Parents: Elvin (father, a sheet metal worker) and Florence (mother, grocery store clerk).
Birthplace: Born and raised in Milton, Queens County, Nova Scotia.
Siblings: Six children, including Darrell.
Wife/Children: Married to Kelly Wilson. One son, Harris (19).
Schools Attended: Bachelor of Education, Bachelor of Laws, Dalhousie University; Bachelor of Journalism, University of King’s College.
Career: Served in the Canadian Navy as a command information officer for Maritime Forces Pacific and as sub-lieutenant on HMCS Yukon and HMCS Qu’appelle; former chair of the Dartmouth Downtown Development Corporation; elected Dartmouth City councillor in 1994.
Hobbies: Basketball, golf, reading and travelling.
Darrell’s Master Plan: My goal is to make life better for Nova Scotia families. Already my government has implemented a number of measures to do just that. For example, we introduced a new home construction rebate to stimulate the economy and keep our skilled tradespeople here at home…. We’ve also stimulated the economy and created thousands of jobs by maximizing federal infrastructure dollars. (We) will fast-track funding increases for transition houses across Nova Scotia, the first time in more than a decade these groups will see a bump in funding. In October, we removed the provincial portion of the HST on basic home electricity, saving millions of dollars in energy costs for Nova Scotians. We hired Dr. John Ross to advise the province on ways to improve emergency health care, and we established ministerial accountability for emergency departments…. Our government is on track to meet our other commitments to improve life for families, including establishing a community land trust, drafting a five-year paving plan and establishing a suburban priorities team.
You Asked, Dexter Anwsers
The following questions were submitted by residents of Nova Scotia.
T.C. from Cape Breton: What do you believe should be the provincial government’s reaction to global warming, and how should the provinces treat further efforts to control CO2 (or rather, should they even be concerned)?
Premier Dexter: My government views the issue of global warming and climate change as a serious concern. That’s why Nova Scotia is working hard to be a leader in green initiatives. We were the first province in Canada to place hard caps on greenhouse gas emissions in the electricity sector, and in July, we set a new target for renewable electricity production — 25 per cent by 2015. Right now we are developing world-class renewable energy technology that can help us meet these targets. We have been recognized for our leadership in LED lighting and tidal energy, including the in-stream tidal turbine recently installed in the Bay of Fundy — the largest of its kind in operation in North America, and one of the largest in the world. Nova Scotia also recently announced $4.25-million in funding for green transportation and technology projects, to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollutants and energy costs. Over the next four years we will continue to expand our renewable energy sector and develop a skilled workforce to accommodate our growing green economy
D.D. from Halifax: How will the Hydro Quebec Deal with NB Power impact Nova Scotia? Should we be making a deal with Newfoundland and Labrador to ensure our part/share of revenues for exported power into the U.S.?
Premier Dexter: New Brunswick is in a strategic position for transmission links between the Atlantic provinces and the rest of North America. Right now, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador are seeking assurances that the best interests of Nova Scotia, and the Atlantic region, are protected. Atlantic Canadians are best served when our provincial governments work together to gain the best possible opportunities for the region as a whole, as well as the separate interests of each province. It is important that New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham recognizes that a written agreement on a new interprovincial transmission line is best for all our provinces.
V.B. from Halifax: Given that Nova Scotia has one of the lowest averages of private investment of any of the Canadian provinces, has your government given any thought to what it can do to attract international and national investment dollars for Nova Scotian companies?
Premier Dexter: Our government is always looking for ways to encourage people to invest in Nova Scotia. Recently, I led the Atlantic Gateway trade mission to Vietnam to promote investment in our region’s transportation and education sectors. I also attended the climate change conference in Copenhagen in December, where Nova Scotia green businesses had the chance to showcase their operations on an international stage. Our government boosted the equity tax credit to 35 per cent from 30 per cent, which was expected to generate more than $1-million in new incentives to support investments in local enterprises. We also introduced a manufacturing and processing investment tax credit to boost jobs and increase innovation and productivity in Nova Scotia’s manufacturing and processing industries.
