Victoria-The Lakes's candidates' promises on Jobs, Businesses, & Labour

Agriculture

Liberal

Develop a Centre for Agriculture Ventures and Enterprises to support farms
Develop a mental health plan for farmers
Help farms adapt to climate change

"Nova Scotia farms are essential for our communities, and a Nova Scotia Liberal government will invest to ensure they remain sustainable. We will develop a Centre for Agriculture Ventures and Enterprises that will bring together different levels of government, post-secondary institutions, and farmers to find innovative ways to support our farms. One of the first priorities will be to help our farms adapt to climate change. We’ll also develop a mental health plan for farmers, who we know are twice as likely to experience suicidal ideation." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

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We don't have any NDP policies on Agriculture.

We don't have any PC policies on Agriculture.

Breweries and wineries

Liberal

Follow recommendations from the Craft Breweries Association to improve the NSLC tiered mark-up and remove the benefit cap

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will support craft breweries by following recommendations from the Craft Breweries Association of Nova Scotia to improve the NSLC tiered mark-up and remove the benefit cap. We will work with craft brewers and the NSLC to ensure that local breweries receive the support they need to grow, and aren’t punished for their success. We’ll also ensure that the NSLC is highlighting local products and supporting local businesses." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Develop a provincial replanting and management strategy
Reinstate the Wine Development Board
Provide a direct agriculture subsidy to keep farm wineries competitive with international competitors

We don't have any NDP policies on Breweries and wineries.

We don't have any PC policies on Breweries and wineries.

Economic growth

Liberal

Invest $300M over four years to encourage economic development and infrastructure in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will invest $300M over four years to spur economic development and infrastructure growth in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. This funding will be used to address the following:

Improving the CBRM’s infrastructure,
Growing the CBRM’s economy,
Improving opportunities for CBRM workers,
Alleviating the CBRM’s housing crisis,
Improving transit in CBRM, and
Building capital projects that will have a long-term impact on Cape Breton.

We will also commit to one-on-one negotiations with the CBRM regarding a CBRM municipal charter, which takes into account their unique economic, social, and equalization circumstances."

— Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

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NDP

Permanently double the Cape Breton Regional Municipality finance grant to $30M

"Doubling the Cape Breton Regional Municipality finance grant and making it permanent increasing from $15M to $30M in the first year." — Leadership You Can Believe In, retrieved 2024-11-16

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We don't have any PC policies on Economic growth.

Fishing and aquaculture

Liberal

Hold an inquiry into illegal fishing in Nova Scotia
Introduce mandatory fines, and revoke buying licenses for repeat offenders
Create an office in the department of Fisheries and Aquaculture responsible for working with other levels of government to protect fisheries

"Modernize the provincial department of Fisheries and Aquaculture by creating an office responsible for working with the other levels of government to protect our fisheries" — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Introduce a no-tolerance policy for illegal fishing
Create a dedicated fisheries enforcement unit

"Create a dedicated fisheries enforcement unit to ensure enforcement officers have the resources and focus necessary to protect this essential industry." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

We don't have any NDP policies on Fishing and aquaculture.

We don't have any PC policies on Fishing and aquaculture.

Immigration

Liberal

Focus immigration targets on bringing in professionals in critical areas, including healthcare, teaching, construction, and agriculture

"We will ensure immigration targets are focused on growing the number of professionals we need in critical areas, including but not limited to:

ʘ Physicians and healthcare professionals,
ʘ Teachers and early-childhood educators,
ʘ Construction workers and the skilled
tradespeople, and
ʘ Agriculture and aquaculture workers."

— Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

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We don't have any NDP policies on Immigration.

We don't have any PC policies on Immigration.

Infrastructure

Liberal

Invest in highway infrastructure

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will invest in critical highway infrastructure to increase safety on our highways, complete the 100-series highways, and improve the flow of goods and people around our province. Specifically, our priorities include making improvements to safety infrastructure across the province, completing controlled access highways on the 101 and 103, and ensuring proper exits on the 104." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Enhance maintenance efforts for ditches and culverts in rural areas

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will invest in maintaining rural road infrastructure by enhancing maintenance efforts for ditches and culverts to keep our roads safe and protect private property." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Expand cell service across the province, with a focus on highway corridors

"If you are on a 100-series highway in Nova Scotia you should have reliable cell service. A Nova Scotia Liberal government will expand cell service across our province, starting along our highway corridors." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Build a new, six-lane bridge with active transportation infrastructure and bus lanes, to replace the MacKay Bridge

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government would work with the Halifax Dartmouth Bridge Commission to build a new, six lane bridge with active transportation infrastructure and bus lanes to support rapid transit in Halifax. This will reduce congestion and protect the people and goods that travel that bridge every day." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Create a fund to build emergency access and connector roads in areas deemed high-risk

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will create a fund to build emergency access and connector roads in areas deemed high-risk by municipalities, emergency management officials, and other experts. We will make funding available to any community that completes the FireSmart Neighbourhood Recognition Program so they can implement safety improvements that will protect lives and property in cases of wildfires." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

We don't have any NDP policies on Infrastructure.

