Province Moves to Update Public Service Act

The province introduced amendments today (May 8) to update the Public Service Act to reflect the restructuring of several government departments.

Angus MacIsaac, chair of the Treasury and Policy Board, introduced amendments that formalize under the act the earlier creation of the departments of Energy, Health Promotion and Protection, Agriculture, and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture.

In February 2006, the government combined Nova Scotia Health Promotion with the Department of Health's public health branch and the office of the chief medical officer of health.

At the same time, the government realigned the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries into two separate entities: the Department of Agriculture, and Nova Scotia Fisheries and Aquaculture.

In 2002, the government created the Department of Energy, to consolidate government's energy-related activities in one department.

The changes will help each organization sharpen the focus on its objectives.

"The Department of Health Promotion and Protection brings together the collective expertise and strategic links to deliver on its multiple mandates," said Mr. MacIsaac. Those mandates include promoting good health among Nova Scotians, preventing chronic disease and injury, and preparing for a public health emergency.

Creation of the new department was one of the key recommendations resulting from the provincewide review of the public health system released last month.

"We created a stand-alone Department of Agriculture because our farming communities told us they needed a single-access point for their dealings with government, while the traditional fishery and the emerging aquaculture industry should have their own direct contact with the provincial government," said Mr. MacIsaac.

Changes in the structure of the Department of Energy arose from broadly based public consultations. Members of the public had recommended that the department create sustainable development in the energy sector that balances social and environmental standards and achieves the highest possible levels of economic, social and quality-of-life benefits from the offshore.

"The Department of Energy has already harnessed the talents and expertise of the Nova Scotia Petroleum Directorate and portions of the Department of Natural Resources to provide a unified strategy for developing Nova Scotia's energy sector," said Mr. MacIsaac.

Once passed by the legislature, the amendments will affect Chapter 376 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Public Service Act.