Some Facts	Workforce	Outstanding Infrastructure	Business Assistance
Industrial Profiles	Come Live By The Sea	Take A Closer Look

Some Facts

Nova Scotia has attracted large companies in a number of industry sectors because of the highly-educated, experienced, available and affordable workforce, as well as the communication and transportation infrastructures. Recent Nova Scotia additions include Staples Inc., San Jose's computer network hardware giant Cisco Systems, Boston's Keane Inc. and Ottawa's Newbridge Networks. They joined the many long-time international companies already here, including Michelin, Stora Enso, Pratt & Whitney and Composites Atlantic, a division of Aerospatiale.

The Province of Nova Scotia covers an area of 55,500 sq. km. The mainland part of the Province is connected to New Brunswick and the remainder of Canada by the 28 km. Isthmus of Chignecto. Cape Breton Island is joined to the mainland of Nova Scotia by the Canso Causeway.

Nova Scotia is located at 59 to 67 Longitude and 43 to 48 Latitude. This places Halifax, its capital city, south of Tokyo, Paris, Vienna, Minneapolis and Portland Oregon. The coastline stretches for 7,400 km., but the overall length of the Province is only 574 km. while the average width is 130 km.

In 2000, the Province comprised 3.1% of the total Canadian population. The population density was 17.8 persons per square kilometer.

Halifax, the capital city, is the financial, business and research hub of Canada’s Atlantic Provinces.

Nova Scotia has some of the best schools in the country. Of the top eight undergraduate universities in Canada, four are in Nova Scotia. (Maclean's Magazine)

Each year, the workforce is strengthened by 15,000 new post-secondary graduates.

While job creation has been strong in recent years, approximately 10% of the workforce is still available for employment.

Nova Scotia has an excellent infrastructure base, and an extremely competitive cost climate.

With 11 degree-granting institutions, Nova Scotia has more post-secondary students per capita than anywhere else in Canada. These institutions include specialized schools and faculties focused on medicine, dentistry, engineering, education, social work, architecture, art and design, law, business administration, and other studies such as oceanography and theology. The capital city, Halifax, has the highest ratio of universities to population in North America, with six degree-granting institutions enrolling more than 25,000 students. Almost 25% of the city's labour force has a university degree; this figure is twice the national average and the highest of any city in Canada.

The universities are complemented by 13 community college campuses, including an innovative distance-learning network of seven French community college campuses. Other innovations include the robotics training course for aerospace applications at the Nova Scotia Community College's flexible manufacturing facility, the first of it's kind in North America. In total, the community colleges have more than 20,000 students enrolled

Workforce
Some facts...

More than 60% of the workforce in Nova Scotia has high school education or better. Halifax has the highest percentage (25%) of people with post-secondary degrees of any major city in Canada, and one of the highest in North America. Combine these impressive statistics with a few more key facts:

- 10% of the workforce is currently available for work

- days lost due to absenteeism average 3.4% in Nova Scotia; the Canadian average is 4%, and in the United States it's 8-9%

- Nova Scotia's minimum wage is $5.60 CDN (US $3.80) per hour; the lowest in Canada

- Canada ranks first among G-7 countries in its development of knowledge workers.*

- Canada has the highest level of computer literacy among G7 workers and more computers per capita than any other G7 country except the US.

- Level of education, quality of training and quality of management make Canadian workers among the most productive in the world, outscoring the US and almost all other countries.*

- Ten percent of Nova Scotia's workforce is fully bilingual; more than 38,000 workers speak French.

- Major companies like Pratt & Whitney Canada, Michelin and Stora Enso Forest Products call their Nova Scotia operations the most productive in their world-wide systems.

* KPMG Competitiveness Report, 1997

Wage rates in Nova Scotia are very attractive, and inflation has been more than offset by the decreasing value of the Canadian dollar (vs. the US dollar) over the past several years. In 1998, Nova Scotia wages across all industries were 16% less than the Canadian average, and they're growing at a rate lower than the rest of Canada's.

The profile that begins to emerge is that of an affordable, available, educated workforce unlike any other in North America.

Quality
Ten percent of Nova Scotia's workforce is fully bilingual – more than 38,000 of the workers speak French. Nova Scotia is committed to continued development of its workforce, and Canada ranks first among G-7 countries in its development of knowledge workers according to the 1998 Global Competitiveness Report.

Available
More than 45,000 employees are available to work; many of these are the more than 10,000 university students Nova Scotia graduates each year, from 11 universities. And thousands more students graduate from the province-wide community college system.

Nova Scotia is also a centre for private training in Atlantic Canada. Thousands of students pursue post-secondary training, much of it technology-related, with CDI College, ITI, Cisco Systems and others.

Nova Scotia also has the largest air force base in eastern Canada at Greenwood and the largest naval base in Canada in Halifax.

