Podcast: Tim Houston On Nova Scotia’s Plan To Reach A Population Of Two Million
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, he tells Don Mills and David Campbell on the latest episode of the 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 negative vortex because oftentimes 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.
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You can listen to the conversation with Houston in the player above. Better yet, search for “Huddle Insights” on a podcast platform like Apple or Spotify. Follow the show and never miss an episode. You can also listen to past episodes on those platforms.
The “Insights” podcast combines the experiences of an economist, David Campbell, and a social scientist, Don Mills, to explore the challenges and opportunities facing Atlantic Canada, promote data-driven decision-making among policymakers, and encourage a wider dialogue and debate leading to greater prosperity for the region.
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.