South Coast Today - Maureen MacDonald

Provincial registries privatization challenged by NDP, NSGEU

Timothy Gillespie — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 18:38:21 +0000

Privatization by Teranet of the land title registry in Ontario resulted in a 350% increase in fees

In two news releases in less than two hours, the NDP leader and a senior critic took aim at the announcement today by the Mcneil government that tenders for the privatization of the provincial land, motor vehicles, and joint stocks registries have been published in the bid by the Liberal government to have private firms operate the registries.

"[This] will cost Nova Scotia hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue over the coming decades," says NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald.

She made the comments after the McNeil government launched a process today that MacDonald said amounts to "selling off" the registries. It has been previously reported that the province is seeking 30 to 50 year deals with private companies such as Teranet to operate the registries.

In a separate release, NDP critic Sterling Belliveau said that the McNeil government "needs to come clean about fee increases."

The NDP Caucus, according to the release, is calling on the McNeil government to come clean about any fee increases associated with the privatization of the registries of land, joints stocks and motor vehicles.

In the tender released today for the privatization of the registries, adds the release, page 29 states “Respondents may propose a fee increase model.” NDP Service Nova Scotia critic Sterling Belliveau says the public needs to know what level of fee increase they can expect as a result of privatization.

“The McNeil government already broke its election promise to not raise user fees,” says Belliveau. “It’s bad enough the privatization of registries will cost the province hundreds of millions of dollars in future revenue along with jobs, but now we learn the McNeil government plan could end up costing Nova Scotians more for basic things like renewing a driver’s license. If the government is sincere in its pledge to be open and accountable throughout this process than it needs to tell Nova Scotians what type of fee increases they can expect.”

Belliveau adds, “ To make matters worse these fee increases will not be used to fund things like roads and hospitals, they will be leaving the province to pad the profit margins of corporations.”

In a recent story on SCT, it was reported that the privatization by Teranet of the land title registry in Ontario resulted in a 350% increase in fees there.

“Yesterday we had a budget update where the Finance Minister admitted that provincial revenues are down, and yet the McNeil government wants to hand over $126 million in annual revenue from the Registry of Motor Vehicles to an out-of-province company,” says MacDonald. “This isn’t going to improve the province’s long-term revenue challenges, it’s only going to make them worse.”

“It doesn’t make any sense to sell off these registries for a lump sum," said NSGEU president Joan Jessome in a news release. "Haven’t we been down this road before with Nova Scotia Power?” .

“We clearly need the revenue these registries generate to continue to fund the public services Nova Scotians depend on every day, as this government continues to attack citizens with jobs while doing very little to create new full-time jobs.”

MacDonald points out in her release that the Registry of Motor Vehicles is forecasted to generate more revenue this year than the Provincial Lotteries and Casino Corporation. That’s after VLT revenue increased by $14 million as a result of the Liberal government’s decision to eliminate the problem gambling prevention system My Play.

“If the McNeil government was serious about improving our province’s fiscal outlook then it would be working to increase revenue by creating jobs and strengthening public services. Instead it’s focused on petty cuts and privatization. This is hurting our economy, this is hurting our health care system and, as we learned yesterday, this is hurting our provincial coffers,” says MacDonald.

She adds, “Essentially, by privatizing the registries the McNeil government is sacrificing hundreds of millions, if not billions, of future revenue in exchange for a one-time cheque.”

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Opinion: Nova Scotia workers deserve to be treated fairly

Guest Editorial — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 15:30:41 +0000

The past two years under the McNeil government have been a trying time for workers in our province.

The Premier and his Liberal government placed thousands of good jobs in our screen industry at risk by slashing the film tax credit. New graduates have lost a program that helped them pay down education debt when the McNeil Liberal government eliminated the Graduate Retention Rebate.

Now thousands of teachers, nurses, home care workers, paramedics and other public sector employees are facing the loss of benefits won in past rounds of collective bargaining or a five year wage freeze. And according to Stephen McNeil they didn't deserve the wage increase they got in the last round of bargaining.

To make matters worse the McNeil government has used its majority on multiple occasions to strip away the hard-earned collective rights of workers. First it was home care workers with Bill 30, then it was health care workers with Bills 37 and 1, and finally it was faculty, staff and students at our universities with Bill 100.

Meanwhile, the McNeil government is planning to sell off valuable provincial assets like the Registry of Motor Vehicles, which could cost our province hundreds of millions of dollars in future revenues to pay for things like hospitals, schools and roads.

Hard-working Nova Scotians deserve better. They deserve a Premier that will invest in good jobs, better healthcare, a stronger social safety net and a more prosperous future for our young people. Instead all they’ve received from Stephen McNeil is two years of austerity with more to come.

That’s why on Monday I urge you to join me and thousands of other Nova Scotians to commemorate Labour Day. After two years of constant attacks by the current government, it’s important we all stand in solidarity with Nova Scotia’s workers and their families. It’s time the Liberals get the message that they can’t continue to jeopardize public services and our economy by forcing more and more people to leave Nova Scotia. It’s time Stephen McNeil starts treating Nova Scotian workers with respect.