The people have a long-standing reputation as loyal and hard-working employees, and staff turnover here is dramatically lower than in other North American locations. Nearly 80% of company managers in Nova Scotia, polled in a national survey by Dun and Bradstreet, said that they experienced only limited absenteeism.

Affordable
Labour is the largest ongoing cost for most businesses, accounting for an average of 55% of total location-sensitive costs.

Nova Scotia labour costs are among the lowest in the country and 19% lower than in the US. Wage rates in Nova Scotia are exceptionally attractive, and the lower value of the Canadian dollar (vs. the US dollar) has made them even more so. In 1998, Nova Scotia wages across all industries were 16% less than the Canadian average, and they're growing at a lower rate than the rest of Canada.

A Gateway To Opportunity
Nova Scotia is located on Canada's eastern seaboard, a day closer to Europe than any other ice-free port in North America. It just two hours by air from Boston or Toronto, and provides easy access to almost 400 million people in the North American market.

It has excellent road, rapid rail and direct container connections to key US markets. And, with its major international seaport in Halifax, Nova Scotia has excellent sea links to American, European and Caribbean markets.

Outstanding Infrastructure
Nova Scotia is one of the few places in the world with a fully digital telecommunications network. It has a second-largest natural harbour in the world and excellent rail, road and air links to the key North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) markets and the rest of the world. And Nova Scotia is major research center in oceanography, biomedicine, telecommunications, the environment and software development.

Transportation
Nova Scotia's strategic location and advanced transportation systems make reaching your markets across North America and Europe easy. Major markets are accessible by air, road, rail or sea. Canada's transportation infrastructure is ranked one of the best in the world, according to the Global Competitiveness Report (World Economic Forum, 1997).

Air Connections
- Passenger air traffic to Nova Scotia has doubled in the last ten years.

- Halifax International Airport is Canada's fastest growing airport.

- You can be in New York, Boston, Toronto, Ottawa or Montreal in less than two hours. And in Paris, Frankfurt, Stockholm. Vancouver, Los Angeles or San Francisco before the end of the business day.

- Air Canada offers direct flights to many national and international destinations. Regional carriers provide regular service within Nova Scotia and across Atlantic Canada, also to Montreal, Ottawa, New York and Boston. Charter facilities are also available at most airports in the region.

- The Halifax International Airport operates 24 hours a day, with more than 1000 flights weekly to many destinations.

Roads & Highways
Large volumes of freight are moved on high-speed, all-weather highway systems throughout the province. These highways are linked with the Trans-Canada Highway and US Interstate highways.

More than 20 large general freight carriers provide daily truck service to central Canada and the eastern seaboard of the US. Transportation rates in Canada are, on average, 10% lower than those in the US.

Rail Links
Canadian National Railway's double-stack Laser container train service gets products arriving by ship in Halifax to the US Midwest a day faster than goods shipped through the Port of New York. These special container trains are integrated with the arrival and departure of container ships, linking the Halifax terminals with the inland terminals of Montreal and Toronto, where container cars are linked with rail movement to the US Midwest and western Canada.

Seaports
The Port of Halifax is a key center for world shipping paths, just 600 nautical miles from New York. Its position makes it the first call in and last call out of the Europe-North American trade route, and more than 30 shipping lines stop in Halifax. More global ports (over 250) are served from the Port of Halifax than any other port in Canada. In 1998, over 13 million tonnes moved though the port.

Halifax is one of the world's deepest ports (70 feet or 21.3 meters, at low tide), and the only natural deep-water port north of Virginia. Unlike other eastern Canadian ports, Halifax is ice-free year round, has minimal tides and no strong currents. Facilities include five container berths at two facilities with seven gantry cranes and two berths with ro-ro ramps. There is also a double-stack train service and an industry-leading EDI system. On-dock rail service offers daily double-stack departures to Montreal and Toronto, and to the US Midwest.

Statia Terminal's Point Tupper is a Superport located in the Strait of Canso, 722 miles from New York. It's the deepest independent ice-free marine terminal on the North American Atlantic coast and can accommodate all of the largest fully-laden VLCC's (very large crude carriers) and ULCC's (ultra large crude carriers) vessels for loading and discharging.

In 1993/94 the Point Tupper facilities were renovated and a former refinery site was converted into an independent storage terminal. The terminal consists of a 7.5 million barrel tank farm. The two berth dock is one of the premier dock facilities in North America. In 1998, more than 14 million tonnes passed through the port.

Nova Scotia's other regional ports are also efficient, cost effective alternatives. Sydney, Sheet Harbour and Yarmouth also boast strategic, ice-free harbours and excellent facilities.

