence. Our theatre companies travel the world. Our musicians are broadcast across the country. Our audiences, whether they are long-time Nova Scotian residents or newcomers to our communities, experience a sense of pride and social cohesion as they join us in celebrating the diverse and vibrant lifestyle Nova Scotia has to offer.

Winning this contract means we can look forward to increases in population, disposable income and prosperity throughout the region. We look forward to the future, and working together to see our wonderful city and province and the entire Atlantic region grow and prosper.

Members of the Greater Halifax Arts Coalition:

• Christian Barry, 2b Theatre Company
• Gregor Ash, Atlantic Film Festival Association
• Brookes Diamond, Brookes Diamond Productions
• Heather McGean, Dalhousie Centre for Arts
• Laurie Gillis, Debut Atlantic
• Charlie Rhindress, Eastern Front Theatre
• Jonny Stevens, Halifax Pop Explosion
• Heather Gibson, JazzEast
• Paul Caskey, Live Art Dance
• Jim Morrow, Mermaid Theatre
• Sara Coffin, Mocean Dance
• Scott Long, Music Nova Scotia
• Amy Melmock, Neptune Theatre
• Maggie Stewart, Onelight Theatre
• Elizabeth Murphy, Shakespeare By The Sea
• Erika Beatty, Symphony Nova Scotia
• Christopher Shore, Theatre Nova Scotia
• Susan Leblanc Crawford, Zuppa Theatre

 

About GHAC:

Halifax is a hub for performing arts and culture in the province, and our professional arts organizations are leaders in Atlantic Canada. The 18 professional arts groups in GHAC employ more than 900 people, engage another 2500 volunteers, and perform for more than 933,000 audience member every year. Our cumulative annual budgets are over $22 million, and almost all of this is spent in Nova Scotia.

Other links:

• Ships Start Here: Next 30 by Erika Beatty

 

Shipbuilding contract will reinforce Halifax's competitive advantage

Congratulations to all Nova Scotians! We HAVE won the prestigious combat component of the Canadian Shipbuilding contract. This is the Olympics…the Superbowl… the World Cup… and the Stanley Cup, all rolled into one!

The grass has long appeared greener in Ontario or Alberta.  Now, given the opportunity, many talented people will have the opportunity to return home to earn a good living near their friends and families.  As important…many will never have to leave.

With the shipbuilding contract indeed earned by Nova Scotia, we will ensure a generation of work for young and experienced workers alike.  We will bring our talented Nova Scotian workers home, and demonstrate our competitive advantage to attract Canadians and new immigrants to the East Coast.

The project will certainly re-energize the region and reinforce our position as North America’s preeminent shipbuilder.  It is sure to provide a springboard to develop competencies in a number of related fields which will enable us to create new industries and exciting opportunities.

Halifax, Nova Scotia won the contract based on merit, and the federal government is to be commended for the process. We are simply the best suited location for shipbuilding in Canada. It is in our blood, and has been for centuries.

When the announcement was made on October 19, I sat with some associates and anxiously waited for the outcome.  Prior to the news, I was like a child on Christmas Eve; I couldn’t wait another minute.  When the good news finally came, I celebrated, and proudly exclaimed that we just witnessed a monumental day in Maritime Canadian History!

Congratulations to Irving.  Congratulations to Halifax.  Congratulations to Nova Scotia. Congratulations to our next generation!

ShipsNOWstarthere.

 

Born in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, Guido moved to Nova Scotia in 1999 and accepted the position as General Manager of the Westin Nova Scotian. Guido is currently Vice President for Canadian Region of New Castle Hotels properties.

Seeing Tomorrow's Workforce Today

Succession planning is an important part of any business operation. Keeping a business running at capacity can be difficult when faced with the prospects of retirement and regular turnover.  But not everything is doom and gloom, there are always opportunities.

So what is the situation in Halifax?

Well, generally things look pretty tempered for the economy. Employment is growing, there are new opportunities on the horizon, major projects are moving forward; everything looks well weathered. We’re not exactly sprinting at full speed, but we are moving at a decent clip.

The same, however, can’t necessarily be said about the labour market. I’m not talking about a few months from now; I’m talking about long term growth. What will the labour force look like in 10 years? What about in 20? Well, to quote Niels Bohr “prediction is very difficult, especially about the future.”

 

Toddlers Today are Toilers Tomorrow

Fortunately, we have some indicators. The people being born and entering school now are going to make up the workforce in several years. So how do birth rates look in Halifax?

