ITNovaScotia.com - Where IT's at in Nova Scotia > News - 375 jobs expected with IT firm expansion

Location: Blogs News
Posted by: ITNovaScotia Admin	Thursday, March 06, 2008
One of Nova Scotia's largest information technology firms is adding 375 jobs at its Halifax office, with the province providing generous subsidies for the expansion. Keane Canada Inc. announced Thursday it will be creating the software applications jobs within the next five years, thanks to an investment from the province worth up to $6 million. The Economic Development Department is kicking in $2.6 million, and the company can get up to $3.5 million through a payroll rebate program offered by the province's business development agency. Nova Scotia Business Inc. will pay the rebate as the company achieves hiring targets. Jason Powell, managing director of Keane in Halifax, declined to give the salary ranges for the jobs, saying it is information he'd like to keep from his competitors. However, he noted that in the past decade the company has paid salaries worth a total of almost $175 million to Nova Scotian employees. Economic Development Minister Angus MacIsaac said the latest provincial investment — which works out to $16,000 per job — is going to a firm with a proven track record in the city. "It's an investment that will be returned to the province very quickly, and the taxes that these individuals will pay, the money they will spend in the local economy, will generate further revenue in the economy," he said. In business since 1965, the San Ramon, Calif.-based information technology company has been in Halifax for a decade, providing out-sourced support for North American-based clients... http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2008/03/06/keane-payroll.html

Permalink \| Trackback

Comments (2)

Re: 375 jobs expected with IT firm expansion

By Local IT Firm on Friday, March 07, 2008

Great to see our provincial tax dollars going to help fund another foreign company so they can outbid the small locally based IT firms on staff. Makes it hard to get and hold good staff when these guys can pay more for the same bodies due to all the handouts they get for payroll and training. I guess the little guy has to fund these international mega firms to make NSBI and the govt look good.

Here is an idea - how about a fair playing field for all, instead of screwing the locals companies at every chance? Why not provide tax breaks for all IT firms and not a select few?

Re: 375 jobs expected with IT firm expansion

By Tom R. on Monday, March 24, 2008

Payroll rebates are one thing, at least they don't get the money if they don't hire - see SportsDirect for an example of that. Still stunned though.

The cash straight up for training and recruitment is an outright scam. Keane is internationally known, and perhaps the biggest single IT employer in NS - what kind of recruitment help do they need? is it to overcome their reputation as a sweatshop? or to send their HR people on recruitment tours in other provinces?