Halifax's Economy
(Rob Huntley, 2008) Port of Halifax. Halifax's port is essential for the import and export of goods and services across the Atlantic Ocean.
Halifax represents more than half of Nova Scotia's economy. (The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2009) Contributing factors include the primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary industries in Halifax and the surrounding area. Resource-based jobs are available in the following primary industries; agriculture, forestry, fishing, oil & gas extraction, quarrying and coal mining. These industries are dependant on the regional natural resources; water, fertile soils, trees, fish, reserves of oil and natural gas, and minerals. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014; The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2009)
It is possible for these mineral resources to exist because of the events that occurred in the geologic history of the landform region of which Halifax is located, the Appalachian Mountains. During the Paleozoic Era the region was submerged in shallow seas. Periodic flooding killed vegetation and animal life in the area. Layers of sediments settled on the sea floor and stratified. The layers of dead organic matter were compressed into peat. When the seas receded, sedimentary deposits covered the land. Compression over time had solidified the sediments to form sedimentary rock. This process resulted in the creation of some of the most plentiful coal beds in the world. Heat broke down coal into natural gas, and oil was formed by the further break down of the organic matter. That is why these mineral resources and other sedimentary and metamorphic rocks exist in Halifax and the surrounding area. (Mushrooms and Wildflowers of Nova Scotia, 2014; Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2014)
The harvest or extraction of natural resources such as water, trees and fish are not sustainable activities even though they are considered as renewable resources. The issues is that these resources are being consumed much faster than they can replenish, so it is impossible for stocks to return to normal levels. Eventually, we will use up all of the natural resources in the region and these industries will collapse. The extraction of oil, natural gas and minerals from the land is also not sustainable, because these are non-renewable resources. To increase sustainability in the region, utilize more abundant resources such as water and use it towards efficient, renewable energies such as hydroelectricity. Still, it is essential that Halifax uses all of its natural resources in moderation, allowing time for reservoirs to replenish themselves before they become depleted, in order to have more sustainable primary industries.
Manufacturing-based jobs are available in the following secondary industries; food, foundry, ship building & other construction, as well as automobile, security and aerospace product part manufacturing. Although, manufacturing industries do not have a strong presence in Halifax and only employ about 10,000 people total. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) This is surprising because Halifax is a global shipping centre and is ideally located for access to American and European markets.
These activities are sustainable so long as the raw materials and finances that are required to process goods are available. To increase sustainability, manufacturers must practice economically sound processes as well as conserve energy and natural resources to minimize negative environmental impacts.
Knowledge-based jobs are available in the following major quaternary industries; information and communication technologies and research and development. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) These activities are sustainable because there is no limit to human curiosity and discovery. There will never come a point anytime in human existence at which there will be nothing left to learn.
Jobs in Halifax and the surrounding area are primarily service-based. The goods producing sector including products of both primary and secondary industries employs approximately 30,000 people whereas the service producing sector employs a nearly 200,000 Nova Scotians working in Halifax. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) Top employers are the trade, healthcare and defence sectors. Service-based jobs are also available in the following tertiary industries; health care, finance, skilled trades, education, tourism and more. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) These activities are sustainable because as long as there are people living in Halifax, there will also be a demand for services and ready work force. To increase sustainability in the region we can make Halifax a more ideal tourist destination. By offering added direct flights and cruises to Halifax as well as providing quality, low cost accommodations, car rentals, day trips, tours, and etcetera, tourists will be more attracted to visit Halifax. The tourism industry will provide short term and long term jobs as it requires people to build facilities, start programs, and run them. Also, people cannot work in service-based industries if there is no demand for services. The city of Halifax must maintain a stable economy overall, and healthy, hefty population so that citizens are able to afford and support such services.
Thus concludes a brief overview of the industries that support the economy of Halifax and the surrounding area.
It is possible for these mineral resources to exist because of the events that occurred in the geologic history of the landform region of which Halifax is located, the Appalachian Mountains. During the Paleozoic Era the region was submerged in shallow seas. Periodic flooding killed vegetation and animal life in the area. Layers of sediments settled on the sea floor and stratified. The layers of dead organic matter were compressed into peat. When the seas receded, sedimentary deposits covered the land. Compression over time had solidified the sediments to form sedimentary rock. This process resulted in the creation of some of the most plentiful coal beds in the world. Heat broke down coal into natural gas, and oil was formed by the further break down of the organic matter. That is why these mineral resources and other sedimentary and metamorphic rocks exist in Halifax and the surrounding area. (Mushrooms and Wildflowers of Nova Scotia, 2014; Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2014)
The harvest or extraction of natural resources such as water, trees and fish are not sustainable activities even though they are considered as renewable resources. The issues is that these resources are being consumed much faster than they can replenish, so it is impossible for stocks to return to normal levels. Eventually, we will use up all of the natural resources in the region and these industries will collapse. The extraction of oil, natural gas and minerals from the land is also not sustainable, because these are non-renewable resources. To increase sustainability in the region, utilize more abundant resources such as water and use it towards efficient, renewable energies such as hydroelectricity. Still, it is essential that Halifax uses all of its natural resources in moderation, allowing time for reservoirs to replenish themselves before they become depleted, in order to have more sustainable primary industries.
Manufacturing-based jobs are available in the following secondary industries; food, foundry, ship building & other construction, as well as automobile, security and aerospace product part manufacturing. Although, manufacturing industries do not have a strong presence in Halifax and only employ about 10,000 people total. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) This is surprising because Halifax is a global shipping centre and is ideally located for access to American and European markets.
These activities are sustainable so long as the raw materials and finances that are required to process goods are available. To increase sustainability, manufacturers must practice economically sound processes as well as conserve energy and natural resources to minimize negative environmental impacts.
Knowledge-based jobs are available in the following major quaternary industries; information and communication technologies and research and development. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) These activities are sustainable because there is no limit to human curiosity and discovery. There will never come a point anytime in human existence at which there will be nothing left to learn.
Jobs in Halifax and the surrounding area are primarily service-based. The goods producing sector including products of both primary and secondary industries employs approximately 30,000 people whereas the service producing sector employs a nearly 200,000 Nova Scotians working in Halifax. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) Top employers are the trade, healthcare and defence sectors. Service-based jobs are also available in the following tertiary industries; health care, finance, skilled trades, education, tourism and more. (Greater Halifax Partnership, 2014) These activities are sustainable because as long as there are people living in Halifax, there will also be a demand for services and ready work force. To increase sustainability in the region we can make Halifax a more ideal tourist destination. By offering added direct flights and cruises to Halifax as well as providing quality, low cost accommodations, car rentals, day trips, tours, and etcetera, tourists will be more attracted to visit Halifax. The tourism industry will provide short term and long term jobs as it requires people to build facilities, start programs, and run them. Also, people cannot work in service-based industries if there is no demand for services. The city of Halifax must maintain a stable economy overall, and healthy, hefty population so that citizens are able to afford and support such services.
Thus concludes a brief overview of the industries that support the economy of Halifax and the surrounding area.