Task Force Will Drive External Consultation

Nova Scotians will have their say on how the province balances its books. Premier John Hamm announced today an independent task force that will lead an external consultation process, giving Nova Scotians a voice in the province's fiscal review.

"I've said from the beginning, this is not about government imposing solutions," said Premier Hamm. "This is everybody's problem. Together we will identify priorities and answer the questions that will help us redefine what government is, and, frankly, what it isn't."

The task force will be chaired by Allan Shaw and operate through Nova Scotia's Voluntary Planning Board, an independent and non-partisan board consisting of more than 350 volunteers representing 250 organizations across the province. The task force will look at fiscal measures implemented in other provinces, confer with experts and take advantage of the wealth of knowledge to be gained through public consultations.

"This is a very important initiative, one with very serious consequences for the future of Nova Scotians and our province," said Mr. Shaw. "I believe people recognize that we have no choice but to get control of government expenditures. We must rethink the role of government and provide direction on what Nova Scotians consider to be essential programs and services."

The task force will recommend a framework for fiscal reform that will assist government in making its decisions around the direction it takes as it endeavours to balance its books. A set of guidelines will establish objective criteria allowing for a final review of government programs, services and assets. This external process will analyze current fiscal practices, define core government functions and consider the issue of fiscal openness and accountability.

Mr. Shaw will be joined by task force members Robert Radchuck, Dr. Richard Goldbloom, Ed Harris, Ray Ivany, Gordon Tynes, Teresa MacNeil, Sonia Thon and John Risley.

"These respected Nova Scotians bring to the project diverse backgrounds, skills and experience along with a sincere desire to bring a timely end to deficit financing," said Premier Hamm.

The first phase of the task force will accept written submissions from the public on current fiscal practices, core government functions and fiscal openness and accountability. The preliminary findings from this phase will be presented to the premier by the end of December.

The second phase offers another opportunity for public comment on these initial findings through community meetings. A number of open-house sessions will be held to allow Nova Scotians to make further assessment and comment. These meetings will complete the process, and a final report will be presented to government by mid-January.

"The time is short," said Mr. Shaw. "But this is a very important exercise. It is one that will shape Nova Scotia's future."

"We do have some very tough decisions to make over the next number of months," said Premier Hamm. "I have every confidence in the ability of the task force, and also want the people of this province to feel they've had every opportunity to help steer the course."

The task force will accept submissions between Oct. 25 and Nov. 22, 1999. Submissions should be directed to Voluntary Planning, Suite 600, 1690 Hollis St., Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3J 3J9.

On-line submissions will be accepted at:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/ecor/vp/prtf . For telephone submissions, call toll-free at 1-877-520-7377. Local calls in the Halifax area will be accepted at 902-424-8998.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A backgrounder on Voluntary Planning and biographies of task force members are available; please e-mail [email protected] or call 902-424-4492 for copies.