In the Near Future, Citizens of Nova Scotia Will Cast Their Ballots in a Provincial Election

May 1, 2017

Dear

In the near future, citizens of Nova Scotia will cast their ballots in a provincial election that will determine the province’s direction for the next four years. As a business association, we are keenly aware that our members and their employees are all very concerned about the future of the Nova Scotia economy. All of these potential voters are eager to hear a progressive vision for economic growth and prosperity for the province.

You, as leader of your party and potential Premier, must be cognizant of this fact as you develop and communicate policy proposals and your vision for Nova Scotia.

Since 1896 the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce (ACC) and its predecessors have championed the cause of business in Atlantic Canada. In Nova Scotia our membership includes 28 chambers of commerce whose combined membership totals more than 5,500 businesses. In our role as policy advocate for Nova Scotia business, we are deeply interested in helping our members identify a political party that understands their critical role in creating a positive business environment – one that will attract private investment and diversify the province’s economy.

Economic growth and quality of life are inter-related. We need all of our leaders to communicate the message that what is good for our economy is good for all Nova Scotians. Along that line of thinking, we are advocating for a comprehensive, long-term and objective assessment of our province’s assets, challenges, and opportunities to determine our collective path forward.

To assist our members in assessing election alternatives, we ask that you answer the following question, operating under the premise for this purpose that you have been elected to form the next government.

Question:

Government’s role in supporting economic growth should be to create an environment that allows businesses to compete and grow. If elected, what would your government do to support increased trade and investment in terms of:

a. competitive tax environment

b. trade-enabling infrastructure

c. service effectiveness

d. support for innovation

e. workforce attraction and retention.

We ask that you provide your party’s responses to us prior to May 10th 2017. It is our intention to share this information with our member chambers of commerce and boards of trade across Nova Scotia.

Best wishes to you as you endeavor to craft and communicate the plan you have for the province for the next four years and beyond.

Yours truly,

Glenn Davis

Vice President, Policy