We don't have any PC policies on Infrastructure.

Labour protections

Liberal

Pass both vertical and horizontal pay transparency legislation

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will pass both vertical and horizontal pay transparency legislation to increase equity and fairness in the workplace." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Ban the use of non-compete clauses

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will ban the use of Non-Compete Clauses to attract workers in high-growth sectors, including the technology industry. This will encourage competitiveness and innovation by prohibiting unfair non-competes, which are used to restrict work opportunities and suppress salary increases." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

We don't have any NDP policies on Labour protections.

We don't have any PC policies on Labour protections.

Minimum wage

We don't have any Liberal policies on Minimum wage.

We don't have any NDP policies on Minimum wage.

PC

Increase Nova Scotia's minimum wage to $16.50 in one year

Mining

Liberal

Examine the entire resource regulatory framework, with a focus on critical minerals

"We will examine the entire resource regulatory framework, with a focus on Nova Scotia’s critical minerals, which will help fight climate change." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Examine all resource extraction royalties

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will examine all resource extraction royalties to build wealth for Nova Scotians by maximizing the true value of our natural resources." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

We don't have any NDP policies on Mining.

We don't have any PC policies on Mining.

Oil and gas development

Liberal

Examine all resource extraction royalties

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government will examine all resource extraction royalties to build wealth for Nova Scotians by maximizing the true value of our natural resources." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

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We don't have any NDP policies on Oil and gas development.

PC

Encourage production of hydrogen and aviation fuel

"Focus on the smart development of our energy and natural resources sectors through Nova Scotia's Clean Energy Plan, which will in turn provide more opportunities for families and result in fewer of our children going 'out west' for work. It will make Nova Scotia a world class energy producer in hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.

The construction of these two industries will provide a decade of new construction jobs, along with new high paying long-term jobs that will benefit the entire economy and Province."

— Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10

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Poverty

Liberal

Set up an all-party committee to overhaul the social assistance model and examine alternatives, including a guaranteed basic income

"Our current social safety net is trapping Nova Scotians in intergenerational poverty, requires significant bureaucratic overhead, and often disincentivizes working. Together, we can transform the various social assistance programs to ensure that people who are struggling can afford the basic necessities and not find themselves on the streets. We will reform these systems so they work for everyone. To do that, we will spearhead an all-party committee to overhaul our social assistance model and examine alternatives, including a guaranteed basic income." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09
Recognise the link between poverty, housing, and healthcare, and focus on anti-poverty and housing-first policies

"A Nova Scotia Liberal government would recognize the link between poverty, housing, and healthcare, and focus on anti-poverty and housing-first policies as a way to keep people out of the emergency room." — Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

NDP

Raise income assistance rates by $100
Develop a long-term Poverty Reduction Strategy
Move those receiving the income assistance "essentials rate" up to the "boarder rate", nearly doubling the amount they receive
Tie income assistance rates to the annual rate of inflation

We don't have any PC policies on Poverty.

Startups and small businesses

Liberal

Reduce the small business tax to 1%
Raise the income threshold for small businesses from $500K to $700K

NDP

Cut the small business tax rate to 1.5% from 2.5%
Invest more in training and apprenticeships

"Investing more in training and apprenticeships to help make sure Nova Scotia has the highly skilled and well-qualified workers businesses are looking for." — Leadership You Can Believe In, retrieved 2024-11-16
Create a buy local programme

"Creating real incentives to support local business through a buy local program that is inclusive and allows entrepreneurs, rather than corporations, to thrive." — Leadership You Can Believe In, retrieved 2024-11-16

PC

Decrease the small business tax rate from 2.5% to 1.5%
Increase the small business threshold from $500K to $700K

Trades

Liberal

Invest $10M to increase training for women at NSCC in trades directly related to housing

"As of 2022, less than 9% of trades apprentices in Nova Scotia were women. We will never overcome our province’s labour shortage and get more housing built if we are only training half of the available workforce. A Nova Scotia Liberal government will invest $10M to increase training for women at NSCC in trades directly related to housing, with a goal to double the number of women being trained over five years. We will:

ʘ Increase the number of spots available for women to study a trade at NSCC,

ʘ Invest to develop programming for all ages to show young women that careers in the trades are dynamic, high-paying jobs that help our communities, and

ʘ Expand NSCC’s Women Unlimited program, which has already helped 1,000 women explore trades and technology education and find meaningful careers."

— Better Deal for Nova Scotians, retrieved 2024-11-09

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We don't have any NDP policies on Trades.

We don't have any PC policies on Trades.