Second Anniversary Report Highlights Government's Progress

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Second Anniversary Report Highlights Government's Progress

Premier John Hamm marked the second anniversary of his government today with the release of Strong Leadership ... a clear course: Two Years Later.

The 45-page report identifies the progress government has made in fulfilling its mandate since being sworn in Aug. 16, 1999.

In releasing the report, the premier said the government has either fully implemented or laid the groundwork to complete more than 200 of its commitments.

He said the report is another example of being accountable to the people of Nova Scotia.

"No other government in the history of the province has provided regular updates to the people of Nova Scotia on the progress it has made in meeting its commitments," he said.

The premier cited a wide range of initiatives that were fulfilled to improve the health and education systems, to grow the economy, to eliminate the deficit and to address numerous social issues.

Among the initiatives outlined in today's progress report to address the government's health care mandate: the elimination regional health boards; a legislated mandate as well as new funding to support community health boards; legislation to provide for nurse practitioners; new bursary programs for medical and nursing students; $5 million to launch Nova Scotia's first nursing strategy; increased funding for information technology and advanced research; $2 million to improve support for children with autism, increased funding for respite; release of the Clinical Services Acute Care Planning document; and funding to provide for faster, easier access to continuing care.

Under education, the report notes the end to P-3 school construction; increased funding for special-needs students, school renovations and literacy initiatives; the development of a new code of conduct; the launch of Nova Scotia's first school of adult learning; and increased funding to expand the number of community college seats.

To improve economic development opportunities the report identifies numerous initiatives undertaken by this government, including: Nova Scotia's first economic growth strategy in over a decade; changes to government tendering policies; numerous initiatives to reduce red tape and to support rural economies; increased support to sustain Nova Scotia's forests and farms; development of a new energy policy; increased funding for road improvements; and expanded tourism and culture marketing efforts.

"We have increased funding for health care, education and roads in each of the first two years of our mandate, and at the same time, significantly reduced the deficit," the premier said. "This will be the last year the government goes to the bank to pay for its day-to-day operations. We will achieve a truly balanced budget in the third year of our mandate, just as we said we would."

Strong Leadership ... a clear course: Two Years Later also identifies numerous initiatives that respond to the government's commitment to reduce the size and scope of government, improve accountability and remove government from business more appropriately left to the private sector. Among the progress cited in today's update: smaller government including a smaller cabinet, reducing the number of government departments by three; the elimination of numerous agencies boards and commissions; new and modern accounting principles; and selling the assets of Sysco and Nova Scotia Resources Ltd.

Under social issues, the government identified a wide range of commitments fulfilled, among them: enhancing work incentives for those on social assistance, removal of the grandfather clause for seniors receiving the property tax rebate; eliminating the clawback on the National Child Benefit; construction of a secure treatment facility; new consumer protection laws; $850,000 to implement a new clean drinking-water strategy; millions of dollars through the Canada-Nova Scotia Infrastructure Program to address municipal infrastructure needs; and increased funding for accessible transportation.

"We've made steady progress in our efforts to reduce the deficit, to address the need for improvements to health, education and to strengthen Nova Scotia's rural economies," said the Premier. "Obviously, we still have a long way to go. As a government, we are committed to use the final years of our mandate to improve Nova Scotia's long-term fiscal and economic health and to work hard at improving Nova Scotia's social prosperity."

Strong Leadership ... a clear course: Two Years Later is available on the government Web site, at www.gov.ns.ca , under Special Reports.