March 26th, 2021
With much public discussion on the economy, Nova Scotia residents were asked how important they considered the Halifax Shipyard to be to the economy in Halifax, to Nova Scotia’s economy, and to the Atlantic region’s economy overall.
Over eight in ten Nova Scotians (85%) offer high ratings (7-10 on a 10-point scale) in terms of the importance of the Halifax Shipyard to the economy in the Halifax area. As well, eight in ten (78%) offer high importance ratings regarding the importance of the Halifax Shipyard to the Nova Scotia economy, while three-quarters (73%) offer high importance ratings in terms of the Halifax Shipyards importance to the Atlantic Canadian economy. Of note, four in ten residents rated the Halifax Shipyard as extremely important (providing a rating of 10) to the Halifax economy (42%), while a similar percentage (37%) consider the Halifax Shipyard extremely important to the provincial economy. While results are consistent across the province, Cape Breton residents are more likely than those living elsewhere in the province to deem the Halifax Shipyard important to the Nova Scotia economy.
“The Halifax Shipyard will play a major role in Nova Scotia’s post COVID-19 economic recovery and it is reassuring to see that residents recognize the Shipyard’s role as a major economic catalyst for both Nova Scotia and the Atlantic region,” said Mary Keith, Vice President of Communications at Irving Shipbuilding. “Recently, the Conference Board of Canada confirmed that between 2016 and 2024, the work at the Halifax Shipyard will generate 8,200 jobs across the country and 3,500 jobs right here in Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotians surveyed were told that the Government of Canada plans to buy 15 new Canadian Surface Combatant ships. These ships will eventually replace the 12 Halifax Class Frigates currently in service with the Royal Canadian Navy, and also replace three destroyers that are no longer in service. When asked what level of importance they place on having all 15 navy ships built in Canada, as well as having them built at the Halifax Shipyard, results underscore a high perceived importance.
Indeed, Nova Scotians place high importance on having all 15 Canadian Surface Combatant ships built in Canada, with the vast majority also deeming it important that the ships be built at the Halifax Shipyard.
More specifically, nearly nine in ten Nova Scotians (86%) place high importance (7-10 on a 10-point scale) on having all 15 navy ships built in Canada. Additionally, the vast majority of residents (75%) deem it important to have the navy ships built at the Halifax Shipyard. These perceptions are consistent across the province.
Perceived importance of building all the navy ships in Canada increases with age (18-34yrs: 75%, 35-54yrs: 85%, 55+: 93%). This trend also holds true for importance regarding building the ships at Halifax Shipyard (18-34yrs: 60%, 35-54yrs: 71%, 55+: 87%).
“Regardless of which part of the province Nova Scotians live, they recognize the importance of the Halifax Shipyard to the local and regional economy,” said Margaret Brigley, Narrative Research’s CEO. “These results underscore the Shipyard’s position as a leading economic contributor and career pathway for so many of our young engineers and skilled trades people.”
These results are part of Narrative Research’s Atlantic Quarterly®, an independent, quarterly telephone survey of Atlantic Canadians, and are based on a sample of 400 adult Nova Scotians, conducted from February 8 – 27 2021, with overall results accurate to within ±4.9 percentage points, 95 out of 100 times. These questions were commissioned by the Halifax Shipyard.
Narrative Research, www.narrativeresearch.ca, is one of Canada’s leading public opinion and market research companies. As a non-partisan company, Narrative Research is dedicated to providing clients with state-of-the-art research and strategic consulting services. Follow us on Twitter at @EveryNarrative.
For more information, please contact:
Margaret Brigley, CEO, Narrative Research at 902.493.3830 (O) mbrigley@narrativeresearch.ca
Or
Mary Keith, Vice President Communication, Halifax Shipyard at (O) 506-632-5122, keith.mary@jdirving.com
February 2021 Conference Board of Canada Report
Value for Money: The National Shipbuilding Strategy at the Halifax Shipyard
https://www.conferenceboard.ca/e-library/abstract.aspx?did=11049
