We know from a recent survey that when students study in the region, they usually stay on and work in the region. They're the group in our population that is most exposed to new ideas, the latest research findings and the most innovative technology. When they move on to work, they take this knowledge with them into the market. That's what I mean when I suggest that Nova Scotia is choosing to be a KBE dropout. Needless to say, there are many essential components to such a plan, but it should all start with identification of the critical elements for economic success.
Education is obviously an example.
The second point that seems obvious to me is that we must align provincial economic and social policies with these critical elements to ensure that we maximize the success factors. In this connection, I think it is crucial that we take great care not to undermine those elements in our environment that will contribute ultimately to greater growth and prosperity. It makes no sense for our Minister of Economic Development to give speeches about the knowledge economy, if our Minister of Finance is ripping up our university system through grant cuts. In this context, I'm very pleased to see that the Chamber's comments on fiscal issues most recently identified the need to maintain a strong education system as one of the key objectives of public policy. It is not, and cannot be, an end in itself.