Premier Announces Departmental Changes

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Premier Announces Departmental Changes

• ---------------------------------------------------------------Premier Rodney MacDonald took one more step today, March 28, to meet two future challenges for the province by officially creating two new departments -- the Department of Labour and Workforce Development, and the Department of Environment -- effective Tuesday, April 1.

"Protecting our environment and addressing skill shortages are vital in our efforts to build a vibrant, sustainable economy by 2020," said Premier MacDonald. "That's why we have 'educating to compete' and 'protecting the environment' as two of our five priorities. And it's why we're creating two separate departments to focus on these priorities, as we committed in our throne speech."

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development will play a critical role in Nova Scotia's economic future and fulfilling the government's educating to compete priority. The department will emphasize recruitment, retention, repatriation and retraining of workers to meet the changing needs of the province's economy at a time when Nova Scotia is competing with the world for skilled workers.

A new, stand-alone Department of Environment will focus on climate change, protecting the environment and advancing the province's environmental goals, as outlined through the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act. It will ensure Nova Scotia remains a leader in achieving environmentally sustainable economic prosperity.

Mark Parent will serve as minister of both departments. Margaret MacDonald, deputy minister of Treasury and Policy Board, will serve as the first deputy minister of Labour and Workforce Development. Nancy Vanstone, deputy minister of Environment and Labour, will be deputy minister of Environment.

"Given Minister Parent's background as an educator and his experience in the Environment portfolio, he's well positioned to guide the transition of these two departments," said Premier MacDonald. "Both Ms. MacDonald and Ms. Vanstone are highly-skilled, well-respected new deputies, and we look forward to exciting things from the new departments."

Bob Fowler, deputy minister to the premier, will assume the deputy minister responsibilities at Treasury and Policy Board.