Communications Technology
Alexander Graham Bell lived, worked and invented in Nova Scotia for many years. Nova Scotians welcomed him, and instantly took to his most famous invention. Nova Scotia is a center of sophisticated telecommunications with a fully digital telecommunications network in place. Maritime Telegraph & Telephone Co. Ltd. (MTT), Nova Scotia's largest telecommunications company, continues to invest in new technology - more than $200 million in 1997-98 alone. Nova Scotia-based businesses are guaranteed to stay at the leading edge of information technology.

Together with the provincial government, MTT pioneered the implementation of Canada's first province-wide emergency 911 service.

Internet service providers have established local points of presence in communities all across the province. Connections speeds range to T3 levels and beyond.

The Place for Teleservice Centers
Nova Scotia has a thriving telecommunications industry, including more than 40 call centres which will employ 5,000 Nova Scotians by 2001. Large international players like Convergys, Scotiabank, SHL, Staples Inc., and Ron Weber and Associates inc., have chosen Nova Scotia. It’s now one of the most cost-effective call centre locations in North America

A Centre for IT and R&D
Telecom Applications Research Alliance (TARA) is Nova Scotia's private telecommunications research and development facility. Through TARA, members can develop, test and commercialize new applications, services and equipment using a live Nortel DMS-100 telephone switch, the central switching device used in more than two-thirds of North American city phone systems.

In early 1997, Cisco Systems of San Jose, California opened its newest multi-million dollar Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) lab in the TARA facility. It serves as both a telecommunications lab and training facility for information technology (IT) professionals. It's the world's largest CCIE lab, the first in Canada and only one of 6 in the world.

In conjunction with this new CCIE lab, TARA partner DalTech - Dalhousie University's Technical College - now offers the world's first Masters of Engineering degree in Internetworking. Created to prepare individuals for the rapidly expanding field of Internet technology, this program is attracting local university graduates, as well as IT professionals from around the world. Dalhousie's Faculty of Computer Science is the fastest-growing in Canada, with enrollment of 800.

Nova Scotia is an important centre for research and development in a wide range of scientific and intellectual areas. For instance, it is widely acclaimed for product development, as well as for research programs in biotechnology, aerospace, environment, agriculture, manufacturing and software development. Halifax is a major centre for medical research and innovation. Its high concentration of research and teaching facilities are world renowned for their work in various fields. These include cancer, cardiology, multi-organ transplant, infectious diseases, and AIDS research.

The province has special expertise in offshore and ocean-related research, and one of the largest concentrations of marine scientists in the world.

Nova Scotia Innovation Corporation (InNOVACorp) offers private-sector partners scientific, engineering and business services to assist them in developing new technology-based products and services. The corporation also helps Nova Scotia companies develop trade links for these products. By partnering with universities, research institutions and the private sector, InNOVACorp works to:

- create an international perspective for Nova Scotia's technology-based economic development.

- offer a range of technology development (R&D), commercialization, and market development services.

- commercialize research and development (R&D) in Nova Scotia.

- assist technology-based enterprises focused on export markets.

- develop business incubator facilities.

- assist with seed financing and other equity based investment support.

- support regulations and standards in areas of public safety and interest.

Business Assistance

Nova Scotia is committed to providing the right blend of assistance to your business.

The following is a descriptive list of the various programs available to Nova Scotian businesses, many of which may be utilized in conjunction with each other.

No Sales Tax on Business
Nova Scotia is one of three jurisdictions in Canada where there is effectively no sales tax on businesses. Nova Scotia uses a harmonized federal and provincial sales tax of 15%, so Nova Scotians (individuals and businesses) pay that sales tax rate on most goods and services. That’s a lower overall sales tax than several other Canadian provinces across Canada. The 15% sales tax is completely refundable to most types of corporations.

Investment Tax Credits (ITC)
In Nova Scotia an investment tax credit of 15% of capital costs (less government assistance) is available for new manufacturing and processing plant and equipment. This credit directly reduces Nova Scotia corporate income tax otherwise payable. Tax credits may be carried back three years and forward for seven.

- The investment tax credit program sunsets on December 31, 2002; however, investments made by that date will still remain eligible for carryforward.

R&D Incentive and Tax Advantages
Nova Scotia has one of the best R&D tax incentives in Canada. The Nova Scotia incentive includes the immediate and full write-off of eligible costs plus a 15% refund of eligible expenditures to the extent the credit more than reduces provincial corporate income taxes payable to nil. In addition, a federal investment tax credit of 20% to 35% for scientific research is available to Canadian firms. This rate applies to the current and capital scientific research expenditures incurred in a taxation year.

Special Rate for Manufacturing and Processing Profits
For Manufacturing and Processing activities, there is a Manufacturing and Processing Profits Rate Reduction of 7% which reduces the general federal rate from 29.12% to 22.12% on Manufacturing and Processing Profits.

