Local govt fighting Canadian dev exodus

Governing powers in Canadian province Prince Edward Island are urgently trying to keep a development studio remaining in the area.



The 23 workers at harlottetown-based Longtail Studios – develops of DS launch title Sprung – have been informed that they could be moving to new offices in neighbouring province Nova Scotia.

A CBC report suggests that Longtail Studios’ tax relief agreement with Prince Edward Island’s governing council will expire shortly.

The agreement reportedly saw staff wages and office space costs subsidised, and it was thought that this would end as soon as November.

Now that the studio is considering leaving the province, new tax relief packages have been offered.

“I am concerned with the possible loss of these positions on PEI,” said the province’s Innovation Minister, Allan Campbell.

“I’ve asked staff in my department to put together a package that is attractive to the company and that incites them to remain here,” he added.

Campbell wasn’t sure why Longtail is considering a move to Nova Scotia in particular. The developer, headquartered in New York City, designs games for The Nintendo DS, Wii, and Apple’s iPhone.

Image used for illustrative purposes.