Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia wants to be remembered for setting the stage for growth when people look back on his government’s achievements decades from now. Population growth is a top priority along with improving access to healthcare, he tells Don Mills and David Campbell on the latest Huddle “Insights” podcast.
“People drive economies so we need people,” says Houston of his ambitious goal to grow the population to two million by 2060. “We know the flip side of that from depopulation. We know what happens when communities lose people. Schools close, stores close, and then you get caught in that negative3 vortex because it’s oftentimes it’s those that remain are aging. The cycle goes on and on.”
“The cycle is being broken; the population is turning around. People are realizing what we already know, and that’s the quality of life here, where you’re never far from a city and you’re never far from a beach. You can have everything you want in between, so we have a lot to offer people.”
In his chat with Mills and Campbell, Houston also says improving access to quality healthcare is his other main priority.
This is the third of our exclusive series of “Insights” interviews with Atlantic Canada’s premiers; on the last episode Mills and Campbell spoke with New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs.
This episode of Insights is brought to you by MNP Digital – a firm that guides, protects, and empowers organizations along their digital journey. See how at mnpdigital.ca.
