News release

Significant Progress in First 100 Days

Premier's Office

On his government's 100th day in office, Premier John Hamm today reported significant progress in honouring commitments made to the people of Nova Scotia.

"In just 100 days we have some significant achievements and made real progress in initiating the government programs endorsed by Nova Scotians during the summer," said Premier Hamm. "We remain focused on our goals."

Those goals include building a healthier province, improving those government services Nova Scotians care about most, strengthening the economy in all parts of the province and providing a more open and accountable government, the premier said.

Premier Hamm noted that at least 50 commitments have been completed, or the process that will lead to their completion is under way. In addition, departments and agencies of government report action on many more.

Highlights of initiatives completed or well advanced include:

In health care:

  • new funds were provided to establish the equivalent of more than 100 full-time nursing positions;
  • funding was provided for bursaries for student nurses and medical students;
  • the transition to eliminate regional health boards has begun;
  • an additional $500,000 has been committed to respite services;
  • a review has begun to establish appropriate criteria for determining the number of beds necessary for adequate hospital and nursing home care;
  • the auditor general has been asked to analyse health care spending.

Several important steps have been taken to improve and make government more open and accountable, including:

  • a ministerial code of conduct was adopted by government;
  • full and open financial accounting by keeping one set of books, consistent with generally accepted accounting principles, a first in Nova Scotia history;
  • enacting measures to reduce administrative costs, including restrictions on new hires, travel, purchases and new initiatives;
  • cutting the size of cabinet;
  • conducting an internal and external analysis of all government programs, their costs, their relevance today and possible alternatives;
  • passing Bill 15 to amend the Public Prosecutions Act and committing funds to implement the recommendations of the Kaufman report;
  • passing Bill 14 to improve the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act;
  • introducing Bill 25, the Justice Administration Act, to help improve the administration of justice;
  • conducting a cost-benefit analysis of the previous government's decision to withdraw from Atlantic Lottery Corp.;
  • undertaking a review of the compensation program for victims of institutional abuse to ensure the process is fair and upholds the rights of both the victim and the accused.

Premier Hamm outlined the commitments his government has honoured to seniors and youth. They include:

  • providing $250,000 to the Senior Citizens' Secretariat to ensure concerns of seniors are heard and understood in government;
  • asking the Education Funding Review Group to help establish a long-term funding base for schools and review funding formulas to protect schools and areas of declining enrollments;
  • conducting an independent, comprehensive review of the P3 process for schools and all public infrastructure;
  • committing $1 million to initiate the development of a secure treatment centre for young Nova Scotians with severe emotional and behavioural problems.

Numerous economic measures have been initiated, including:

  • sustaining pressure on the federal government to improve the severance and compensation package for Devco employees;
  • Bill 12, the Mineral Resources Act, was passed. It strengthens and clarifies mining regulations in accordance with recommendations from the Westray Inquiry;
  • urging the federal government to promptly introduce an action plan for a regulated fishery, one that is fair to native and non- native fishermen;
  • establishing a separate Department of Tourism and Culture to enhance the unparalleled growth of these key industries;
  • amending Section 15 of the Motive Fuel and Fuel Oil Approval Regulations to protect retail gasoline dealers from the downloading of national advertising costs by major multinational oil companies;
  • advising the federal government that Nova Scotia supports a ban on future toll highways;
  • joining with every province and territory in demanding a national infrastructure program, with emphasis on highway improvements;
  • aggressively marketing Nova Scotia products and services abroad through educational exchanges and the most recent trade mission to New England, which generated more than $4.5 million for rural Nova Scotia enterprises; and
  • insisting that the federal government improve access for Nova Scotia farmers to the federal drought-relief program and advancing an additional $6 million for drought relief.

"Nova Scotians can rest assured that their government is on course to fulfilling its commitments to build a better province," said Premier Hamm. "Clearly, the next four years will not be easy, but we remain committed to working with Nova Scotians toward that goal."

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