Donated Computers Worth Millions to School Program

Emergency response organizations are tuned in and more students plugged in, thanks to surplus property from the Nova Scotia government.

Something for everyone seems to be the theme as items deemed surplus get a new lease on life through the Nova Scotia government's surplus disposal program. All items that were sold or otherwise disposed of as surplus by the government in 2004 are listed in Nova Scotia Transportation and Public Works' Surplus Crown Property Disposal Report. The report was tabled today, May 17, in the legislature.

"The report tells us that $856,600 was returned to the province through the sale of surplus items, but that's just a small part of the story," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "The program also resulted in thousands of pieces of used computer equipment being turned over to the Computers for Schools Program and other useful equipment going to community organizations."

"More than one-third of the computer equipment donated to the Computers for Schools Program comes from the government of Nova Scotia," said Michael Nicksy, co-ordinator of technology recycling for the Department of Education. "To buy this equipment would cost schools almost a million dollars and, to buy new equipment to do what this does, would cost them three times as much."

The computer equipment donated included 2,057 computers, 1,881 keyboards, 1,284 monitors, 522 printers, 250 laptops and 920 computer mice. This equipment will be refurbished and put into schools throughout Nova Scotia.

"The computer gear that we turn in, while no longer suitable for critical government functions, will be of great value in a school environment," said Mr. Russell.

In addition, the program oversees the dispersal of thousands of helpful items including office furniture, maintenance equipment, tools, and so on, which are sold at public auction or donated to community groups. In 2004, 115 non-profit or community organizations received donations from the program.

The program also continued to enhance public safety with the distribution of VHF (very high frequency) radios to five emergency organizations across Nova Scotia. The province has successfully implemented a trunked mobile radio system during the last few years, making most of its existing VHF equipment unnecessary. This equipment has been turned over to emergency organizations throughout the province.

The public auctions listed in the report include the sale of vehicles and heavy equipment. The best-known item sold as surplus was the car ferry Joshua Slocum, which was sold through public tender to Beaver Marine for $141,651. The most valuable surplus item sold was a parcel of land on Rocky Lake Road, between Bedford and Waverley, which went for $205,301.

Surplus items are distributed under the authority of the Surplus Crown Property Disposal Act. The 10 categories of surplus items listed in the report are:

• disposed real property (i.e. land and/or buildings);
• VHF asset disposal initiative;
• items sold at public auction;
• heavy equipment sold at public auction;
• items sold through public tender;
• items donated to non-profit, non-government agencies;
• material sent for recycling;
• computer equipment for the Computer for Schools program;
• scrap waste; and
• surplus equipment used in school renovations and construction.

The report is available on the Transporation and Public Works website at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/govservices/govIC.asp .