Premier Darrell Dexter co-chaired the 35th Annual Conference of New England Governors and Eastern Canadian Premiers which took place in Halifax July 10-11.The conference united regional leaders to continue work to enhance trade relationships, maximize each region's energy potential, and address environmental challenges. Read more

Premier Darrell Dexter unveiled a new immigration strategy last week that will see the province fulfill its commitment to double the number of new immigrants arriving each year by 2020. Welcome Home to Nova Scotia establishes a target of 7,200 new immigrants by 2020, or double what the province had previously aimed to achieve. The strategy, supported by $790,000 in additional funding for immigration efforts, will also target a 70 per cent retention rate. Read more

Companies developing and implementing clean technology in Nova Scotia will have greater access to capital through a $24-million provincial fund announced recently by Premier Darrell Dexter.The fund will be managed by Innovacorp, through its High Performance Incubation business model. The model has a proven track record of driving companies' performance by progressively funding them as they meet operational milestones. Read more

MediaSpark's GoVenture educational gamesComputer giant IBM and Sydney, NS-based MediaSpark Inc. have won a national tender to provide 900 Ontario schools with educational games and simulation software designed to sharpen their business and financial skills as they prepare to meet the growing demands of the 21st Century. Read more

The province has met its goal of cutting red tape to business by 20 per cent, making it quicker and easier for Nova Scotia business owners to deal with the government. By offering more services online, making it easier to incorporate or renew a business, and offering businesses information from all three levels of government in one spot, the province has achieved goals set five years ago in its Better Regulation Initiative. Read more

The province of Nova Scotia and Halifax Regional Municipality have reached an agreement on a new convention centre that will create thousands of jobs and new economic development opportunities across the province. Under the agreement, the province and HRM will each contribute about $56 million toward capital construction costs, and cost share equally on any operational costs not covered by revenue generated by convention centre operations. Read more

Premier's Office - November 23, 2010 12:16 PMAn aggressive, co-ordinated plan focused on innovation, competitiveness and learning will create good jobs and a strong economy, Premier Darrell Dexter announced today, Nov. 23. Read more

Nobody would call Atlantic Canada’s investment culture “high profile.” That situation may be changing, however. Just ask Jennifer Ayotte, Director of Communications at Immunovaccine Inc. The Halifax-based biotech company develops high potential vaccines for human health, and is now publicly traded. But getting there wasn’t easy. “Venture capital is more or less nonexistent in Atlantic Canada, and in biotech in Canada generally,” says Ayotte. Between initial investments by family and friends and the making of a public offer, the company needed a middle-ground for financing. Read more

Nova Scotians invested more than $4 million last year in Community Economic Development Investment Funds (CEDIFs), supporting local business development and demonstrating that investing locally can benefit their communities. Shareholders, directors, government officials, academics and supporters met at Cape Breton University on October 1 for the program's annual general meeting and to celebrate its tenth anniversary. Read more

Atlantic Canada’s energy future was the hot topic in Toronto on September 9, 2010. Forte Bistro on Richmond Street held a full house of people eager to meet Nova Scotia Power CEO Rob Bennett. The executive was in town to showcase his company and attract investors, but also to discuss the future of electricity generation in the Atlantic region. If the questions and the interest from the crowd were any indication, he succeeded on both counts. Read more