Ivany urges N.S. politicians to act on warnings of harsh economic report

HALIFAX — Three weeks after the release of a critical report analyzing Nova Scotia’s economy, politicians have yet to decide on a course of action.

Ray Ivany, the lead commissioner of the report titled Building Our New Economy, spoke Thursday morning to the standing committee on economic development. He emphasized the need for government to take non-partisan, transparent action.

“There’s no way to overstate the seriousness of the current situation,” he told the committee.

Leaders from all three provincial parties have expressed interest in an non-partisan committee aimed at responding to the report, but no progress has yet been made on forming it.

Ivany told MLAs the stakes are high for both the province and its politicians.

“It’s not just the economy or demography that’s on the edge of a cliff here,” he said. “I’d suggest, so are you.”

Ivany and the other commissioners have called for an immediate, substantial reorganization of the province’s economic structure to prevent what they call “an irreversible downward spiral.”

The report offers 10-year goals to achieve economic prosperity, but does not provide specific details on what’s required to attain those goals.

Springhill dissolution not a surprise: Ivany

Ivany said Springhill council’s recent decision to dissolve its status as a town and join Cumberland County is not a surprise.

He said he expects a number of other municipalities will be faced with similar decisions because of shrinking populations and economic decline.

Ivany said the move by Springhill is consistent with the analysis in the panel’s report released last month.

He said the positive aspect of Springhill’s decision is council’s realization it had to change to adapt to its circumstances.

Read the original report below:

*with files from The Canadian Press