Unions of Nova Scotia Municipalities

Province Announces Jobs Fund Board Members

Eight economic development leaders from around the province will provide advice on proposed Jobs Fund investments for communities in transition, to support local industries and to attract new business. Percy Paris, Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism, appointed the members to the Nova Scotia Jobs Fund board on January 19.

The board will be chaired by Ron Smith, who has held top positions with Aliant, Emera, and Acadia University. Other members are:

• Ann MacLean, who was mayor of New Glasgow for 17 years and is the past president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
• Robbie Shaw, former president and CEO of the IWK Health Centre Foundation, and former executive with Nova Scotia Power and Dalhousie University
• Bernd Christmas, owner of the Bernd Christmas Law Group in Toronto and former CEO of the Membertou Band of Nova Scotia
• Bert Frizzell, CEO of the Shaw Group, and a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Executive Management Program
• Bert Lewis, business development manager for Mulgrave Machine Works Limited, and former Strait-area principal for NSCC
• Hector Jacques, renowned engineer and business leader with Jacques Whitford, and a member of the Nova Scotia Business Hall of Fame and the Order of Canada
• Kristy Herron, president of the Digby Area Board of Trade, and volunteer for the Digby Area Board of Trade, the Digby Community Health Board and youth programs.

Mr. Lewis, Mr. Smith and Mr. Frizzell, are also members of the Nova Scotia Business Inc. board of directors. In most business transactions, NSBI will be the main point of contact for the province's various types of investments.

Premier Darrell Dexter also announced the members of the province's new Economic Investment Committee. This cabinet committee will provide recommendations for all potential provincial investments.

The committee will make sure investments are aligned with jobsHere, the plan to create good jobs and grow the economy. It will be chaired by Communities Culture and Heritage Minister David Wilson. Other members are:

• Deputy Premier Frank Corbett
• Economic and Rural Development and Tourism Minister Percy Paris
• Finance Minister Graham Steele
• Community Services Minister Denise Peterson-Rafuse,
• Energy Minister Charlie Parker.

The committee will:

• ensure Nova Scotia makes the most of its economic development investments and will consider the economic impacts of provincial investment decisions on communities throughout Nova Scotia
• seek Governor in Council approval for financial investments from any economic development fund, including the Nova Scotia Farm Loan Board, Nova Scotia Fisheries and Acquaculture Loan Board and the Strategic Opportunities Fund
• make recommendations to the Policy and Priorities Committee, Treasury Board and Executive Council, as appropriate, about the policy and financial impacts of proposals for financial assistance.

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