Saint John’s boom to increase demand for products, services, labour

Mike Gushue, managing director of the Annapolis Digby Economic Development Agency traveled (via ferry, of course) to the New Brunswick city along with Annapolis County warden Peter Newton and Dianne Theriault of the Digby and Area Tourism Association on July 18.

They met with Saint John’s new mayor Ivan Court and also exchanged information with representatives from Enterprise Saint John, the Saint John Board of Trade, Tourism Saint John and Bay Ferries.

They were told that Saint John—and the province of New Brunswick—is positioned for significant growth.

Refurbishment of the Point Lepreau nuclear power plant, a possible second nuclear power plant, and Irving Oil’s plans to build a second oil refinery in Saint John will create a need for products, services and skilled workers. With Digby’s proximity to Saint John, there is a potential for the Nova Scotia town to get in on the action. ‘Benefits Blueprint,’ a study commissioned by Irving Oil, the government of Canada and province of New Brunswick says there are major projects worth as much as $19 billion currently underway or being considered in New Brunswick. These projects could create 33,000 jobs over a 10-year period and will result in a demand for supplies and services as well.

The ferry service—which in the past has fueled the economy of southwestern Nova Scotia and employed about 100 people in Saint John, could become even more essential as these projects get underway.

Gushue says that the boom in Saint John points to the need for the ferry service. “As one person described it, ‘why would you take away a piece of infrastructure when you have a ‘mini-Alberta’ next door?’” said Gushue.