A brave initiative by Rodney MacDonald, Nova Scotia’s Conservative top dog. The Premier rode the wave of popularity provided by the smashing reviews of the recent Hollywood hit ‘Juno’ and its Halifax-based star: Ellen Page. Ellen appeared on David Letterman on January 3, 2008, and spoke a bit about Nova Scotia, prompting Letterman to announce that he would like to visit some day.

And so, the Nova Scotia Provincial leader decided to send Letterman a more ‘official’ invitation. See video below.

[youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yABU4S40N8]

The clip appears on the Nova Scotia ‘Come To Life’ website. The province recently launched a new marketing effort to reinvigorate dwindling tourism and call back its expats who left the province for better fortunes in Western Canada. I must say that the new ads are much more polished and aggressive than previous initiatives. Check the new promotional videos on www.novascotialife.com. I spotted the billboard below in Calgary last month.

Some local groups welcome the new campaign, but believe that more concrete steps are necessary to achieve provincial prosperity and attract its flocking youth. Visit Fusion Halifax and Citizens for Halifax for more information on current initiatives for change.

And below is David Letterman’s interview with Ellen Page. The Golden Globe nominee is a common face in Halifax. She is often seen dining at the local organic resto-pub.

[youtube = http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCRYGmytEGI]