Progress Made, 30 Bills Passed During Session

Government made important progress on its plan to make life better life for Nova Scotia families during the 61st session of the General Assembly, which is set to wrap-up, today, Nov. 5.

"Government worked hard and kept the commitments made to Nova Scotians, beginning with the commitment to put the legislature back to work for the people of this province," said Premier Darrell Dexter. "My colleagues and I responded to tough questions, addressed concerns raised, and worked to make life better for all Nova Scotians."

To date during this session, government sat 35 days for 154 hours and introduced and passed 30 bills.

Bills covered many of government's priorities including:

• creating an independent administrator to help Nova Scotians cut electricity use
• increasing penalties for impaired drivers
• providing accountability to communities experiencing emergency department closures
• creating a level playing field for political fundraising
• ensuring a moratorium on exploration and mining of uranium in Nova Scotia became entrenched in law
• protecting employees from losing their jobs during a public emergency

"In the face of a $590-million deficit, a growing number of public sector collective agreements up for renewal, and an H1N1 pandemic that has hit Nova Scotia and Canada hard, government was able to accomplish and focus on key priorities to fulfill commitments made to Nova Scotians," said Premier Dexter.

Premier Dexter noted that since June, government has fulfilled several key commitments including:

• an independent review of the province's finances
• cutting MLA expenses and freezing MLA, political staff wages to help put the province on a sustainable path
• maximizing jobs from federal infrastructure funds
• introducing a new home construction rebate program
• cutting eight per cent HST off basic home electricity,
• increasing the equity tax credit from 30 to 35 per cent,
• strengthening the competitiveness of business through a 10 per cent manufacturing and processing investment credit,
• hiring a provincial advisor to provide leadership to improve access to emergency care in Nova Scotia,
• moving gas regulation to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board.

Government is on track to meet other commitments made for this fiscal year, including establishing the community land trust, a five-year paving plan and a suburban priorities team.

Premier Dexter said government remains committed, over the next three-and-a-half years, to focus on making Nova Scotia the best place in Canada live and raise a family.