Premier Dexter Reveals Four-year Plan, Priorities in Throne Speech
NOTE: A social media version of this release with downloadable hi-res photographs and video will be available later today, March 25, at gov.ns.ca/news/smr/2010-03-25-speech.asp .
Government today, March 25, unveiled its four-year vision to make life better for Nova Scotia families while providing the strong leadership to improve the province's finances and ensuring it lives within its means.
Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis opened the Second Session of the 61st General Assembly of Nova Scotia with the Speech from the Throne today. In it, Premier Darrell Dexter outlined government's plan to meet the challenges ahead with the determined, focused effort needed to get the province's finances back to balance while making life more affordable for Nova Scotians.
"Even while facing difficult financial challenges, we are working hard to keep commitments to Nova Scotians and achieve much needed change," said Premier Dexter. "We are ready to make the right decisions to enable a better life for Nova Scotia families, to take on the difficult challenges the province faces while seizing the opportunities provided by Nova Scotians' talent, drive, ambition and optimism."
Government's four priorities presented in the speech are: Better Health Care for You and Your Family, Creating Good Jobs and Growing the Economy, Making Life More Affordable, and Getting Back to Balance and Ensuring Government Lives Within Its Means.
To address the financial priority, the upcoming budget will outline a multi-year fiscal strategy to help government manage the province's finances and get Nova Scotia back to balance. It will take into account the most extensive budget consultation process in the province's history -- 24 meetings with Nova Scotians about how to deal with the serious fiscal challenges the province faces.
"The 2010 budget will be fair," Premier Dexter said. "It will make the right decisions, because government's job is to find the right balance of priorities, values, programs and services. We are demonstrating genuine leadership and taking on the hard work to get our finances back to balance."
To help ensure government lives within its means, new House of Assembly management legislation will be introduced to establish a new, open, and accountable system, with clear guidelines for appropriate constituency expenses. It will require that expenses be posted online and will eliminate non-receiptable allowances to ensure taxpayers' money is not wasted.
To improve health care, a Quality Initiative will make health services across the province better. A number of programs will help ensure families have access to the emergency care they need, mental health and addiction services will be revamped, more resources will improve care and wait times for cancer patients, and a drug information system will be developed to enhance patient safety and ensure health dollars are being used wisely.
Premier Dexter said government will build on progress made to create good jobs and grow the economy. The new Manufacturing and Processing Investment Credit will continue to boost innovation and productivity, particularly in rural Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia, together with the federal and municipal governments, have created thousands of jobs by committing almost $230 million to more than 100 road, water, and other infrastructure projects and will release a five-year plan to pave provincial roads.
Students are a cornerstone of the strategy to grow the economy. The province will invest another $2 million in the Nova Scotia Community College to make room for 250 more students, contribute $31.5 million over the next two fiscal years to support post-secondary infrastructure projects and provide a tax rebate of up to $15,000 over six years to university graduates and up to $7,500 to college graduates who stay and work in Nova Scotia.
To help make life more affordable, the Employment Support Income Assistance program will increase economic independence and enhance social inclusion, making the program client-focussed, and providing lasting support. Year two of the housing stimulus plan will spend $128 million to build and upgrade affordable housing.
Government will introduce legislation for fairer treatment of people injured in an auto accident, while keeping insurance premiums affordable.