20 Sep “We might survive here; we’re more likely to thrive elsewhere.”

We have assumptions and guesses about why young people leave Nova Scotia, but not a lot of hard data. I think we should conduct exit interviews. When a student picks up a degree from one of our universities or community colleges, but decides to make a life elsewhere, let’s find out exactly what factors led to that decision, and what might have turned it around.

And not just university students: Exactly what work opportunity would keep a construction worker off the plane to Fort Mac? How many days work at what wage? What other considerations factored in?

Writing in The Coast last December, David Fleming, Director of the North End Business Association, reviewed Nova Scotia’s depressing population stats: In the 12 months between July 1 2012 and 2013, Nova Scotia lost 4,272 people, four-and-a-half times more than the next people-losingest province, New Brunswick at -947.

Only two other jurisdictions lost people: Newfoundland and Labrador (-139) and the Northwest Territories (-83). Every other province and territory gained population. Alberta attracted more than 50,000 people from other parts of Canada.

Fleming envisioned an alternative:

What if [Halifax] were the easiest city in Canada to become an entrepreneur? What if affordable incubators, and exits from them, were the norm? What if we appreciated and supported art’s vital role in our city? What if we had more beautiful and active public spaces? What if our governments were transparent and hackable? What if we were the first province in Canada to provide universal, affordable child-care, attracting young families where parents want to continue careers? What if we went all-in on rapid transit and active transportation?

….Cities like Portland, Austin, San Francisco, Vancouver and Calgary aren’t thriving hubs for young professionals for natural reasons. They are intentionally creating the conditions that make young, mobile people want to start businesses there. The mayors of Seattle and Chicago are publicly duelling bike plans to attract each other’s tech sectors. I imagine tech workers in either city feel a strong sense of belonging as a result.

Three months later, Fleming and his fiancee joined the exodus—David to become managing director of Hub Ottawa; his fiancee to take a hospital residency in her field. He wrote their exit interview in The Coast:

I don’t think there’s a takeaway from two people leaving, but as someone who’s studied this problem and then went through the process of evaluating cities, there weren’t a lot of “on paper” reasons to choose Halifax. It became clear that while we might survive here, it’s a lot more likely we’ll thrive elsewhere….

Post-Explosion, Halifax had [a] slogan: “We shall never rebuild Halifax unless everybody works.” Nearly 100 years later, the need for everybody to have the opportunity to thrive is still at the core of this city’s future.

This is a fantastic city if you have a great job—so make that the goal again for every person that isn’t there yet. A bold Halifax who does that will be the city that everybody will fight over trying to get to. We’ll be the first in line.