Capital Cost Allowance
The Capital Cost Allowance allows taxpayers to charge up to a 30% declining balance on manufacturing machinery and equipment, thus allowing for a significant "write-off" of such assets in initial years of operation.

Nova Scotia New Business
To help you get your new business underway, Nova Scotia eliminates the provincial corporate income tax for the first three taxation years on the first $200,000 of annual active business income.

Small Business Rate Reduction
There is a federal 16% small business rate reduction on the first $200,000 of Active Business Income for Canadian Controlled Private Corporations which reduces the federal general corporate income tax rate from 29.12% to 13.12%.

In addition, starting January 1, 2001, there is an additional rate reduction of 7% from 29.12% to 22.12% on the next $100,000 of Active Business Income greater than $200,000 for Canadian Controlled Private Corporations.

Nova Scotia Small Business Rate Reduction
The Nova Scotia corporate income tax rate is reduced from 16% to 5% on the first $200,000 of annual active business income allocated to the province.

Nova Scotia General Business Rate
The provincial corporate tax rate levied in addition to the applicable federal rate on corporate taxable income allocated to Nova Scotia is 16%.

Duty Drawbacks and Deferral Program (Federal):
The Canadian government has arranged for the return of custom duty paid when the goods are imported if they are later exported or used for certain domestic manufacturing.

To qualify for a drawback, you must show that the goods were later exported, destroyed under Customs supervision, discovered to be obsolete or surplus, used as ship's stores or used in the assembly, manufacture, or attachment to goods that were later exported or consumed in Canada. The maximum allowable drawback is 100% of the duties paid. These duties are now recovered as an input tax credit.

The new Duty Deferral Program provides up-front relief of custom duties, anti-dumping and countervail duties, surtaxes, certain excise taxes and in some instances the harmonized sales tax. This program saves money by reducing the cost of production for goods destined for export from Canada.

Foreign Tax Credit (Federal):
Corporations which have foreign source income and are resident in Canada at any time in the year are eligible for a credit on foreign taxes paid. A credit is allowed against Canadian tax payable for the lesser of the foreign tax paid and the Canadian tax on the foreign source income.

Recruitment, Just in Time Training, Training Assistance
Nova Scotia Economic Development, Regional Development Authorities and the Federal Partners (Canada Manpower and Human Resources Development Canada) will work with your firm to assist in recruiting the required personnel.

Nova Scotia works with the educational institution partners to develop work place training programs for the new business clients. It offers a variety of options including coordinating new course delivery through the network of Nova Scotia Community Colleges; customizing existing college courses to suit specific business client needs; working with the private sector training network to deliver industry-responsive training. The custom incentive assistance outlined below is then intended to offset a high proportion of these costs.

Location Assistance
Nova Scotia Economic Development will work with your firm to identify and source your real estate solution. The province will introduce your firm to high caliber commercial real estate brokers who are committed to providing a high level of service. Additionally, the Province of Nova Scotia owns seventeen business and industrial parks, around the province, and is prepared to negotiate with your business to ensure terms satisfactory to your needs and the objectives are achieved. The province will also work with your business to expedite approvals necessary for your project to proceed.

Custom Incentives
The Nova Scotia Economic Development team will work with your business and various Federal and other development partners to coordinate their programs with ours, into a comprehensive package to satisfy your requirements and to be consistent with the economic development objectives and strategies.

Nova Scotia Payroll Rebate Program
The Province of Nova Scotia has designed this performance based assistance program to be consistent with fiscal responsibility objectives of Government. The Payroll Rebate Program is designed to provide business with an offset to implementation costs and provide a non-intrusive form of financial assistance that allows business to manage its own affairs. The specific per-job assistance level is based upon an economic impact analysis, which is based upon job wage and benefit levels, number of new jobs created, geographic location (urban or rural) and capital costs of the project.

Nova Scotia Business Development Corporation (BDC)
The Business Development Corporation has a high degree of flexibility in providing various forms of financing programs to manufacturing, processing and technology based industries for the purchase of land and improvements to land; purchase and construction of buildings; construction, purchase or lease back of machinery, equipment and other fixed assets. Other types of assistance may also be considered for the establishment and promotion of industry in targeted economic sectors.

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
HRDC is the primary federal department dealing with labour market development and adjustment issues. HRDC offers a range of programs in support of recruitment and job placement. Several programs include wage support components. Local HRDC offices can provide valuable information and advice regarding potential recruitment pools, typical wage rates, and similar matters.

Business Development Program (Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency)
The Business Development Program (BDP) is designed to help companies/individuals set up, expand or modernize their business. It focuses on small-and medium-sized enterprises and offers access to capital in the form of interest-free, unsecured, repayable contributions. The maximum level of assistance is 50% for start-ups, expansions, modernizations and related costs such as equipment, leasehold improvements, working capital and construction; and 75% for operating costs such as studies, marketing, training and quality assurance.

Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC)
Enterprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) promotes and provides financing in the development of industry on Cape Breton Island and in the Mulgrave area. Repayable assistance can be up to 50% of the eligible costs of a project. Assistance will be focused on SME's where such need is necessary in order to cause the project to proceed.

Business Development Bank of Canada (BDBC)
The Business Development Bank of Canada is a Crown corporation whose mission is to help create and develop Canadian small and medium-sized businesses. Specialized financing is provided for commercially-viable business projects including Term Loans, Venture Loans, and venture capital.

Lower Your Cost of Doing Business

In Nova Scotia, labour and construction costs, corporate taxes, and R&D incentives all add up to an exceptional business advantage. On top of that, you have access to a telecommunications and transportation infrastructure considered to be among the world's best. A recent KPMG study found the cost of doing business in Nova Scotia to be the second-lowest, among 42 international locations.

Excellent Exchange Rate Means Immediate Cost Reductions
With the US/Canadian dollar exchange rate, you get an immediate and consistent cost advantage over US locations. Quite a leg up in the new economy.

Industry Costs Among the Lowest in the Industrialized World
The costs of establishing and operating a business vary. But, when KPMG compared industry costs across several countries, Canada came out first in every industry surveyed. That's because of Canada's low initial investment costs, which in turn are due to low land, construction and interest rate costs, as well as lower labour, electricity and telecommunications costs. Favourable income tax rates and R&D tax incentives also make it highly competitive.

Halifax is Atlantic Canada's largest urban centre and the business/commercial capital of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Provinces. Many large Canadian and international companies are already doing business in Nova Scotia – Stora Enso Port Hawkesbury, AT&T Canada, Convergys, Pratt & Whitney Canada, Cisco Systems Canada Limited, Newbridge Networks (Fastlane Technologies), Composites Atlantic (Aerospatiale) and Michelin, to name just a few.

The Lowest Payroll Taxes in Canada
Employer-paid payroll taxes and provincial health insurance premiums in Nova Scotia are the lowest in Canada. For example, at an annual salary of $40,000 these deductions are only 7.7% compared with the national average of 9.6%. The higher the salary, the lower the combined rate. (Source: KPMG)

A Very Appealing Cost of Living
Salaries go a lot further in Nova Scotia. This presents a real advantage for retaining and attracting highly skilled, mobile employees.

In 1999, Runzheimer Canada conducted an objective comparison of living costs in Nova Scotia and several other jurisdictions. Income taxes, housing, food, health care, transportation, and a full range of other costs were covered. The results clearly favoured Nova Scotian locations. For example, the cost of living in Nova Scotia is about 26% lower than in Boston at an income level of $40,000, and about 17% lower at a $90,000 income level

Industrial Profiles

Nova Scotia has attracted large companies in a number of industry sectors because of the highly-educated, experienced, available and affordable workforce, as well as the communication and transportation infrastructures. Recent Nova Scotia additions include Staples Inc., San Jose's computer network hardware giant Cisco Systems, Boston's Keane Inc. and Ottawa's Newbridge Networks. They joined the many long-time international companies already here, including Michelin, Stora Enso, Pratt & Whitney and Composites Atlantic, a division of Aerospatiale.

Aerospace
The Nova Scotia Aerospace sector includes about 40 companies and currently employs more than 2,500. Current industry sales are about $377 million, with exports representing 65% of this total. Nova Scotia is
a competitive aerospace location for several reasons:

- its proximity to the US market

- favorable trade arrangements between Canada and the US

- low operating costs, especially wage rates for industry professionals

- the currency advantage of the Canadian dollar (almost 40% less than the US dollar)

- ownership links between major US aerospace firms and their Canadian counterparts

- Current industry projections call for a doubling of Nova Scotia aerospace industry sales over the next five years

A Skilled Available and Affordable work force for arospace
The availability of skilled production labour, experienced technologists and engineers is a key factor in competitiveness. Nova Scotia has an excellent supply of skilled labour at very competitive rates.

Aerospace Industry Association of Nova Scotia
The Aerospace Industry Association of Nova Scotia was incorporated in 1995 to assist in the pursuit of aerospace growth and development opportunities for a growing and diversified aerospace industry base, employing approximately 2,300 skilled and experienced workers, generating approximately $275 million in revenues and operating in defence and commercial markets.

Resources for Arospace Companies

DREA
The Defence Research Establishment Atlantic's mandate is to conduct Research and Development in undersea warfare and marine vehicle technology. Within undersea warfare, DREA is the leading Canadian centre in sonar technology and the lead Department of National Defence (DND) laboratory for torpedo defence. Work in these fields supports the operational requirement of maritime Command with respect to active and passive sonar, and torpedo detection and counter-measures. DREA is also the leading Canadian centre for naval platform Research and Development. DREA's program encompasses the discipline of noise, dynamics, structures and materials. It supports the design, acquisition, operation and maintenance of the Canadian Navy's ships and submarines, as well as the development of vehicle-related systems. This establishment currently employs 180.