Maureen MacDonald
Leader of the Nova Scotia NDP

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Minister Furey defends against privatization claims

Timothy Gillespie — Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:09:19 +0000

revised: Biggest corporate handout since Nova Scotia Power, says NDP
In a story on Tuesday, SCT characterized the changes in managing three primary government registries as a move to privatization. The union representing affected workers agreed, as do the two opposition parties.

On Wednesday, Service Nova Scotia minister Mark Furey's office sent SCT a transcript of a media scrum Tuesday in which the minister claims his actions do not amount to privatization.

“This is not privatization," minister Furey said. "Many individuals have spoken to me and they’ve compared it to Nova Scotia Power. Nova Scotia Power was a complete divestiture of government ownership and responsibility. Alternate Service Delivery is an option and opportunity for government to engage industry and labour in partnerships that address employee concerns, address government concerns and address industry."

The minister iterated that he thought it important to differentiate past models and future models, citing the Cobequid Pass arrangement, "where industry is providing a service to government where government retains authority of regulations, legislation and responsibilities.”

Also in a news release, NDP leader Maureen MacDonald disagrees with minister Furey. “What we’ve seen in the past, not only in Nova Scotia, but in other provinces, is that over the long run privatization costs more and delivers less,” says MacDonald. “With the government openly talking about a 30-50 year agreement, this deal would provide short term revenue to Stephen McNeil heading into an election and long term costs for everyone else.”

In a technical briefing Tuesday, Service Nova Scotia staff indicated the Department of Motor Vehicles brings in more than $120 million a year in revenue. "They are considering selling it off for a fraction of that price,” says MacDonald. “This would be the biggest corporate handout since the Conservatives privatized Nova Scotia Power and it could cost Nova Scotians millions in revenue on an annual basis for decades to come.”

On Tuesday, NSGEU president Joan Jessome told SCT that the union has been polling Nova Scotia residents about the issue of privatization and that the example of Nova Scotia Power is raised with great regularity.

Note: After this story was published, SCT received an email from the department with this statement from the minister:
“This is not a “corporate giveaway”. Whether the revenue comes to government directly at one of our counters or indirectly as a royalty from a service provider, it is still revenue to the province. At the end of the day, nothing has been lost. If we have an opportunity to take a lump sum payment and substitute a high cost financial obligation for a lower cost one, it makes sense to do so. That is why it is called alternative service delivery.”

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NDP demands explanation of $41.5 million in healthcare cuts

Timothy Gillespie — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 17:27:59 +0000

PC MLA claims $300 million "discrepancy" by Grits

The McNeil government needs to outline specifically what its $41.5 million Healthcare cut, announced today, will impact, according to a news release Wednesday from the NDP .

Progressive Conservative Health critic Chris d’Entremont says in a news release Wednesday that, in fact, McNeil Liberals must answer for a $300 million discrepancy in the Nova Scotia Health Authority budget.

Today, says d'Entremont, the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) released its business plan with a budget of over $1.82 billion. The budget passed by the Liberals in April only budgeted $1.52 billion for the NSHA. The Liberals, he says, have been unable to provide a good explanation for the difference.

“This speaks to the incompetence of the Liberal government,” said d’Entremont. “If the Liberals cannot even get the numbers right on paper or explain them, how can we trust them with patient care?”

According to the NSHA Business Plan budget, administration went up $33.3 million, meanwhile mental health funding went down $25.6 million.

d’Entremont says the Liberals must answer for the major discrepancy in the numbers.

“Our population is aging, waitlists are getting longer and longer. People need certainty health care will be there for them when they need it,” said d’Entremont. “This merger is too important for the Liberals to get it wrong.”

Earlier this morning, the NDP release stated, without a formal announcement or media briefing, the provincial health authority released its 2015-16 business plan which contained more than $41 million worth of “mitigations” to health care programs and services.

The NDP also complained that, while the plan contains categories from which cuts will be made, it provides no explanation for how the proposed spending reductions will be achieved.

“Instead of releasing this document on time, the McNeil government waited until after the spring sitting of the Legislature was over, and then quietly sent it out with the Premier out of the province,” says NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald. “Specifically, which programs are being cut to provide these savings? How will the cuts impact various regions of the province? Is the government considering outsourcing and privatizing laundry and food services? If they intend to increase revenue through fees such as parking, what specifically will these increases be?

The business plan, which one political analyst told SCT "looks like an 18-page flyer", was described as indicating significant spending reductions in areas such as acute care, mental health services and addictions services, without any formal explanation for how the reductions are being achieved.

“The public deserves to know the specifics of this business plan. Unfortunately, the McNeil government has once again failed to be open and transparent, which will undoubtedly bring more turmoil to our health care system,” says MacDonald.

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Mental health grant cuts harmful, says MacDonald

Timothy Gillespie — Mon, 18 May 2015 16:24:07 +0000

NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald says in a news release Monday that premier Stephen McNeil and Health Minister Leo Glavine need to explain why funding organizations that support Nova Scotians with mental illness is no longer part of the government's "core mandate."

