(Halifax) The premier of Nova Scotia has chosen two “personal friends” to transition five economic agencies with a total budget of $100 million into two new Crown corporations.
Posted at 5:38 p.m.
Premier Tim Houston said the change will streamline operations, while making government more accountable for decisions about economic development.
Mr. Houston, however, refuted the idea that the goal is really to allow the government to choose for itself which companies will be eligible for subsidies.
“Of course not,” he replied. I want the government to be accountable for its decisions. I no longer want us to be able to put the blame on independent boards of directors. »
Nova Scotia Lands, property management company Harborside Commercial Park and economic development company Develop Nova Scotia will be combined into a new Crown corporation called Build Nova Scotia.
The economic development agency Nova Scotia Business and the venture capital management company Innovacorp will together become Invest Nova Scotia.
The provincial government has already announced that the presidents of Innovacorp, Nova Scotia Business, and Develop Nova Scotia will be fired with severance pay. However, he did not say whether other jobs will be lost.
Mr. Houston chose seasoned businessmen Wayne Crowley and Tom Hickey to transition into the two new Crown corporations until new leaders are hired.
They are some of my personal friends. I have known them for a long time and they are very competent people. I have complete confidence in them.
Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia
The government has clarified that Mr. Crowley and Mr. Hickey will each be paid $1,500 a day for their work, up to a maximum of $18,000 a month.
On the side of the opposition parties, both the Liberals and the New Democrats denounced the fact that the Prime Minister chose two of his friends to make the transition to the new crown corporations.
“It does not inspire confidence,” simply mentioned NDP Leader Claudia Chender. She also noted that the timing of the announcement is questionable, considering that elected officials were called urgently to the chamber to cancel the recommended salary increase for deputies.
Liberal Economic Development Critic Fred Tilley warned that his party will closely monitor the hiring process for new leaders.
“We need to make sure the government is transparent. That’s what Nova Scotians expect of him,” said Mr. Tilley.
Build Nova Scotia will notably be responsible for the $2 billion major renovations to the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Center in Halifax.
Another change will seek to integrate the staff and operations of the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation into the Department of Finance and Treasury Board. Mr. Houston also confirmed that the process to improve the governance structure of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is continuing.
The Prime Minister has indicated that a bill will be introduced this fall to reflect the changes made to the agencies.