Halifax State of the Economy Conference 2012 The 1st Halifax Index was launched at the conference. It tells Halifax's city’s story - the strength of the economy, the health of the community, the sustainability of the environment and the progress of the Economic Strategy. It’s a new and innovative way to measure progress that reaches beyond traditional economic indicators like GDP and jobs. Download the complete Index at www.halifaxindex.com

1. THEHALIFAXINDEX
An economic gut check with insights for action
PRESENTED BY:

2. WHY THE HALIFAX INDEX?
AGREATERHalifax, the 2011-16 economic strategy for Halifax, is about two fundamental things:
• Helping to build better lives for the people who live and work here; and
• Aligning our resources and efforts to make our city a place where more people want to live and work in the future.
The strategy’s focus is on building vibrant communities and a competitive business environment; creating confidence and
pride in the things Halifax does well; building a welcoming and inclusive environment for underrepresented groups; and
focusing on quality of place. As such, a more comprehensive, aligned annual measurement tool is required to match its vision.
This measurement tool is the Halifax Index. Its main sections – “People,” “Economy,” “Quality of Place,” and “Sustainability”
– reflect a wide-angled view of what economic and community progress looks like. It is meant to provide deep insight into
the community and to allow for course corrections as Halifax moves along the path toward its vision. It is not meant to be a
pass/fail exercise or to point fingers.
The Halifax Index is about sharing timely and relevant information in a useful way. It informs and poses key questions
intended to stimulate productive discussion on the issues towards achieving the goals of AGREATERHalifax. This document
is a summary of the Halifax Index. It also reports on progress towards each of the goal areas in AGREATERHalifax –
regional centre, business climate, talent, international brand and maximize growth opportunities.
Halifax has a level of opportunity in front of it on a scale never seen before. Grasping a full measure of opportunity means
people and businesses will need to make important decisions soon. Maximizing benefits means making the right decisions
now, and making good decisions requires good information. That’s what The Halifax Index is all about: providing the insights
and knowledge people need to take effective action.
To download the complete Halifax Index, or to get involved visit HALIFAXINDEX .com.
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WHAT WILL SUCCESS LOOK LIKE?

3. REGIONAL CENTRE ECONOMIC STRATEGY
GOAL:
Build a vibrant and attractive Regional Centre that attracts $1.5 billion of private investment and 8,000 more residents.
PROGRESS TO DATE:
• Regional Plan Review and prioritized Centre Plan processes are underway. HRMbyDesign being implemented.
Seven projects approved.
• Strategic Urban Partnership (SUP) formed, fundraising now for transition to a paid centre.
• Defined regional 5-year $50M capital improvement and prioritized plan.
• Momentum is building for development downtown e.g. convention centre, library, RBC Waterside Centre, King’s Wharf.
MEASUREMENTS: NUMBER OF PERMITS AND VALUE,
REGIONAL CENTRE AND
Increased building permits in the Regional Centre.
RESIDUAL HRM, 2006-2011
• Lackluster Regional Centre investment figures indicate
challenges; suggests a late start in meeting Regional Plan targets.
More private investment in Regional Centre ($1.5 billion)
34,399
6,9
$7
6
• Significant increases in private investment required to meet Value
$1,7
99,747,327
targets. Shipbuilding win may provide a stable base to improve on of Permits
current trends.
Regional Centre population growth
2,747 1,919
• Low population growth in Regional Centre is challenging despite
reversal of 20 year trend of decline. # of Permits
• Majority of new residents and 1/3 of residents who move end up
in the Regional Centre.
Regional Centre
• Demographic analysis shows government planning policies are Rest of HRM
needed to encourage density.
Source: HRM Planning Services
POPULATION IN REGIONAL CENTRE AND RESIDUAL HRM, 2006 AND 2011
98,909 291,187
97,077 275,602
Regional Centre Rest of HRM Source: Statistics Canada Census
WHAT’S NEXT?
• Implement HRM’s Centre Plan and recommended enhancements to the Regional Plan.
• Make changes to provincial legislation to allow density bonusing and measures to advance sustainable
and affordable development.
MORE BUSINESSES, MORE PEOPLE 2

