Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia (French: Nouvelle-Écosse) is one of Canada's three Maritime Provinces, and one of the four provinces that form Atlantic Canada. Its provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the second-smallest of Canada's ten provinces, with an area of 55,284 square kilometres (21,300 sq. mi). As of 2016, the population was 923,598. Nova Scotia is Canada's second-most-densely populated province, after Prince Edward Island, with 17.4 inhabitants per square kilometre (45/sq. mi).
Click on the map to view Nova Scotia's location.
Geography
The province's mainland is the Nova Scotia Peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean, including numerous bays and estuaries. Nowhere in Nova Scotia is more than 67 km (42 mi) from the ocean. Nova Scotia has many ancient fossil-bearing rock formations. Blue Beach near Han sport, Jogging Fossil Cliffs, on the Bay of Fundy’s shores, has yielded an abundance of Carboniferous -age fossils. Wasson's Bluff, near the town of Parrsboro, has yielded both Triassic - and Jurassic -age fossils. The province contains 5,400 lakes.
Climate
Nova Scotia lies in the mid-temperate zone, although the province is almost surrounded by water, the climate is closer to Continental Climate rather than maritime. The winter and summer temperature extremes of the continental climate are moderated by the ocean. However, winters are cold enough to be classified as continental- still being nearer the freezing point than inland areas to the west. The Nova Scotian climate is in many ways like the central Baltic sea coast in Northern Europe, only wetter and snowier. Areas not on the Atlantic coast experience warmer summers more typical of inland areas, and winter lows a little colder.
History
The history of Nova Scotia extends back 11,000 years to the arrival of the original indigenous inhabitants of the region. Some of the descendents of these people would become the Mi'kmaq First Nation, who still play an important role in Nova Scotian life. The first Europeans to arrive in Nova Scotia were the Vikings, who are thought to have visited around the year 990. None would return until approximately 500 years later with the arrival of famous Italian explorer John Cabot, who landed in Cabe Breton in 1497. European settlement of Nova Scotia would begin approximately 100 years later with a French settlement at Port Royale. By the time Nova Scotia joined New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec to form the Dominion of Canada in 1867, the province was home to a number of different cultural communities.
Economy
Nova Scotia has a very diverse economy that includes key industries in the service, manufacturing and mining sectors. Traditionally, many Nova Scotians made their livings from fish stocks of the Scotian Shelf. Unfortunately, however, fish resources have become endangered in recent years, heavily impacting the fishing industry. Recently, the Nova Scotia economy has successfully diversified, and with retraining many of those who had lost their jobs with the decline of the fisheries have found new jobs in Nova Scotia's growth industries. Halifax, as a large urban centre, is home to a wide array of industries and professions and its economy is the heart of Atlantic Canada.
Government and politics
Nova Scotia is ordered by a Parliamentary Government. The sovereign is Queen Elizabeth II. As such, the Queen's representative, the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (at present Arthur Joseph LeBlanc), carries out most of the royal duties in Nova Scotia. The Premier of Nova Scotia (presently Stephen McNeil), the Head of Government, who is the current leader of the political party that can obtain the confidence of a plurality in the House of Assembly. The leader of the party with the second-most seats usually become the Leader of her majesty’s Loyal opposition (presently Tim Hudson) and is part of an adversarial parliamentary system intended to keep the government in check. Each of the 51 Members of the legislative Assembly in the House of Assembly is elected by single member plurality in an electoral District or riding.
Health care
Under Canadian Law, all provinces and territories must provide universal, publicly funded health care to all citizens and legal residents of Canada. In other words, most basic health services in Canada are offered at no direct cost to the patient. Certain procedures that are not deemed necessary (such as elective cosmetic surgery and a number of dental care procedures, for example) are generally not covered, but the list of services paid for publicly varies from province to province. Like all other provinces in Canada, Nova Scotia provides a publicly-funded health services program. The Nova Scotia plan insures eligible residents of Nova Scotia for all medically required physicians' services provided in the doctor's office, at home or in hospital.
Education
Nova Scotia's education system is split up into eight different regions including; Tri-County (22 schools), Annapolis Valley (42 schools), South Shore (25 schools), Chignecto-Central (67 schools), Halifax (67 schools), Strait (20 schools) and Cape Breton-Victoria Regional Centre for Education (39 schools). Nova Scotia has more than 450 public schools for children. The public system offers primary to Grade 12. There are also private schools in the province. The Nova Scotia Community College system has 13 campuses around the province. In addition to its community college system the province has 10 universities, including Dalhousie University, University of King’s College, Saint Mary’s University, etc.
The NSNP is Nova Scotia’s Provincial Nominee Program. Through this program, prospective immigrants with the skills and experience targeted by the province may receive a Nova Scotia Provincial Nomination Certificate.
The NSNP accepts applications under the following immigration streams:
- Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Experience: Express Entry
- Nova Scotia Labour Market Priorities
- Skilled Worker Stream
- Entrepreneur Stream
- International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
- Physician Stream