Deputies Named to New Departments

Premier John Hamm today announced several changes to the most senior ranks of the provincial public service as the government moves to implement the most sweeping reorganization in decades.

The new government organizational structure will reduce the complement of departments to 14, from the current 21. By grouping common functions together, the government intends to improve overall service delivery and reduce overlap.

"The year 2000 will be a time of transition for government in Nova Scotia," Premier Hamm said. "We are determined to bring a new sense of direction and purpose to government and to focus on the priorities of Nova Scotians."

Today the premier announced acting deputy ministers for three new departments, created through mergers that involve seven existing departments and agencies.

Peter Underwood was named acting deputy minister of the new Department of Agriculture and Fisheries; Kevin McNamara is acting deputy of the new Department of Environment, Labour and Regulatory Affairs; and Brian Stonehouse is acting deputy minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations.

In each case, the acting deputy is responsible for a department being merged into the new organization. Mr. Underwood is deputy minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture; Mr. McNamara is deputy minister of Labour; and Mr. Stonehouse is deputy minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs.

The premier also announced that George Fox has been named chair of the deputy ministers' steering committee on restructuring, and senior consultant to advise on human resource issues related to the restructuring.

Marilyn Gaudet, deputy minister of Business and Consumer Services, has accepted a secondment to the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency of the federal government. Alan Steel, deputy minister of Agriculture and Marketing, is retiring.

In addition to the deputy ministerial appointments, Walter Tucker has been named chief executive officer of the Petroleum Directorate and Peg MacInnis has been named chief executive officer of the Aboriginal Affairs office. Those offices are a lead agency and a co-ordinating office for government activity in their respective areas of concern.

On March 30, when he announced the government-wide reorganization, Premier Hamm said the structural changes would be phased-in to ensure core government services are not disrupted. It will take several months to complete. All government departments and many agencies are affected to some extent.

The new Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is a merger of the departments of Agriculture and Marketing with Fisheries and Aquaculture. Environment, Labour and Regulatory Affairs combines the departments of the Environment and Labour, as well as elements of the existing Department of Business and Consumer Services and the Nova Scotia Alcohol and Gaming Authority. Service Nova Scotia includes much of Business and Consumer Services and Municipal Affairs. The housing components of the current Department of Housing and Municipal Affairs will join Community Services within weeks.

While the acting deputies named today begin work immediately on creating the new organizations, those new departments will not exist in law until fall when legislative changes are made. Ministers, therefore, remain in existing portfolios.