Dal Tech
Dal Tech is a constituent college of Dalhousie University, dedicated to professional education and research in the fields of architecture, computer science and engineering.

InNOVAcorp
A provincial crown agency that promotes the commercialization of technology developed in Nova Scotia. Combining extensive research and development resources from government, academia, and the private sector, Innovacorp is becoming a key partner for aerospace and technology companies building new and innovative products for the export market.

The Nova Scotia Aerospace sector offers specialized capabilities in aircraft navigational, defence electronics and defence systems. The industry's markets include transport and general aviation aircraft manufacturers, regional airlines, business aircraft users, major civil and defence aerospace contractors and governments. About 53 percent of sales are to civilian markets, while the remainder are defence-related. Characteristically, the industry is oriented towards niche markets and is heavily reliant on access to export markets. Consequently, it concentrates selectively on specific products, processes and market segments that combine its technical expertise with good economic potential.

- Advanced Composite Materials
- Aircraft Components & Assembly
- Aircraft Repair & Overhaul
- Antennas & Sensors
- Avionics & Navigation
- Communications
- Consulting & Management Services
- Design & Engineering
- Electronic Equipment Design
- Electronic Manufacture
- Electronic Overhaul
- Engine Components
- Integrated Logistic Support
- Machined Components
- Power Supplies & Converters
- Facilities Management
- Software Design & Simulation
- System Integration
- Training
- Transmitters & Receivers

Telecommunication
Nova Scotia employs more than 6,000 people working at more than 100 companies in the telecommunications, marine communications, and computer hardware and software production industries. Local industry revenues in 1997 were over $800 million, and are growing rapidly. Indeed, the growth rate for telecommunication-related businesses in Nova Scotia averages 20 per cent a year.

A number of major international companies have set up operations in the province serving regional, national and international markets including Staples, Arrow Electronics, Convergys, and Scotiabank.

- Strong Infrastructure

The Nova Scotia telecommunications network includes:

- a fully-digital telecommunications network

- a fibre-optic network running nearly 4,800 kilometers

- a province-wide ATM broadband switching network with the broadest coverage in Atlantic Canada, designed for high-speed data and multimedia

- full access for all businesses in the province to MTT's dedicated Business Internet system.

- easy access to satellite communications, frame relay and ADSL systems

- full cellular service and wireless networks

- connections to a national and international telephone and information technology network

- Highly Qualified and Affordable Labour

World-class telecommunications services require world-class employees. Nova Scotians are well educated, highly motivated, very reliable and incredibly skilled. To meet the demands of this growing industry, the province's 11 universities and a province-wide network of 13 community college campuses train people in the many technical and professional occupations required by industry.

Of the managers and owners in Nova Scotia surveyed by Dun and Bradstreet, 62 per cent said that their staff possess "high" work ethics – the most positive response among all jurisdictions surveyed. Nova Scotia also enjoys a favorable labour cost and benefits environment.

There is a large and diverse group of companies and organizations in Nova Scotia that make operating a telecommunications business here more efficient and effective...

The Governments of Nova Scotia and Canada offer a range of important development and financial incentive programs, including both human resource and tax incentive programs.

The Telecom Applications Research Alliance (TARA) is an R&D lab now testing innovative new technologies on one of the world's fastest private digital switching systems, equivalent to the telephone network of a small city. One of its goals is to facilitate partnerships among researchers, developers and manufacturers to help bring new technologies to market.

InNOVAcorp is a provincial Crown agency that promotes the commercialization of technology developed in Nova Scotia. Combining extensive research and development resources from government, academia, and the private sector, InNOVAcorp is becoming a key partner for telecommunications and technology companies building new and innovative products for the export market.

Nova Scotia Community College has established a comprehensive Teleservice Training Facility, which provides customized teleservice and telefinancial agent training and a core training program in call centre management. These programs regularly graduate qualified professionals, ready to work.

A Centre for New Media Development at the University College of Cape Breton is helping Nova Scotia firms develop commercial multi-media products by helping with marketing, research and development, and by pooling local expertise and world-class technology, making it accessible to smaller firms and individuals.

- Communications Products

Dozens of Nova Scotia firms are world-class competitors in such things as global information systems, mobile radio equipment and integration, multi-media production, Internet access, microwave airport landing systems, and much more.

Nova Scotia's cable TV operators use the latest generation of coaxial cable modems for high-speed data transmission and internet access.