Birth rates in Halifax have dropped, with a 10.2% increase in population and only 4.7% more annual births from 2000 to 2009. We aren’t providing the natural population growth to keep up with the economy. The province hopes to partially close the gap with its new immigration strategy. The Partnership has also been doing work to attract and retain newcomers through our Immigration Employer Support and Connector programs. In 2010, The Connector program helped 73 immigrants and 13 international students find work in Halifax.

But what do babies have to do with succession planning?

 

Taking Action: Tapping Potential and Productivity

The answer lies in productivity. With smaller workforce prospects in the future, businesses will need to do more things with fewer people. Improving productivity is going to be essential to keeping revenue high and it comes with added efficiency to boot. This means investing in productivity enhancers like technology and employees’ knowledge and skills. And then making sure you get the most out of those investments.  

The Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism’s Productivity Investment Program makes it easier and more affordable for companies to become more productive, innovative and competitive.

Investing in People

1. Get more out of training by making sure new employees and experienced employees interact – skills and experience will spread through the workplace 
2. Sharing skills encourages learning and innovation – the person learning a new skill may also think of a new use for it that can improve your business’s productivity and bottom-line

The province’s Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive helps companies cover the cost of: 

• training from a formal training institution or qualified external or internal training provider
• registration, tuition or course fees
•  international training
• management skills development
• skills development training leading to certification
• training that supports workplace diversity
• other skills development and training based on a valid business case

Investing in Productivity Boosters

One way to do more with fewer people and improve productivity and competitiveness is to keep on top of new technologies. The province’s Capital Investment Incentive helps companies cover 20%, up to a maximum of $1 million, of the cost of:

• technologically-advanced machinery
• clean technology
• equipment
• software and hardware with preference given to exporters in qualified industries.

These are just two programs that are out there to help companies invest in their business and our workforce.  So, like any tough decision, consider your options. Just don’t forget to consider the future.

 

Paul Jacob is the Research Coordinator at the Partnership.

 

SmartCity Business Show - Episode 10 in Review

Atlantis Systems Eduplus is a Halifax based company that designs software training programs for military personnel around the world! How cool is that? Craig Layton is right, this isn’t a cheesy flight simulator for the x-box; we’re talking military grade flight simulators! They do everything from simulating grounds crew to pilots. Now, I don’t know much about gaming consoles, planes or 3D animation but I do know this isn’t for your average gamer!

Carl Daniels, Manager of Atlantis Systems Eduplus, recognized the need to keep the company in Halifax. Halifax is home to over 25,000 undergraduate students (me being one of them), so the sky is the limit when it comes to utilizing our resources. It really makes me proud to know Carl see’s Halifax for what it truly is, a smart city!

 

Brianna Colford, Marketing & Communications Co-op Student

Brianna is with the Partnership on a four month work-term. She is in her final semester of Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University and spent the past 14 months working with Emera Inc. as a Communications Assistant. Born and raised in Halifax, Brianna enjoys the downtown atmosphere of the city she loves to call home.

 

SmartCity Business Show - Episode 9 in Review

Let’s be serious, who didn’t want to be a marine biologist when they were a kid? The students and staff at the Aquatron Lab in the Life Sciences department of Dalhousie University aren’t exactly working with Flipper, but they’ve got a lot of cool stuff going on. That includes: an artificial reef habitat for all sorts of marine life, a holding facility for seals and squid, and working with the Dal Medical School to study fish from Northern Africa as a model for human health. Right now, there are literally a thousand people doing research there.

Dalhousie University has got an excellent reputation internationally which has a major impact on Halifax’s success as a city. They’ve got impeccable academic programs, historical and modern infrastructure, competitive sports teams, and a world-class marine research facility. But as Fred Morley always says, Halifax’s biggest asset is our people.  Students, professors and researchers are all getting hands on experience in this lab helping us attract and keep talent here in Halifax. 

People want what we have here, especially in our growing research sector. This lab is the lead research facility for aquatic research at large full scale tank testing in North America. John Batt, Manager of the Aquatron Lab, explains that companies from the states, Europe, and Asia are interested in doing research here.

SmartCity? Absolutely.  

 

Maeghan Murphy, Marketing & Communications Co-op Student

Maeghan is with the Partnership on a four month work-term. She is in her third year of Public Relations at Mount Saint Vincent University and had her first taste of the working world on her work-term with Nova Scotia Power this summer. Although she'll always be a Cape Bretoner at heart, Maeghan is happy to now call Halifax her home.

