Ivany Report anniversary fast approaching
HALIFAX, NS –Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says Stephen McNeil and the Liberals should act now to support Nova Scotia small businesses, create jobs and rebuild our economy.
Baillie issued the call to action at the closing session of the Progressive Conservative Annual General Meeting today.
Baillie was joined by Mike Hachey, CEO and Executive Producer of Egg Studios and Emily Richardson CEO of a new start-up called GoFullSteam. They are among the growing number of voices who are calling on the government to show leadership and begin implementing the goals contained in the Ivany report. Entitled Now or Never, the report will be a year old on February 12.
Goal four in the Ivany Report is to increase the number of business start-ups to 4,200. That’s a 50 per cent increase over the current 10-year average.
Hachey, who employs 22 people full-time and contracts 250-300 freelancers annually, wants to see the Liberals expand the Film tax credit. Hachey says Egg Studios is not eligible for the film tax credit because of the type of films they create.
“This narrow interpretation of the eligibility criteria does not take into account the jobs and revenue generated by us over the years using the exact same talent pool,” Hachey said. “We are a cutting edge creative business, a business that should be supported to grow.”
Other small business leaders have recently launched an initiative calling on the government to expand the Equity Tax Credit.
Baillie says removing obstacles to those who are establishing start-ups in Nova Scotia is clearly called for in the Ivany Report. Helping them grow benefits our economy.
“We have dynamic and innovative entrepreneurs who can create jobs for fellow Nova Scotians,” said Baillie. “Stephen McNeil and the Liberals must listen to them. We don’t need to wait another year. Doing nothing in light of all our province’s challenges is completely incompetent.”
Baillie says a competent Progressive Conservative government would support job creators in Nova Scotia and pass the Ivany goals in law.
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