The PC Party of Nova Scotia is blasting the provincial government on potentially funding a $300,000 training program that would send nine Nova Scotia power players to Boston for an MIT program.
“There is not a single Nova Scotian that will see this as a job-creation strategy. This is a group of insiders being paid with their tax dollars to go to school in Boston,” said PC Party Leader Jamie Baillie in Halifax.
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The school’s Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP) is meant to spur economic growth and job creation through an emphasis on innovation-driven entrepreneurship.
The two-year program includes two, three-day workshops.
Dalhousie University is spearheading the plan for REAP; the PC Party provided a document it obtained with these details.
The nine people on the team include Richard Florizone, president of Dalhousie University; John Risley, CEO and president of Clearwater Fine Foods Inc.; and Chris Huskilson, CEO and president of Emera.
“It’s quite offensive, quite frankly that the Tory party continues to look and try to ridicule and tear down hardworking Nova Scotians who are working to build the economy of this province,” said Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil in New Ross, N.S.
“Every Nova Scotian should be outraged. It’s typical political crap.”
Brian Leadbetter, director of communications and public relations for Dalhousie, said the program would help develop new programs and initiatives at the local level in the province.
He said that the university has asked the province to consider funding “a share” of the costs, but no specific amount has been made.
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“They’re not gaining, it’s not something for them. They’re actually contributing. This isn’t part of their business. This is helping Dalhousie to work with our other research institutions in the province to take what they do and commercialize it. It’s not for their personal benefit,” said McNeil, regarding the team.
“This small-minded and narrow pettiness that takes place around opposition. Mr. Baillie, who continually tries to win his own personal favour by tearing down other people. He should be thanking them for the work that they’re doing without being paid for it.”
The Department of Labour and Advanced Education is expected to make a decision on the request in the coming weeks.
“This is the best he comes up with? That we’ll pay out of your pockets and mine to send some of the elitist of the elite in Nova Scotia to MIT? We do need a jobs plan, but that is not it,” said Baillie.
The other six members on the team are Tracy Kitch, CEO and president of the IWK Health Centre; Jevon MacDonald, co-founder of Volta Labs; Patrick Keefe, former vice-president of Innovacorp; John Knubley, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada deputy minister; Bernie Miller, former CEO of McInnes Cooper; and Murray Coolican, Nova Scotia Business deputy minister.
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