Report Outlines Progress

Premier John Hamm marked his government's first anniversary in office by issuing a status report that shows significant progress has been made in implementing more than 30 per cent of its four- year plan, titled Strong Leadership...a clear course.

"The actions we have taken over the course of a very busy first year clearly demonstrate that we are serious about keeping our word to the people of Nova Scotia," said Premier Hamm.

The status report identifies specific actions taken by the government to fulfil more than 75 commitments made last year. Many others, not cited in today's report, are in various stages of planning.

The premier said a number of the commitments contained in Strong Leadership...a clear course were introduced in advance of their original time frame, including legislation defining the roles of community health boards, increased funding for respite care and a new Farm Entrants Program.

"We said that building a responsive, outcome-based and efficient health care system was our most urgent priority. The changes that we have made, and that we will continue to make, will result in a health care system that is sustainable over the long-term and that focuses on integrated, community-based care," said the premier.

Among the health care commitments contained in the document and cited in today's progress report are the following:

• replacing regional health boards with district health authorities;
• legislating the role of community health boards;
• increased funding for wellness promotion/disease prevention, respite care and autism spectrum disorders;
• establishing the position of nursing policy advisor;
• creating bursaries for nursing graduates;
• increased support for nurse practitioners and the establishment of more full-time nursing positions.

Over the course of the year, government also kept its commitment to review school board boundaries; critically analyse and respond to P3 school concerns; provide more funding for school renovations; and explore new opportunities that will help high school students make the transition into vocational training programs.

The report also identifies strategic actions taken to meet the government's commitment to be more efficient and accountable, including: adopting generally accepted accounting principles; amending the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act; conducting an independent review of the compensation program for victims of abuse; establishing a code of conduct for cabinet ministers, reducing the number of departments and agencies to 14, from 21; and publishing the first detailed analysis of program spending in government.

Among the many other initiatives cited in today's progress report are: increased funding for farm drought relief; increased funding for fisheries enforcement; relocation of the Bedford forensic facility; a new and better Atlantic Lotto Corp. deal; creation of a separate Department of Tourism; removal of the grandfather clause on the senior's property tax rebate; and the creation of portable day-care subsidies.

"As a government we are committed to implementing our full four- year plan. We have made solid progress in year one, but understandably still have a lot of work ahead of us. Over the course of the next three years we will continue our efforts to eliminate the deficit and to provide Nova Scotians with a 10 per cent income tax cut. We will also continue to focus our full attention on achieving better results for every dollar government spends, particularly in the areas of health and education," the premier said.

NOTE: A status report on implementation of the government's commitments, titled Strong Leadership...a clear course: One Year Later, is available; go to http://www.gov.ns.ca/prem/publications/strong.pdf.