Bills Will Reduce Agriculture Bureaucracy
The agriculture industry will have less bureaucracy and more efficiencies with the introduction of two bills in the House of Assembly today by Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Ernest Fage.
The Livestock Health Service Act and the Act Respecting the Administration of Agriculture will reduce the number of boards and commissions and eliminate unnecessary legislation.
"This government made a commitment to reduce the number of boards and commissions while still providing the same level of service," said Mr. Fage. "These are positive changes for producers."
The proposed Livestock Health Service Act will replace the current legislation of the same name and see the elimination of 22 local livestock health services boards. The provincial Livestock Health Service Board will assume the duties of the former local boards, while continuing its current duties.
"The appointments to the Livestock Health Services Board will now be made on the recommendation of the Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association and the N.S. Federation of Agriculture," said Mr. Fage. "As well, the terms of the board members’ tenure will change to five years from two years to provide for greater continuity."
The previous legislation required Governor-in-Council approval of appointments on the recommendation of the minister.
As well, new definitions have been added and others amended to reflect plain language and current practices. The definition of livestock has been changed to enable the minister to add new livestock as necessary by designation, without requiring legislation amendments.
The Agriculture Administration Amendment (2001) Act, proposes several amendments to the current legislation.
It will eliminate the Beef Commission Act, which has not been active for more than two years.
It will eliminate the Livestock Loans Guarantee Act, which provided loan guarantees for livestock for a specified period -- 1972 to 1983 -- and is no longer active.
It also will eliminate the Nova Scotia Grain and Forage Commission Act, which is no longer required due to the privatization of Grain and Forage.
Proposed amendments to the Eastern Nova Scotia Exhibition Commission Act will remove the Governor-in-Council appointment to the board and require that the appointment be made by the board. This will bring it in line with how other exhibition appointments are made.
An administrative amendment proposed for the Agricultural Marshland Conservation Act will see the movement of a clause from the bylaw powers of a marsh body to the regulation powers of the minister. This clause provides for the filing of maps as a means to specify land that is to be exempted under this legislation. The change will enable this to be done by the minister as a regulation under the Regulations Act instead of being under a bylaw power of a marsh body. The exemptions include areas that have already been developed or areas that have had development approvals in place before Nov. 7, 2000.
"These changes, while mostly administrative in nature, are important to the overall efficiencies in service." said Mr. Fage.