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WHAT IS THE HALIFAX INDEX?

•The Halifax Index measures Halifax’s progress toward broad economic development

•It benchmarks Halifax’s progress against five Canadian cities

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Components of Economic Development

Economic Development

People

Sustainability

Quality of Place

Economy

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PEOPLE

A MODEST YEAR FOR POPULATION GROWTH

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NET INTERPROVINCIAL OUTMIGRATION FROM HALIFAX

2001/2002

2002/2003

2003/2004

2004/2005

2005/2006

2006/2007

2007/2008

2008/2009

2009/2010

2010/2011

2011/2012

2012/2013

-2500

-2000

-1500

-1000

-500

0

500

1000

1500

40 and over Under 40

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SOFT YOUTH LABOUR MARKET

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NET MIGRATION FROM REST OF NS

-500

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

4000To Halifax To Other Provinces

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Trend in Halifax University and NSCC enrollment

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20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220130

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

4,629

29,610

NSCC Universities

OPPORTUNITY: INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

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MODERATE EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

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STEADY IMPROVEMENT IN WORKPLACE SAFETY

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ECONOMY

ROBUST ECONOMIC GROWTH IN 2013

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BUSINESS CONFIDENCE SLIDING

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ANOTHER STRONG YEAR FOR THE HALIFAX GATEWAY

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HOUSING MARKET SHIFT TO APARTMENTS

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QUALITY OF PLACE

BIG REDUCTION IN CRIME

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BIGGER REDUCTION IN VIOLENT CRIME

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STRONG INCOME GROWTH OUTPACED LIVING COSTS...

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STRONG GROWTH IN THE ARTS AND CULTURE SECTOR

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SUSTAINABILITY

HIGHEST USE OF PUBLIC TRANSIT

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DENSITY REDUCES DEPENDENCE ON CARS

•Use of public transit to get to work is much higher in the Regional Centre

•Regional Centre residents are also more likely to walk or cycle to work

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APARTMENT STARTS FAVOUR REGIONAL CENTRE

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MUNICIPAL FINANCES IN GREAT SHAPE

•Halifax’s credit rating remains at AA- with a stable outlook, indicating confidence in the city’s long-term fiscal health h

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Big Take-Aways

• We are getting old too fast• We don’t treat our future workforce well• We can turn this around.• The economy is growing, but the drivers are changing. • We get great marks on our quality of place, sustainability and city finances. • We are cautiously positive about our future.

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What’s Next

• Economic growth will jump significantly this year and next.

• We’ve got some things to work on….• Retain more people. • Attitudes need to shift• Change could begin here. h

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