17 March 2011
Middleton, Nova Scotia
The Government of Canada will assist in funding a study to determine the feasibility of establishing a community information utility (CIU) for south west Nova Scotia. The CIU, similar to water and electrical utilities, would provide subscribers with information on local geography, agriculture property boundaries, climate, and health statistics in south west Nova Scotia.
"Protecting and creating jobs and ensuring economic growth in all regions remains our Government's number one priority," said Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway. "A utility providing information on surveying and related scientific knowledge as well as global positioning and mapping could stimulate new business opportunities and provide employment in this region."
The CIU would provide digital geographic information for five counties in southwest Nova Scotia, describing local geography, topography, agriculture, property boundaries, climate information, census data, health statistics and other information. The proponent of the project, the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), wants to ensure the feasibility of a CIU in a rural region with a low and dispersed population. The only other CIU in Canada is located in Sault St. Marie and serves a much larger and less dispersed population base.
"We are pleased to have the opportunity to use the expertise of NSCC's Applied Research team to participate in a study that may lead to economic benefits in our region," said Jim Stanley, Principal of NSCC's Annapolis Valley Campus. "It is our goal to develop a tool to help create innovative business and employment opportunities that will be of benefit to our students and our community."
"This project will bring to light the potential for sharing geographic information over the internet, and provide Southwest Nova Scotia with an opportunity to play a leadership role in the development of geomatics applications," said Dan Harvey, Managing Director, Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency. "This will both help build the local economy and enhance community economic capacity in our region."
This project was identified as a priority by Team Southwest Nova Scotia, a committee of community and government representatives launched in April 2010 that works with local businesses and communities to identify and develop strategic long-term solutions to help the economy of Southwest Nova Scotia.
The Government of Canada is investing $38,000 through ACOA's Innovative Communities Fund (ICF). The proponent will provide $10,000 from existing working capital. Another $2,000 will come from the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency.
FOR BROADCAST USE:
The Government of Canada will fund a study to determine the feasibility of establishing community information utility using geomatics developed by the Nova Scotia Community College Annapolis Valley campus. The utility would provide clients with information on local geography, agriculture property boundaries, climate, and health statistics in south west Nova Scotia. Member of Parliament Greg Kerr said the government's number one priority is to protect and create jobs and ensure economic growth in all regions of Nova Scotia.
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INFORMATION:
John Soosaar
Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
902-407-8101
Email: jsoosaar@acoa-apeca.gc.ca
Bob Maher
Senior Research Scientist
Nova Scotia Community College (Annapolis Campus)
902- 825-5477
Email : Bob.Maher@nscc.ca