The release says in an email dated May 11 obtained by the NDP Caucus, Francine Vezina, the Coordinator of Children Services for the Department of Health and Wellness, said “the Mental Health, Children’s Services and Addictions Branch will not be able to fund the Consumer Led Initiative Grants” this fiscal year. She also states the decision was made after departments were asked "to refocus on their core mandates."

MacDonald says this decision shows a lack of priorities on the part of the McNeil government. Funding for Consumer Led Initiative Grants was part of the 5-year mental health strategy announced by the previous government.

"For a very small amount of money people living with mental illness, especially young adults, had opportunities to connect with others, find expression for their anxieties, depression, and participate in anti-stigma work. All essential elements for keeping heathy,” says MacDonald “This cut is very shortsighted because this funding helped keep people from ending up in the exceptionally expensive acute care system.”

She adds, “the government needs to be doing more to support those with mental illness, not making petty cuts."

A CBC story published Monday, according to the NDP, said the cost of these grants in the previous fiscal year was $172,000.

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Put brakes on film tax credit plans, says NDP

Timothy Gillespie — Mon, 13 Apr 2015 18:04:13 +0000

“Given the most recent Statistics Canada job numbers, Nova Scotia can’t afford to lose an entire industry that employs over 2,000 people and generates over $130 million for our economy each year.”

NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald said in anews release Monday that the Liberal government needs to put the brakes on its plan to slash the film tax credit.

“I really don’t think the Premier and his Finance Minister considered the ramifications of this policy change,” says MacDonald. “Only days after they announced they are gutting the film tax credit Nova Scotia is already facing significant job losses. That’s why I’m calling on the Premier to suspend this decision until he can properly consult with the industry.”

DHX Media announced it was closing its digital media studio just hours after the McNeil government reduced the credit by 75% and has also indicated that programs such as This Hour Has 22 Minutes will be filmed elsewhere next year.

Douglas Smith, who works in film and television, is looking for work outside the province due to the change, according to the release. “I was looking forward to a busy spring, summer and fall of working in film. I was on the crew list for the filming of Mr. D this summer. Now, I'm looking for work - in Toronto if I have to.”

Former NDP finace minister Graham Steele said on Twitter Monday, "The film tax credit is to the McNeil government what the Yarmouth ferry was to the Dexter government."

MacDonald adds, “Given the most recent Statistics Canada job numbers, Nova Scotia can’t afford to lose an entire industry that employs over 2,000 people and generates over $130 million for our economy each year.”

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McNeil talks tough on budget

Timothy Gillespie — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 12:27:33 +0000

Govt should be wary of deep spending cuts

Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil says Thursday’s budget will be a tough one that signals his government is serious about balancing the province’s books during this mandate.

McNeil has cautioned for months that difficult decisions are ahead and the public would have to share in the pain as the province tries to bring down its deficit, which was last projected to be $220.6 million.

He repeated those warnings on Wednesday.

“There are challenges facing this province and all Nova Scotians are going to have to participate in helping the province get back to fiscal health."

The budget will reshape government services and the way they are delivered to the public, he said, adding that such changes need to happen in order to ensure core services such as health care and education remain at levels the public expects.

He did not reveal any specifics Wednesday, but the government has already announced some steps and dropped strong hints on the areas the budget will address.

Finance Minister Diana Whalen has ruled out a spending freeze, saying the budget would instead include “first steps" in adopting recommendations from a report on the province’s tax system.

She’s been largely non-committal on one of the tax review’s major recommendations — a carbon tax — but has said the province needs to find new sources of revenue because of a shrinking workforce and aging population.

One of those sources was the recent announcement of a three per cent hike to 1,400 user fees that the government says will generate $7.7 million in 2015-16.

Whalen has also said a number of tax exemptions and credits that cost the government $350 million a year are under review, including an incentive for the province’s film industry.

That move in particular sparked a backlash from the industry, which on Wednesday presented Whalen with a petition in support of keeping an annual $24-million tax credit.

James Sawler, an associate professor of economics at Mount Saint Vincent University, said he believes the government should be wary of deep spending cuts.

“If we are going to have substantial cuts to government, then that’s going to take a direct hit on our economy," he said.

Sawler said he doesn’t believe the province’s fiscal house is “all that out of order," pointing to low interest rates which mean debt servicing costs are relatively low.

He believes there should be investments in areas that will have a long-term impact on economic growth, such as infrastructure and early childhood education.

Opposition Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie said he wants to see a plan to improve the economy and create jobs.

“The government is speculating about carbon taxes and health premiums and small business increases and I don’t want to see any of that. But I do hope they get their own spending in line."

NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald said the budget would be a big test of the government’s resolve and priorities.

“This is a premier that talks tough," MacDonald said. “We’ll get to see whether it’s a tough budget or just a sheep in wolf ’s clothing."

From the Canadian Press

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