How homework pays off

One of Halifax’s greatest challenges in the next decade is attracting and retaining highly skilled and educated talent. 

Over the past few years, the Partnership, in collaboration with many of you, has used its Halifax Connector Program to help immigrants and newcomers find their way to gainful and appropriate employment here in Halifax. 

This is the fourth of seven stories showing what you have made possible.

How does one decide to leave a city as large as Tehran and choose a city as small as Halifax to study – then live?  By doing the homework. 

Zahra Pahlevani’s father wanted her to see a different part of the world so in 2004, he sent her to study at the American College of Dubai, for US students living abroad and then wondered where she could go next. His research led her to St. Mary’s University (SMU) to continue her business degree in 2006. 

This choice disappointed Zahra at first.  She had many international friends after two years and was sad to leave them so quickly.  “But now, I am so happy that I am here.  I can see that he made the right choice for me.”  Zahra has lots of new friends – both local and international – in Halifax and, “I met them all at SMU.”

Zahra graduated from SMU in October 2008, “the worst time to graduate because of the recession.  I couldn’t find work so I moved to Calgary for 60 days.  I realized then that Halifax had captured my heart and I needed to return.”  She moved to the closest place that had a job: Antigonish, a two and a half hour drive from Halifax.

While in Antigonish, Zahra heard about the Connector Program and Project Coordinator Cindy Dean who connected her to Jamie Welsh at Deloitte.  “Both Jamie and Cindy were very helpful and encouraging.”  It was these meetings that gave Zahra the confidence to continue looking in Halifax.

In the end, a networking friend forwarded a job opening to her for Satlantic, an export manufacturer of water quality measurement equipment and Zahra got an interview. 

“The moment I walked into their building, I knew it was the right place for me.”  That feeling was followed up with a job offer, and Zahra now works as a Marketing Associate.

Tehran is a long way from Halifax, but when you do your homework, follow your heart and have some connected people helping you along the way, it really does turn out for the best.

Kelly Hennessey, ABC, is an accredited public relations writer and consultant.

You can find Kelly at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyhennesseyabc or contact her at kelhennessey@ns.sympatico.ca

A Bid for a Better Future

In my early teens I went to St. Joseph’s Junior High in the Halifax’s North End.  Walking up Russell St. to school early in the morning or heading home late I would often pass a shipyard worker with inevitable lunch can and a thermos.  I went to school with lots of kids whose fathers worked at the yard and I got to know firsthand that the work was often unsteady and that good years were often followed by bad ones.  This has changed somewhat in recent years with the acquisition of the yard by Irving.  But with hoped for success in winning a portion of the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy the yard could move to a level of stability and prosperity unheard of for generations.

The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy will see two of four major yards in Canada take on $35 billion in construction and maintenance work over the next 30 years.  How Important to Nova Scotia is winning the $25 billion combat portion of this project?  Nothing is more important for the future of our province.  Indeed nothing else even comes close.  The project will provide high wage high value jobs to a new generation of workers.  It will boost consumer spending, government’s tax take, and it will turn Halifax into one of Canada’s high growth cities for the future.

It’s been said that this project is the most important defence related initiative in the province in the 100 years since the Navy was established.  In fact, it is the most important project of any kind in 100 years.  The raw numbers bear this out.  The project will generate upwards of 4000 jobs in Atlantic Canada, mainly in Nova Scotia, with spinoffs spread across the Atlantic Region and across the country.  The project could generate as much as $7 billion in Nova Scotia wages, much of it destined for spending on homes, cars, and other things.  The project could pour close to $1.3 billion into provincial tax coffers, money the province will desperately need to deliver the increased health care and other services we will need in the near future.

  Of all the major projects on the books in Atlantic Canada this is the largest.  Nova Scotia’s largest energy project, Deep Panuke is worth an $800 million project which and will generate 400 direct and indirect jobs.  Nova Scotia’s largest residential construction project, Clayton’s Bedford West Development, will be worth $1 billion over 20 to 25 years and house 20,000 people when completed.  All of Newfoundland’s planned investments in offshore oil development and exploration are worth about $6 billion.  The Atlantic Region’s largest mining project is the Voisey Bay Nickel processing facility with an investment of $3billion.  It will include 3000 person years of construction and 400 fulltime jobs thereafter.  All of these vital and important projects pale in comparison to the potential of the combat ship project contemplated for Halifax Shipyard.

