Nova Scotians Continue to Benefit from Government Surplus Items

Students, community groups and non-profit organizations across the province, continue to benefit from the government's surplus property disposal policy.

Nova Scotia Transportation and Public Works' Surplus Crown Property Disposal Report was tabled in the legislature today, July 10. The report outlines how surplus materials were disposed of during the last fiscal year.

"We pride ourselves on the fact that very little in government goes to waste," said Angus MacIsaac, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "The government collected $1,702,185 from the sale of surplus property last year and, just as importantly, we passed on equipment we no longer needed to groups that can really use it."

The main beneficiary in 2005 was the Computers for Schools Program, which received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of used computer equipment. The list includes 1,760 computers, 1,681 keyboards, 1,678 monitors, 534 printers, and 950 computer mice. This equipment was refurbished and put into schools throughout Nova Scotia.

"This computer gear is no longer suitable for critical government functions, but it will be of great value in a school environment," said Mr. MacIsaac.

Non-profit and community groups can apply to receive other surplus equipment. The report lists thousands of items including 1,139 chairs, 160 tables, 125 desks, 74 filing cabinets, 10 photocopiers and six fax machines that were donated to 113 non-profit or community organizations in 2005.

Also donated was emergency mobile radio equipment for volunteer fire departments in Barneys River and Englishtown, and the Springhill Ground Search and Rescue team.

The revenue outlined in the report is generated by the sale of surplus land and equipment by public tender or public auctions. The sale of surplus land was the largest revenue generator, bringing in $1,187,767. The department's annual auction of heavy equipment brought in $390,660 and auctions of other surplus equipment raised $202,295. All profits are used to help pay down the provincial debt.

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