4. BUSINESS CLIMATE ECONOMIC STRATEGY
GOAL:
Promote a business climate that drives and sustains growth by improving competitiveness and by leveraging our strengths.
PROGRESS TO DATE:
• Proposal underway to study the impact of commercial taxation on the urban core.
• Chamber Roundtable on Taxation is ongoing.
• Provincial capital tax eliminated as of July 1, 2012.
• Project plans developed for tax discussion paper and analysis to reduce regulatory burden.
MEASUREMENTS: RATING OF HALIFAX AS
A PLACE TO DO BUSINESS
Construction approval speed
65%
• Gradual improvement in building permit timelines.
• One-window approach in development at HRM; should lead to
further efficiencies.
15% 16%
Perception of business climate 5%
• Greater Halifax Partnership’s research shows business Above Just Below Don’t Know/
confidence remains the same; new businesses are more Average Average Average No Answer
confident than older ones. Majority surveyed predicting
sales increases and additional hiring. April 2012 August 2011
• Only 15% believe Halifax is an above average place to do * Numbers may add up to more than 100% due to rounding.
business, down from 23% in 2011. Source: GHP Business Confidence Survey
INVESTMENT IN NON-RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION, Competitive public investment
000s, 2011
• Recently has become lower than all
$187,118 $403,420 of Halifax’s benchmark cities.
• Fluctuates widely and irregularly,
$80,314 $93,346 $163,255 irrespective of economic trends.
$107,963
$304,369 $213,622 $631,194 $381,194 $331,987 $264,328
Competitive business tax burden
Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria • Commercial taxes at municipal level
City are increasing slower than inflation.
Industrial and Commercial • Total corporate income taxes are
Institutional and Governmental highest when compared to Canadian
Source: Statistics Canada
cities but lower than American ones.
• Provincial capital tax eliminated as of
July 1, 2012.
CORPORATE TAX PAYABLE AS A PERCENTAGE
OF GROSS PROFIT, BUSINESSES, 2011
Boston (MA) 40.4%
WHAT’S NEXT?
Raleigh (NC) 39.5%
• Halifax Chamber Roundtable to
Seattle (WA) 35%
provide direction on tax priorities.
Halifax (NS) 31%
• Complete tax discussion paper and
Regina (SK) 28.8%
communicate findings.
St. John’s (NL) 28.8%
• Implement recommendations of
Saskatoon (SK) 27%
commercial tax and locations decisions
Montreal (QC) 26.9% study.
Quebec City (QC) 26.9%
• Develop strategy to address gaps in
Toronto (ON) 26% general tax competitiveness.
London (ON) 26%
• Clarify top regulatory issues facing
Vancouver (BC) 25%
business.
Victoria (BC) 25% Source: fdi intelligence
3 LARGER LABOUR FORCE RESPONSIVE TO BUSINESS REQUIREMENTS

5. TALENT ECONOMIC STRATEGY
GOAL:
Create a welcoming community where the world’s talent can find great opportunities, engaged employers and resources for
career advancement.
PROGRESS TO DATE:
• Greater Halifax Partnership’s Connector Program has been expanded to include young and emerging talent.
• Nova Scotia’s Workforce Strategy has been developed to address a shrinking workforce and to help Nova Scotians
acquire the right skills for good jobs.
• Provincial retention of immigrants has improved significantly.
• Expanded foreign-credential recognition efforts are underway.
ISSUES DEFINED: INTERNATIONAL IMMIGRANTS TO ATLANTIC CANADIAN CITIES
• Enhancing foreign credential 3000
recognition. 2500
2011
• Creating a welcoming community. 2000 2010
2009
• Improving the HR competitive 1500 2008
advantage in small and medium- 1000
2007
sized enterprises.
500
MEASUREMENTS: Halifax St. John’s Charlottetown Fredericton Saint John Moncton
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Attraction and retention of
immigrants and students
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS PRESENT AND
• National in-migration has dropped;
TRANSITIONS FROM TEMPORARY STUDENT
immigrants are heading for high growth cities.
TO PERMANENT RESIDENT, 2005-09
• Halifax attracts well above average numbers of 13,546
international students.
• International student retention low but remains
6,504
Halifax’s biggest immigrant opportunity.
2,770 1,291
823 856
Employer attitudes 296 373
• Greater Halifax Partnership’s research shows positive Newfoundland Prince Nova New
attitudes and interest in hiring skilled immigrants. and Labrador Edward Scotia Brunswick
Island
• Benchmarking of employer attitudes toward young
and emerging talent has been completed. International Students Present
Transitions from Temporary Student to Permanent Resident
• Availability and quality of labour is a top business
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada
concern, but businesses are not too worried yet.
Perception of Halifax as a great place to live and work
SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE LOCAL
COMMUNITY, SOMEWHAT OR VERY STRONG • Quality of life is very high in Halifax in comparison to
benchmark cities.
• Vast majority of residents feel safe and satisfied with life.
• Majority feel healthy and active, with a higher share of
66.3 77.6 58.4
active residents than most benchmark cities.
Halifax St. John’s Quebec City
• Sense of belonging and low social capital remains a hurdle
for talent attraction/retention.
WHAT’S NEXT?
68.1 70.8 67.0
London Regina Victoria • Make Halifax a more welcoming community; engage with
all population growth areas – young and emerging talent,
Source: Statistics Canada immigrants, international students and others.
SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC GROWTH/ACTIVITY (GDP) 4

