Energy Council Calls on Parties to Set Fair Assessment
PREMIER'S OFFICE--Energy Council Calls on Parties to Set Fair Assessment
Premier John Hamm has told oil and gas industry officials that the province's right to assess their properties and establish a fair base for municipal tax rates was non-negotiable. The premier made the comments at a meeting of the Premier's Energy Council on Wednesday, Dec. 13, in Halifax.
"There is no question that this industry will pay its fair share of municipal taxes," said Premier Hamm. "The industry understands that and they have told me they accept that."
The council meeting suggested all parties in the matter, the province, the industry and the municipalities, work together to determine what assessment practices are used in other parts of Canada.
"We want to encourage a wide variety of industrial processing in Nova Scotia," said the premier.
In order to compete for new investments, Nova Scotia should ensure that the province's assessment practices are not out of line with provinces such as Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia.
"The issue of assessment and of tax revenues from natural gas in our province is a complex one," said council member Ernie Bolivar. "The government of Nova Scotia is asking municipalities to sit down and discuss a fair and equitable formula which would be reasonable to all the municipalities involved and to the industry."
Mr. Bolivar is the mayor of Bridgewater, a former president of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities, and the group's nominee to the Premier's Energy Council.
"Nova Scotians want to create a good business climate that creates the conditions for economic growth and prosperity in Nova Scotia," said Mr. Bolivar. "The end result must mean a level playing field for all Nova Scotia industries."
The Energy Council meeting also addressed the issue of obtaining maximum benefits for Nova Scotia in future offshore development projects. The producers and the service sector agreed to work with government to identify potential skilled trades shortages and to determine how to fill them. A recent report on Nova Scotia's fabrication capacity and capabilities suggested that more work be done in this area.
Gordon Balser, Minister responsible for the Petroleum Directorate said he was very pleased by the positive attitude of the industry to this suggestion.
"They have agreed to update their forecast on skills required over the next two to five years. Industry and government will also be working with the community college system to make sure we are doing the right kind of training to meet those needs," said Mr. Balser.
The meeting was the second one for the Premier's Energy Council. The members represent a cross-section of the oil and gas industry exploration and development interests as well as services companies, independent experts and representatives of the municipalities and the fishing industry. In addition to the 16 members, the council also includes the premier as chair and Mr. Balser, the Minister responsible for the Petroleum Directorate.