The Nova Scotia TeleHealth Network is now completely installed, linking all 41 healthcare facilities across the province. The Network uses telecommunications to transmit medical data, video images and audio between doctors or other health care workers at two or more locations. The state-of-the-art network also allows doctors and other health care workers to conduct face-to-face consultations while working in different communities. Nurses, doctors and others can use the network to participate in continuing medical education sessions without having to leave their communities.

Nova Scotia's College de l'Acadie is North America's first virtual college. Using cutting edge video conferencing and audio graphics technology, the college provides its post-secondary Francophone education using this technology to many remote communities throughout the province. Other Nova Scotia universities are also moving towards the electronic virtual campus and the internet, including Acadia University and Saint Francis Xavier Universi

- Life Sciences
Nova Scotia's research and development environment is rated third in the world, making the province fertile ground for the life sciences sector. The Nova Scotia life sciences industry is growing at twice the Canadian average. Presently it has more than $50 million in revenues, over 90 companies, and employs between 500-1000 highly skilled people. Some of the leading experts in Canada in genomics and bioinformatics are located in Halifax. In addition, the 1999 edition of the KPMG World Competitiveness Alternatives report confirms Halifax as the best location for life sciences manufacturing companies, out of 64 cities across the G7 countries and Austria.

- A Rich Labour Market
Nova Scotia has major research concentrations in health, agriculture and marine bioscience. Halifax is widely known as one of Canada's "smart cities" where knowledge workers outnumber production workers three to one and 13% of the work force is employed in the health and research sectors.

- Infrastructure
Nova Scotia's university infrastructure and internationally respected research institutions provide an enabling environment for the biosciences. A large concentration of bioscience companies have clustered in Nova Scotia's biotechnology triangle, comprised of Truro, the Annapolis Valley and Halifax. Wet and dry facilities are available and buildings can be modified to accommodate lab space.

- Resources for Life Sciences Companies
BioNOVA, the Nova Scotia biotechnology and Life Sciences Industry Association, is the first place to go for information on the biotechnology and life sciences industry in Nova Scotia. BioNOVA's mission is to help member firms to prosper through initiatives designed to secure business and development opportunities in both national and international markets. BioNOVA delivers value to its members in the areas of advocacy, education and networking. The industry association believes that biotechnology will be the world's next leading economic driver, and that the future growth of the biotechnology industry in Nova Scotia will diversify the economy and create many new jobs in the province.

- InNOVAcorp
InNOVAcorp is a unique organization dedicated to growing the knowledge-based economy in Nova Scotia through technology commercialization and partnering. The Life Sciences Industry Partnership (LSIP) is the division of INNOVAcorp dedicated to growing the life sciences industry. LSIP's team of professionals works with companies interested in setting up in Nova Scotia, in addition to supporting the local entrepreneurs by providing business advice, facilitating partnering, accessing venture capital and providing business incubation facilities.

Environmental
Nova Scotia has an exciting and growing environmental sector. Canada's leader in solid waste management, award winning and cost effective approaches to water and waste water treatment, and innovative hazardous materials management are some of the strengths of this industry. When combined with world class oceans and coastal zone management expertise resulting from 500 ocean related PhD's, Nova Scotia is a natural choice for businesses looking to market to northeastern USA, Europe and the rest of Canada.

- A Rich Labour Market
The number of people working in the environmental sector has more than doubled over the last four years with 7,400 people currently employed. There are over 350 firms in the provincial environmental industry sector, producing sales in excess of $300 million annually. The industry is very optimistic about the future and is anticipating sustained growth for the next few years.

With a steady stream of new graduates from the many Nova Scotia universities and community colleges, there is an ample workforce to choose from. Highly productive, cost effective, and very dedicated are some of the terms used to describe the Nova Scotia labour force.

- Areas of Expertise

Solid Waste Management
Nova Scotia is leading North America in solid waste management. Supported by some of the most progressive and comprehensive environmental laws, including disposal bans, Nova Scotia will exceed the nationally mandated waste diversion target of 50%.

- North America's first fully integrated waste management facility

- consulting and planning expertise providing facility, sitting, design, and public education

- innovative composting technologies from basic to sophisticated

- resource recovery, recycling, and resource exchange for waste paper, tires, plastics, beverage containers, and used oil.

- Water and Wastewater Treatment
Nova Scotia is home to a host of award-winning cost-effective, and small footprint solutions for community, institutional, and individual applications in water and wastewater treatments.

- wastewater treatment facilities utilizing aquatic vegetation

- modified dissolved air flotation systems for water & wastewater applications

- integrated remote monitoring and control

- enhanced and off-site monitored sequential batch reactor systems

- passive on-site systems providing high-level treatment

- engineered wetlands

- Management of Hazardous Materials

Nova Scotia companies are employing homegrown and creative solutions for managing hazardous materials locally and internationally.

