Port is vital to local economy

It is hard to believe we are already into the second month of the "new" year and seven months into our first term in government. As the member of the Legislature for Halifax Citadel - Sable Island it is essential that I maintain an open channel of communication. To this end, starting today, I will use this Political Speak column to share with you what our NDP government has been doing on your behalf.
As you would expect, at any given moment, there are a great many issues which affect our community and our province. Going by what people have been telling me, the economy is at the top of everybody's mind these days. But generating economic growth and creating jobs in the face of a global recession and fiscal deficit is no simple task.
Fortunately Halifax is blessed with a highly- educated population, a spectacular natural setting and a mixed economy that is the envy of recession-hit cities and towns across Canada. One of the main drivers of our economy is the Port of Halifax. Centuries ago, because of its strategic location, with direct deepwater access to and from the economic heartlands of North America and Europe, the Port developed as one of the global gateways for transatlantic and transcontinental trading. Today, over $1.58 billion in economic activity is generated by Port related activities. Over 11,000 people work in jobs related to the Port of Halifax. These people earn over half a billion dollars in wages annually.
Because the Port and related transportation and supply networks are so vital to our economic well being it is essential that we invest in keeping these assets as efficient and cost-effective as possible. This week, work began on a $35 million infrastructure project which will make it possible for the Port to offer multiple berths that are the deepest on the Eastern Seaboard of North America to the biggest ships afloat.
With $225 million in capital projects planned at the Port of Halifax over the next five years, there will continue to be other broad-based spinoffs from port activity and infrastructure improvements.
While the history of the Port of Halifax is rooted in transatlantic trade, almost half of the containerized cargo handled by the Port now originates in South East Asia. Vietnam, for instance, is rapidly growing as a hub for container traffic and manufacturing, and Halifax is well positioned to be a key gateway for the Vietnamese to the North American market.
Greater investment in long-term economic growth is one of the keys to balancing our province's books. Port-related employment now provides the province with over $76 million in personal income and consumption taxes.
Please let me know if there's anything you would like me to respond to. You can contact me by calling 444-3238 or via e-mail at preyra@eastlink.ca.