With the advent of government social safety nets, why would you say the co-op movement is still relevant?
Kelderman – I think the co-op model is more relevant today than it was two or three decades ago. We still face, particularly in rural communities; economic and social challenges. People in those communities want to solve their own problems and face their own challenges. I think we’ve come to the conclusion that government doesn’t have all the answers or all the money. We’re in a time when people are looking for their own answers. I think there’s also a change in the psychology of Nova Scotians. We’re starting to say ‘why can’t we do it for ourselves… why can’t we keep our money here at home’. People are starting to invest in their own projects.
