Throne Speech Outlines Government Priorities

Educating to compete, protecting our environment, improving our roads and infrastructure, creating safer and healthier communities, and reducing health wait times were identified as immediate priorities today, Nov. 22, in the speech from the throne.

"This is our vision of what needs to be done to reach our goal of a new Nova Scotia," said Premier Rodney MacDonald. "We've identified these immediate priorities, and we intend to deliver on each of them. It's ambitious, but it's necessary. We believe all Nova Scotians can benefit from every part of our plan."

The speech highlighted the increasing skills shortage and emphasized the importance of addressing these and future shortages by tackling challenges within the education system. Specifically, the province will increase the number of math and literacy mentors, continue the tuition freeze for university students, and move to a direct-lending program for student loans.

"The Premier's Forum on Student Achievement held two weeks ago generated wonderful ideas to help us adapt the way we educate to meet future demands and close the skills gap," said Premier MacDonald. "But in the short term, we need to find ways to meet challenges, and a direct-lending program to university students can help them save on interest and give them better footing to start their chosen careers."

The province also committed to create a new Department of Labour and Workforce Development in the new fiscal year to increase its emphasis on addressing the skills shortages. And, as work continues to reach environment goals previously announced for the province, a new department will be developed to deal only with environmental issues.

"A new minister with a sole focus on the environment will be able to build upon what our government has already done thus far with the Environmental Goals and Sustainability Act, and further focus on protection and conservation," said the premier. "That person will also be charged with ensuring that a coastal management framework is in place within two years."

The speech also emphasized the infrastructure deficit in the province, and how addressing it will complement the Gateway initiative and make the province even more economically competitive. Specifically, it cited commitments to:

• twin and modernize highways from Yarmouth to Sydney by 2020
• reduce the appeals process for new development
• make it mandatory that government infrastructure investments will pass through a filter forcing consideration of them as a Strategic Infrastructure Partnership.

"We need to work with the private sector to improve our infrastructure. Government can not do it alone," said Premier MacDonald. "We need to improve our infrastructure deficit without running a budget deficit. Done properly, partnerships between government and private business can work for everyone involved and, most importantly, the taxpayers of our province."

The speech also focused on existing health programs and the need to introduce health services legislation as complementary ways to reduce wait times. The government also promised new legislation to deal with driver distraction and street racing, and the mandatory reporting of gunshot and stabbing wounds to police, to make for safer and healthier communities.

"We want our communities to be safe, healthy, environmentally friendly, prosperous places in which to live, work and raise a family," said the premier. "Nova Scotians deserve no less."

The speech from the throne was delivered today by Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis. It can be viewed in its entirety on the web at www.gov.ns.ca/legislature/house_business/throne.html .