AT 5pm on October 19, 2011, the Federal Government announced the most exciting news ever for our region - Halifax/Nova Scotia/Irving get $25 BILLION to build 21 combat ships for the navy.
CBC News intervewed various people in Halifax...
"It means that we're going to be able to bring people home and to allow them to have prosperity here in the province" — Nova Scotia Premier Darrell Dexter
"As an apprentice, it's life-changing. Now we know we're set for life. It's the best feeling in the world right now" — Matt Chisholm, shipyard worker
"There's going to be economic benefits in the housing market, for restaurants, for barbers, for hairstylists – any sector of the economy will gain and benefit from this" — Halifax Mayor Peter Kelly
"I think there's a lot of people out west who will be delighted to come home. So we feel good about that. We have about 10,000 applicants at the present time on file. People want to come back" — Jim Irving, CEO of Irving Shipbuilding
The exciting summary for these opinions: people can move home, prosperity will occur, set for life, benefits to all sectors especially housing, life-changing!, the list goes on! My 8 year -old commented, "But mom, it's not going to make anything better for any of us kids so I'm not excited." I tried to explain that if more people move here and have stable jobs, more people will purchase homes through me and he will get to attend more camps and travel more...I think he understood once I mentioned the travelling!!
In a nutshell, this is just amazing news for Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the Atlantic Provinces. With over 11,500 jobs coming, we can't help but get really excited about the prospects of prosperity.This is a big deal for each and everyone of us here - I look forward to watching the economy pick up!!
Those from Alberta and others from out west, I'm here to help you relocate! I've done it myself so I know by experience what it's like. I look forward to welcoming my friends and Atlantic Canadians home to Halifax!!