The Strait Region encompasses four counties which covers a vast geographic area from Meat Cove in Inverness County to the western end of Guysborough which borders Pictou County. In addition:

• All four counties were severely affected by the downturn in the fisheries. Each county is unique in its population, industry base, and future growth.

• Inverness County is comprised of a large rural area plus the Town of Port Hawkesbury

• The Town of Port Hawkesbury is largely a "retail town", with a call centre as its major employer. It is also the location of the Nova Scotia Community College Strait Area Campus.

• Richmond County is the site of the industrial base for the Strait Area. Stora Enso, the largest employer in the strait area, is located in Richmond County. Stora invested $90 million in an expansion in 2003 and has just recently confirmed the elimination of 76 positions.

• Antigonish County takes in the Town of Antigonish which is home to St. Francis Xavier University and has a highly educated population. The Town of Antigonish is an important service centre for the Strait Region in the areas of retail trade, financial services, health, and education.

• Goldboro in Guysborough County is the site of the Natural Gas Plant for the Sable Project. The annual Stan Rogers Folk Festival has bolstered the tourism industry in the county and many German nationals have bought land there for possible tourism development.