The project will allow new small business to start up and grow while driving new opportunities for dozens of existing businesses.  It will provide first job opportunities for new community college and university grads and may even attract some of the talent that has flowed west in recent years.  Indeed the project could spur higher levels of business confidence as thousands of workers and hundreds of businesses begin to contemplate 30 years of steady work and steady business at Halifax Shipyard.

Nova Scotia’s important Tourism industry accounts for about 2% of GDP or $646 million in provincial gross  domestic product.  Employment is 22,400 generating direct income of $475 million.  This project would be like adding 50% to the value of the tourism industry in one year and continuing that impact every year for a generation.

So yes times could be about to change.  One of Canada’s great family companies and some of Canada’s most talented workers have thrown in together to provide a mix of shipbuilding expertise and a history of accomplishment that can’t be matched anywhere in Canada.  Already 250 apprentices are in the vanguard of the next generation.  This next generation is hopeful that merit, superior technical expertise and a history of accomplishment will win the day.  They are hopeful that there will be no political thumbs on the scales of decision makers on this project. It’s too important.  The size and scope of this project and its potential to drive positive economic growth in our province is unprecedented.  Nova Scotians have begun to stand with the men and women of Halifax Shipyard in their bid for a better future for all of us.

 Fred Morley is the Executive Vice President and Chief Economist at the Greater Halifax Partnership.

Childhood Experience Morphs into Day Job

One of Halifax’s greatest challenges in the next decade is attracting and retaining highly skilled and educated talent. 

Over the past few years, the Partnership, in collaboration with many of you, has used its Halifax Connector Program to help immigrants and newcomers find their way to gainful and appropriate employment here in Halifax. 

This is the third of seven stories showing what you have made possible.

Long before there was a Halifax Connector Program, Jamie Welsh, CA, Senior Manager at Deloitte, had a reference point and a clear understanding of people of other cultures.

In middle school, he befriended two exchange students from Taiwan.  “It was a great experience and I’m sure I learned more than the students did,” said Jamie.  Jamie’s mom worked at Saint Mary’s University where there has always been a significant international student population and this led to Jamie living on campus while taking his degree and immersing himself in the international culture SMU offered. 

Not long after Jamie was hired at Deloitte, he became very involved with the Halifax office’s recruiting practices. This was when his childhood experience merged with his day job and he decided whenever possible he would help immigrants find careers in Halifax. 

But it wasn’t easy.

“In Halifax, those who do not have a strong command of conversational English find the local job market challenging.  This is despite the fact that exchange students obtain very high Grade Point Averages and they are achieving these marks in a foreign language, because English is not their mother tongue.”  The students Jamie sees, he encourages to get out, socialize, network and meet people because conversational language skills are one of the keys to getting that first job.

Although Jamie was already connecting immigrants to jobs, one young immigrant in particular inspired Jamie to become an ‘official’ Connector with the Partnership.

“Max was bright, had a high GPA in finance from SMU.  He came to me after several months of unsuccessful searching in the local job market.  He comes from an Ukraine/Russian background so when he spoke it was clear from his accent he wasn’t from here – but he had that conversational piece and he was professional.  I felt he would fit well in the financial services industry,” says Jamie.

Unfortunately, Max had limited direct experience and during his time in the job market one recruiter suggested he consider working at a retail outlet for customer service experience, and come back in a year’s time.

“I couldn’t believe someone thought that working in retail was in any way going to help Max land a job in the financial services field,” said Jamie.

This led Jamie to sign up as Connector and connect Max to three financial institutions he felt might see his potential and give him a chance.  Within three weeks, Max had a job offer in hand from Citco.  “The truth is, Max should have been able to do this himself in our community.”

Why is Jamie so passionate about being a Connector?  “This program is a critical part of reaching the city’s long-term strategy of attracting and retaining qualified labour.  It proves that by helping one professional newcomer secure a job in their field of expertise, you have helped make our community and our local economy more successful.”

For Jamie, being a Connector is more than a job.  It’s incorporating the core beliefs with which he was raised and applying them to make a real difference in people’s lives in a city he loves – one person at a time.   

Kelly Hennessey, ABC, is an accredited public relations writer and consultant.

You can find Kelly at http://ca.linkedin.com/in/kellyhennesseyabc or contact her at kelhennessey@ns.sympatico.ca