- glycol fluid recovery and recycling

- capture and recycling of ozone depleting substances

- hazardous material inventory software

- site remediation and heavy metal recovery

- safe disposal of spent fluorescent tubes and associated hazardous waste

- Consulting, Engineering, and Training

A world of expertise is provided both locally and internationally by Nova Scotia companies including complex and innovative applications.

- coastal zone management

- environmental education & training

- pollution prevention programs

- assessment and remediation of brownfield sites and military bases

- ISO 14000 audits, planning and compliance

- renewable energy technologies including wind and solar applications / energy efficiency

- advanced geomatics capabilities

- legislation & policy development / capacity building

Come Live By The Sea

Maclean's Magazine identified Nova Scotia as one of the "last best places" to live in North America. Why? Because it combines the best opportunities the future has to offer, with an enviable lifestyle that many people thought was now a part of the past.

No matter where you go in Nova Scotia, the sea is never more than 35 minutes away. The average commute in metropolitan Halifax is only 20 minutes. That means executive housing on one of the many thousand of pristine lakes, or on the seacoast itself, is still an available, affordable reality. It means you can moor your yacht ten minutes from where you work, and manage easy evening sails throughout the Spring, Summer and Fall. Many people do. And it means ocean-front cottages, some built by hands that fashioned ships generations ago.

If you'd rather golf than sail, imagine having a choice of world-class courses within 30 minutes' drive; courses you can join without taking a second mortgage. Or, if you live to fish, picture yourself casting for trout or salmon in a pristine, gravel-bottomed stream as it meanders through a picture-postcard highland valley.

Fresh fabulous seafood is an everyday event here in Nova Scotia. The Digby scallops are known around the world. Nova Scotia lobster is the centrepiece for many a Christmas Eve feast in France. The smoked salmon is often called lox by the time it's sold in New York, but it is delectable and sought-after worldwide. And fresh mussels, of course, are a staple on Nova Scotia tables.

People look out for each other here, so neighbourhoods are safe and the crime rate is low. Nova Scotia is the first, and so far only, province in Canada with province-wide 911 service. Finally, housing costs are among the lowest in the country.

Education for the Future
Nova Scotia is proud of its extensive public school system, which features French immersion programs and a progressive, practical teaching philosophy. There are also a number of international-quality private schools around the province. Beyond public school, there are over a dozen universities in the province, an extensive Community College system and many technical and specialized education facilities.

Taking Health Seriously
Health care and social services remain an important part of the economy, accounting for more than 11% of total employment. There is one physician for every 500 people here (well above North American standards), and several hospitals with state-of-the-art diagnostic, treatment and research facilities. All Canadians enjoy a complete government-paid health care system, second to none. In fact, in the World Competitiveness Yearbook, Canada is the world's top-ranked G7 country in the availability and quality of medical care.

Arts & Culture
Nova Scotia has a wealth of cultural and artistic facilities, groups, events and activities...

Neptune Theatre in Halifax is an award-winning professional theatre featuring some of Canada's best stage actors, directors and designers.

the Atlantic Theatre Festival in Wolfville is an annual summer event that many say will soon rival the Stratford and Shaw Festivals of Ontario.

the Atlantic Jazz Festival is a summer jazz festival with internationally-known performers.

Symphony Nova Scotia is a full-time symphony orchestra, centered in Halifax

the Nova Scotia Museum, a nationally respected system of 25 provincial museums throughout the province.

the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax houses a permanent and impressive collection of both Nova Scotian and international art.

In addition, there are professional theatres, museums, galleries, fine art, concert and touring halls throughout the province.

Then there's the music that's making Nova Scotia famous. Ashley MacIsaac, Natalie MacMaster, Mary Jane Lamond, The Rankins and many more. These are names that have propelled Celtic music, Nova Scotia style, onto the world stage. The tradition was born here and lives here yet, in tucked away church basements, out-of-the-way pubs and country kitchens.

Recreation & Outdoor Life
There are more than 10,000 lakes and rivers (not to mention the Atlantic Ocean) where sports fishing reigns supreme. Salmon, trout, and many lesser-known species abound. From lakes to ocean, you'll also find power and sail boating everywhere, including events like Chester Race Week, Metro Area Race Week and the famous Halifax to Marblehead Ocean Race.

There are dozens of superb golf courses across Nova Scotia, at every difficulty level. The newly-restored Highland Links in Cape Breton has been recently rated as Canada's top golf course. And Golf Magazine, describing it as 'the best links course this side of Scotland', named it as one the best 100 courses in the world.

A Temperate Climate
The climate is a temperate one, rarely too hot or too cold, and Nova Scotia enjoys the highest average temperature of any Canadian province. The summer days are usually in the 65-75 degree (F) range.

Take A Closer Look

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