Changes to Senior Public Service, Premier's Office

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Changes to Senior Public Service, Premier's Office

Premier John Hamm announced a number of changes to the senior public service and to the premier's office today, March 8.

Ron L'Esperance is the new deputy minister of Environment and Labour. A former teacher and longtime public servant, Mr. L'Esperance has served as deputy minister for the departments of Economic Development and Community Services. He holds degrees at the bachelor's and master's levels from Saint Mary's University and Boston College.

"Ron L'Esperance was instrumental in ensuring the successful launch of Opportunities for Prosperity, Nova Scotia's first economic growth strategy in a decade," said the premier. "I am delighted he has agreed to assume these new responsibilities at environment and labour. His background in public education, social policy and economic issues make him ideally suited for this challenging portfolio."

Robert (Bob) MacKay has been named chief executive officer of the Office of Economic Development. As outlined in Opportunities for Prosperity, this office will be responsible for economic planning and co-ordination, innovation issues and trade policy, leaving the business development functions to Nova Scotia Business Incorporated. The Technology and Science Secretariat, which Mr. MacKay formerly led, will become part of this new office.

"Bob MacKay's lengthy experience in the public and private sector will serve the province well in his new role," said the premier.

Both appointments are effective Monday, March 11. Kevin McNamara, the previous deputy minister of Environment and Labour, is leaving the provincial government because of this restructuring.

"I would like to thank Kevin McNamara for his career of service to the people of Nova Scotia," said the premier.

The premier also announced a number of changes to the structure and staffing to his office. Four units have been established. They report directly to the premier's chief of staff:

• Planning and Issues Management: responsible for strategic communications and planning, as well as administration of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Dale Madill, director of communications to the premier, will play a key role in this unit.

• Community Relations: responsible for several key policy files, premier's tours, public outreach and caucus liaison. David MacGregor, principal assistant to the premier, will head this unit.

• Communications: responsible for the premier's day-to-day communications activities, media relations, speech writing and correspondence. Robert Batherson will be manager of communications, in addition to his current duties as press secretary to the premier.

• Operations: responsible for the premier's schedule and office administration. Jo Anne Fisher, manager of events management and office administration, will head this unit.

The total number of staff at the premier's office remains the same at 12 persons. Suellen Smofksy, executive assistant to the premier, has accepted a new assignment at the government caucus office.

A number of new salaries have also taken effect. Gordon Gillis, deputy minister of the premier's office, Treasury and Policy Board and Communications Nova Scotia, now earns $140,000 annually. Mr. Batherson's salary has been adjusted to $52,000 annually. Meanwhile, the salary for Jamie Baillie, who became chief of staff to the premier in January, is $124,000 annually.

These changes reflect their public- and private-sector equivalents. Premier Hamm noted that the net result of the restructuring and salary changes will be a two per cent reduction in the budget for the premier's office for the 2002-03 fiscal year. This is consistent with his expectations for other government departments and agencies.

The staff complement at the premier's office in Nova Scotia is considerably lower than those in provinces of similar size. According to budgetary and other publicly available information, 20 full-time equivalent positions are budgeted for the premier's office in New Brunswick; 16 people work in the premier's office in Newfoundland and Labrador; and 19 people work for the premier in Saskatchewan.