6. INTERNATIONAL BRAND ECONOMIC STRATEGY
GOAL:
Create a unique, international city brand for Halifax.
PROGRESS TO DATE:
• Background research has been completed, including:
• A compilation of existing Halifax brand research, including an assessment of existing stakeholders and
current marketers.
• A review of branding best practices.
• A comprehensive list of Halifax’s functional and emotional benefits.
• Definitions of target audiences.
• Initial benchmarking of local levels of business confidence.
MEASUREMENTS:
Business confidence in Halifax
• Local business confidence has been benchmarked.
• Halifax’s advantages include cost competitiveness for businesses, quality of life, and convenient central
locations of key infrastructure/human resources/market conditions.
• Comparative disadvantages identified are a lack of diversity, regulation, and high overall levels
of taxation.
Further indicators will be introduced as brand is developed.
HALIFAX BUSINESS CONFIDENCE INDEX
100
The Business
75 Confidence Index is
50 38.5 based on a biannual
26.8 25.6 29.0 26.1 31.1 29.9 29.2 25.9
25 18.6 20.2 20.2 survey of business
confidence. It is a
0
weighted average of
Overall Halifax Dartmouth Other HRM New Business Established
-25 local business attitudes
(< 10 years) Business
-50 (10+ years) about past, present and
future performance.
-75
April 2012 August 2011
-100 Source: GHP Business Confidence Survey
WHAT’S NEXT?
• Secure resources to fund brand development and benchmarking.
• Continuing business confidence surveying.
• Build a team of “Ambassadors” that promote the city’s new international brand.
• Encourage all residents to live the brand!
5 HIGHER AVERAGE INCOME

7. MAXIMIZE GROWTH
OPPORTUNITIES ECONOMIC STRATEGY
GOAL:
Capitalize on our best opportunities for economic growth.
PROGRESS TO DATE:
• Successful Ships Start Here campaign to rally support for Irving bid. Economic impact analysis complete.
• Identification of marine industries cluster as a major opportunity.
• First Halifax Index has been completed.
• In-depth analysis of growth sectors – aerospace and defence, financial services, ICT and digital technologies, oceans,
transportation and logistics, and life sciences.
• The Halifax Marine Research Institute has been launched.
MEASUREMENTS:
Increased productivity REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP) PER CAPITA, 2006-2011
• Halifax trails benchmark cities
in GDP per capita and R&D as $33,592 $42,707 $34,519 $34,960 $39,179 $33,879
2011
a percentage of GDP.
• Business confidence is an
imperative that Halifax can’t 2006
$31,922 $36,877 $33,097 $37,029 $36,865 $32,616
overlook. Halifax needs a
business climate that builds Halifax St. John’s Quebec City London Regina Victoria
confidence and drives more
investment, hiring, R&D and Source: The Conference Board of Canada, Statistics Canada
new product development.
Further indicators will be
developed as this area COMMERCIAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
progresses. SPENDING AS A PERCENTAGE OF GDP
Boston (MA) 6.97%
Seattle (WA) 4.85%
Montreal (QC) 2.61%
Quebec City (QC) 2.61%
Toronto (ON) 2.37%
London (ON) 2.37%
Raleigh (NC) 2.36%
St. John’s (NL) 1.81%
Halifax (NS) 1.51%
Victoria (BC) 1.42%
Vancouver (BC) 1.42%
Regina (SK) 0.81%
Saskatoon (SK) 0.81% Source: fDi intelligence
WHAT’S NEXT?
• Leverage shipbuilding opportunity.
• Halifax Index: Create stronger economic and community partnerships; strengthen and deepen findings.
• Halifax Gateway: Logistics Park and air route development.
• Competitive Intelligence: Research and act on opportunities and challenges.
• Further a culture of partnership and innovation, and act on opportunities and challenges based on the successful Ships
Start Here model.
COST COMPETITIVE AND CONTAGIOUS BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT 6

