Our Track Record
Above: Premier Rodney MacDonald at the signing of the Crown Share deal with Ottawa. July 13, 2008
The Progressive Conservative Party has a proven record.
…a proven record on job creation, a proven record on the economy and a proven record on issues that matter most to Nova Scotians: healthcare, education and transportation.
JOBS:
Did you know that in 2008-09, more Nova Scotians were working than at any time in our province’s history? Over 50,000 jobs were added to Nova Scotia’s economy since the Progressive Conservatives were first elected in 1999.
THE ECONOMY:
The Progressive Conservatives have a proven record when it comes to attracting business to Nova Scotia and helping Nova Scotia businesses grow.
Over a six year period (2001-2007) an independent study concluded that the government’s Industrial Expansion Fund created and maintained approximately 11,000 full-time jobs.
Find out more about the successes of the IEF at http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/profiles
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE:
The last Progressive Conservative government led the way on many groundbreaking initiatives in recent years.
All Nova Scotians will soon have access to high-speed internet through the PC government’s Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia Initiative. By the end of 2009, Nova Scotia will be one of the most connected jurisdictions in North America. http://www.gov.ns.ca/econ/broadband
In 2006, the PC government committed to paving 2,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia.
BUILDING A FUTURE:
The Progressive Conservatives have led the way in making our Community College system among the best in the world and making a university education in Nova Scotia more affordable.
The PC Government government initiated a three-year tuition freeze at Nova Scotia universities and created a bursary program to help Nova Scotian students attending Nova Scotia universities.
The NSCC is a showcase of educational excellence, training future workers to ensure a brighter future for Nova Scotia. About 25,000 students attend the NSCC every year and 94% of employed graduates are working in Nova Scotia.
The PC’s also delivered on their 2003 commitment to build 19 new schools and renovate 41 others. On April 14, 2009, the PC government made a new commitment to build 8 schools and renovate 41 others.
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Above: Premier John Hamm and the signing of the Atlantic Accord in 2005.
HELPING YOUR FAMILY:
The Progressive Conservatives created over 1,000 new childcare spaces and provided a subsidy to help with the cost of childcare for families with a net income under $62,731. The Progressive Conservatives are working to make sure child care is accessible and affordable to working families. Find out more about The Progressive Conservatives investments in child care in Nova Scotia
http://www.gov.ns.ca/coms/noteworthy/10MillioninChildCare.html
HELPING THOSE IN NEED:
The Progressive Conservatives created Nova Scotia’s first universal pharmacare program. The Family Pharmacare program provides coverage for prescription drugs for the 180,000 Nova Scotians who had no drug coverage at all. Find out more about the Family Pharmacare Program and the Seniors’ Pharmacare program at http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/Pharmacare
The Progressive Conservatives also initiated heating assistance rebate programs. The 2008-09 program provided rebates of up to $450 to over 55,000 households in Nova Scotia. The HeatSmart program also featured interest-free loans to make homes more energy efficient and rebates on purchases of new, more environmentally-friendly furnaces.
SAFEGUARDING THE ENVIRONMENT:
The Progressive Conservatives set tough targets and achievable goals. The targets include
- Ensuring a minimum of 18.5 % of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2013.
- Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to 10% less than 1990 levels (35% lower than projected 2020 levels).
- Protecting 12% of Nova Scotia’s land mass by 2015.
In March of 2007, the PC government acquired ecologically sensitive lands from Bowater Mersey in the largest acquisition of private lands for conservation purposes in the province’s history.
Read about the Progressive Conservative government’s Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act at http://www.gov.ns.ca/nse/egspa
SAFEGUARDING OUR COMMUNITIES:
The “Boots to the Streets” program aimed to add 250 new policies officers on the beat in Nova Scotia. Since 2006, 150 have been added and by 2011, one hundred more will be added.
Under the tough Safer Neighbourhoods and Communities Act, over 40 houses involved in illegal activity have been seized. This is some of the most powerful legislation in Canada for making our communities safer.
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PC Party Premiers: Robert L. Stanfield, G.I. Smith, John Buchanan, Roger Bacon and Donald Cameron
HEALTHCARE AND HEALTH PROMOTION
The Progressive Conservative government has faced our health care challenges head on with innovative new solutions. In Nova Scotia, one in seven people is over the age of 65. By 2020, approximately one-third of Nova Scotians will be seniors. To meet these challenges, the PC government opened 400 new adult day care spaces and is building 1,320 new long term care beds by 2015/16. Of those beds, 832 will be ready no later than 2010.
Read about Nova Scotia’s continuing care strategy at http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/ccs_strategy/
The PC government also initiated the pilot partnership with Scotia Surgery to provide simple orthopedic procedures in a cost-effective and timely manner for 500 people on the orthopedic waiting list.
Nova Scotians continue to have better access to doctors than anywhere in Canada. Nova Scotia has the highest number of physicians per population in the country, and the lowest percentage of people without a regular family doctor.
To keep people healthier and active longer, the Progressive Conservative government created the department of Health Promotion and Protection. This department has delivered real results including many new recreation facilities and the Healthy Living Tax Credit to help families pay for sports.
In 2000, Nova Scotia had the highest rate of teenaged smokers in Canada (31%). Thanks to tough anti-smoking laws and the efforts of the Department of Health Promotion and Protection, by 2007 Nova Scotia’s teenage smoking rates had fallen to 12%, the lowest in Canada.
Find out more about the role Health Promotion and Protection has played in making a Nova Scotia a healthier province at http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp.
