Nova Scotia doubles co-op placements

Nova Scotia will be investing an extra million dollars into provincial co-op programs, doubling the number of spots to 450 per year, the Chronicle Herald reports. The program combines and expands two preexisting programs into the strategic co-operative education incentive. The plan will see $1.8 million in annual funding for co-op, up from $800 thousand. Participating students are guaranteed $15/hr, with half being paid out by the province to non-profit and private sector employers. The move forms part of the government’s jobsHere platform that aims to discourage migration out of Nova Scotia. “Traditionally, I think there’s a history that co-op programs are very effective,” minister of economic and rural development and tourism, Percy Paris said at Tuesday’s announcement.