8. PEOPLE HALIFAX INDEX
KEY OPPORTUNITY:
Grow Halifax’s population: Halifax needs more immigrants; increased retention of international students; and more high-
value jobs for young professionals who want to stay in or return to Halifax. Halifax has the largest population of international
students and the region’s lowest retention rate; international students are Halifax’s best immigration opportunity.
INDICATORS: POPULATION ESTIMATES
761,745
• Now home to over 408,000 people, Halifax’s
population growth has been strong in 496,941
comparison to benchmark cities. 408,198
360,876
196,222 218,690
• Halifax’s population is aging at comparable
rates to other benchmark cities. Halifax has
the second-highest proportion of people at Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
labour force age (15-64). City
2011 2006
Source: Statistics Canada
ANNUAL MIGRATION ESTIMATES, HALIFAX • Declining international and intraprovincial
migration indicate Halifax’s ability to attract
1,896 new residents has slipped compared to
regional cities.
1,231
• Halifax is a Smart City. Halifax’s labour force
Interprovincial education rates are comparatively higher than
International Intraprovincial most of the benchmark cities.
-852
• Enrolments in universities are steady and
2010-2011 showing recent signs of growth. Community
2006-2007 college enrolments increased 14% from
Source: Statistics Canada
2006-2011, and graduates provide more
skilled labour for the labour market.
• Solid labour force and employment LABOUR FORCE AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH, 000s
growth, mixed with relatively strong
participation (70.3%) and low 600
unemployment (6.2%) rates, indicate
442.2 418.6
the marketplace for talent is currently
400
in good shape.
266.6 243.0
238.1 223.3
194.3 182.3
200 128.4 122.2
112.2 104.7
Halifax St. John’s Quebec City London Regina Victoria
2011 Labour Force 2011 Employment
2006 Labour Force 2006 Employment
Source: Statistics Canada
7 THEHALIFAXINDEX TELLS THE CITY’S STORY –

9. ECONOMY HALIFAX INDEX
KEY CHALLENGE:
Improve the tax and regulatory climate. This presents barriers to business growth and individual success. The tax side
is difficult to address in the short-term given the fiscal challenges faced by cash-strapped governments, but there are few
excuses for poor customer service. Getting regulation and client service right needs to become a priority for all business-
facing organizations.
INDICATORS:
REAL GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT (GDP),
2002 $MILLIONS
• Halifax has achieved strong GDP
growth, and its diverse economy $26,295
weathered the recession of 2008-09 $17,373
relatively unscathed. Growth is $13,712 $12,226
$8,380 $8,568
expected to be moderate in 2012.
• Halifax’s productivity continues to Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
City
be an issue, lagging behind other
benchmark cities. 2011 2006
Source: The Conference Board of Canada
• Employment growth has fueled
strong retail and housing markets.
RETAIL SALES PER CAPITA
• Both private and public investment in
construction, particularly in the Regional $21,359
$18,270 $16,596
Centre, has not kept up to levels seen in $16,007
other cities. $12,376 $11,389
• Plenty of people are moving through
the Halifax Gateway (air and cruise
Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
passengers). Air, sea and land cargo City
are recovering from recessionary dip
in demand. 2011 2006
Source: Statistics Canada
• New businesses are more confident
than existing ones. Improvements in
business climate will have the biggest
VALUE OF BUILDING PERMITS, 000s, 2011
impact on confidence.
$586,661
• Office space development is mostly
$958,984
occurring outside the downtown
core. Downtown office space inventories
declined between 2006 and 2011
$272,940
while peripheral inventories added $158,873 $300,042 $221,167
one million sq. ft. Vacancy rates have
also increased in the downtown.
$522,869 $477,812 $1,087,986 $443,636 $352,954 $420,090
Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
City
Residential Non-Residential
Source: Statistics Canada
THE STRENGTH OF THE ECONOMY, THE HEALTH OF THE COMMUNITY, 8

10. QUALITY OF PLACE HALIFAX INDEX
KEY OPPORTUNITY:
Creating a culture of partnership. Halifax’s biggest challenge is simple: the community needs to nurture a culture
of partnership when tackling every challenge and every opportunity. Halifax needs a community culture that deals with
issues by engaging in vital business and community partnerships rather than blaming challenges on others and going
it alone.
Halifax has to find the tools to maximize the benefits from its natural assets like the harbour, universities, and the
major projects that are coming along and to create good outcomes for as many as possible. Furthermore, a culture of
partnership should extend to community development projects. Great examples already exist: Our HRM Alliance, the
Halifax Marine Research Institute and others.
TOTAL CRIME INDEX, CANADA AND BENCHMARK CITIES
INDICATORS:
• Crime and violent crime indicators 131.4
show Halifax is reducing crime levels.
96.8 101.9
Largely, residents feel safe where 82.4 83.7
they live and work and businesses are 56.1
satisfied with police services.
• Halifax is a relatively healthy and Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
active city in comparison to its City
benchmark cities.
2011 2006
Source: Statistics Canada
EMPLOYMENT IN ARTS, CULTURE
AND RECREATION (000s)
13.8
11.7
• Over half of Halifax residents in the Regional
Centre use either public or active transportation to
8.0 get to work; this is in contrast to only 15% in the
7.6
rest of Halifax.
3.4 3.7 • Halifax is a comparatively expensive city
with personal income levels in the middle of
benchmark cities.
Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
City
2011 2006
Source: Statistics Canada
PERCENTAGE (12+) SATISFIED OR VERY
SATISFIED WITH LIFE
• Halifax has a growing arts and culture sector with
wages increasing at higher-than-average rates.
93.6 91.5 95.7
• Overall life satisfaction is exceptionally high in Halifax St. John’s Quebec City
Halifax, but this does not translate to a high level of
community belonging.
91.3 92.4 89.3
London Regina Victoria
Source: Statistics Canada
9 THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT,

11. SUSTAINABILITY HALIFAX INDEX
KEY CHALLENGE:
Grow a healthy Regional Centre. While there has been plenty of commercial space development in Halifax over the last
few years, 96% of new inventory between 2008 and 2010 was located outside of the urban core. At the same time, vacancy
rates in the Regional Centre for office space have risen dramatically. This could be an indication that the urban core is at a
tipping point. Taking action now to ensure the heart of the community is healthy is essential to the well-being of the entire
city. Meeting population targets for the urban core where civic infrastructure and services already exist are vital to the
long-term sustainability of Halifax.
DENSITY (PERSONS PER KM2), 2006 AND 2011
495.0
INDICATORS:
244.8 228.6
• Halifax’s population density is low in 178.1
71.0 61.8
comparison to other benchmark cities;
increasing density in urban areas is vital to
Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
ensuring sustainable infrastructure spending. City
2011 2006
Source: Statistics Canada Census
PERCENTAGE OF POPULATION WHO WALKED,
BICYCLED OR TOOK PUBLIC TRANSIT TO WORK, 2006
16.1%
11.1% • Halifax has the second highest national
7.7% 8.7% percentage of people who use public or
7.7% active transportation to get to work; use
6.8% 7.2% of public transportation is increasing.
Satisfaction with public transit has
11.0% 11.9% 2.9% 10.2% 6.7% 4.2% 10.2%
decreased in the past year.
Canada Halifax St. John’s Quebec London Regina Victoria
City
Public Transit Walked or Bicycled
Source: Statistics Canada Census
AIR QUALITY MEASURES, 2011
(# OF TEST SITES IN PARENTHESES)
34.37
30.27
• Halifax’s water and air are among the 20.44
highest quality of benchmark cities and 15.52
waste diversion rates are increasing. 13.12
Waste diversion (rather than disposal) 8.77
7.18
is both environmentally friendly and
3.13 2.27
cost effective. 1.36 1.05 0.00
Halifax (4) St. John’s (1) Quebec London (2) Regina (1) Victoria (7)
City (6)
Fine Particulate Matter (µg/m3) Ozone (parts per billion)
Source: Environment Canada
PROPERTY TAX AS A
PERCENTAGE OF NOMINAL GDP
3.72% 3.82% 3.71% 3.74% 3.64%
3.49%
• The municipality’s fiscal health is in
excellent shape; an AA- bond rating
1.26% 1.28% 1.35% 1.29% 1.29% 1.25% signifies confidence on the global lending
market. Commercial and overall property
tax rates have grown at near economic
2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 growth rates.
(Proj)
All Taxes + PILT over GDP Commercial + BO Tax over GDP
Source: HRM Taxation and Fiscal Policy
AND THE PROGRESS OF HALIFAX’S ECONOMIC STRATEGY. 10

12. To download the complete Halifax Index, visit: HALIFAXINDEX .com