As we head into another year, I thought I’d add a few ideas that have been clattering around in my head that just might make Nova Scotia a better place to live.
Some are old, some are new, some could be done tomorrow, others need either money and/or time to implement. I’d like to hear if you think these are things the new Liberal government could look at to improve our economy and the lives of the people in our province.
Finance Minister Diana Whalen must give a clear picture of the state of the provinces finances for those who don’t hold Masters degrees in public finance and accounting. While better than some previous efforts, the latest financial update proved once again that government officials and politicians struggle to communicate public finance, especially regarding the relationship to our debt. The Chronicle Herald’s Bob Howse did an admirable job of outlining this in his opinion piece last August. Surely to God with the battalion of communications staff the province has on the payroll, voters can be given better access and insight to the decision-making process than is now provided.
Nova Scotia should aim to be the best place to open a small business in Canada. According to the CFIB’s latest Nova Scotia Business Barometer®, twenty-five per cent of owners now say the state of their business is ‘bad’ versus only 35 percent who say it is ‘good’. There are a number of battles being waged in this province by small against government. This includes poorly thought changes to Workman’s Comp, an inability to streamline the apprenticeship process or get a handle on workplace safety issues.
High taxes and unnecessary red tape also create an environment that drives small business away. Attracting big employers to set up shop may make great headlines but small business remains the backbone of the provincial economy. Nova Scotia Business Development Program is a good start…promote it aggressively, create a better environment for entrepreneurs and then get the hell out-of-the-way.
Meaningful reductions in the size of the public spending cannot come soon enough. If this is done by eliminating revenue (read: lower taxes) and forcing balanced budgets, then so be it. The Harper government came under great criticism for its reduction of the GST by 2 points, eliminating billions in federal revenue. This left Finance Minister Jim Flaherty with the daunting challenge of balancing a budget without the additional windfall of consumption tax.One can argue the merits of the GST versus other forms of taxation, but in the end it meant there was less cash floating around Ottawa to spend.
Government spending in this province has grown from 6 billion to over 10 billion in the past ten years. Feel better served by government? Unless meaningful measures to restrict spending are enforced, the public sector will continue to balloon.
One small way to adjust this continued siphoning of money from the pockets of people is allowing Atlantic Lottery Corporation to grow a robust off-shore online gambling business and begin the reduction and replacement of localized gambling revenue. While it’s a voluntary tax, it is none-the-less emptying the pockets of Nova Scotians for little or no net benefit.
If we are indeed going to accept that government should profit from gambling, then let those gamblers come from other jurisdictions feed the beast. Constrict local gambling revenues, especially VLTs and allow offshore betting under the ALCs “Responsible Gambling” protocols.
Set defined timelines for the twinning of major highway arteries.The previous government’s efforts at de-politicizing the paving and highway infrastructure growth process was a step in the right direction. If plans are in the works, let the Minister responsible know what’s going on so they can answer direct questions about when work will begin on important arteries throughout the province. Then get the earth movers moving.
Set clear timelines and reporting structures for the creation of a universal medical information system in the province. It is perhaps the most critical piece of the puzzle to cut costs and create greater efficiency in the medicare system. Reducing the number of Health Authorities to cut unnecessary administrative cost is useful, but unless everyone gets on the same page with the transfer of information this restructuring will be a dogs breakfast.
The Department of Community Services requires a significant rethink. As the third largest cost behind Health and Education, Community Services delivers programming that is essential to those in need. Lumping disabilities in with social welfare blurs the line between providing a hand up to those temporarily in need and those who rely of government access to quality of life.
In Saskatchewan, the Brad Wall government has created a disabilities strategy which is actually consulting with those who live with cognitive, intellectual and physical disabilities. They are also separating disabilities initiatives from social welfare to make sure those with challenges are afforded proper housing, care and dignity.The Saskatchewan mantra is to be the best place to live in Canada for people living with disabilities. We should challenge that ideal.
On the really wacky side, what harm could there be in examining the establishment of a freeport or free economic zone in this province. Want to generate tourism traffic and local economic activity in a poor area? Want to attract multinational companies? Giving up a small part of tax revenue would be greatly offset by international traffic and spin-off benefits for surrounding communities. Who knows, maybe it could be in Freeport…mmm, maybe not.
So as we head into 2014, perhaps we can kick the can down the road toward a more prosperous and compassionate Nova Scotia.
What do you think?
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Now we are talking. I don’t agree on all points and probably others say the same but we are talking. Good start to 2014. Thanks Jordi
Good blog past Jordi, I like most of what you’ve written, and a few comments. Having 60 % of small business in Nova Scotia stating business is good to poor is just not acceptable. We need to be helping small business grow and get off the ground. Yes, there will be failures but rather than losing millions in one fowl swoop, maybe it’s a few 50,000.00 grants that fail to help small business but that’s better than losing millions to companies like blackberry, and pulp and paper mills. The ALC thoughts, are, IMHO, I hate the ALC, and well it should be abolished and I can’t comment on the off shore idea as I’ve not researched it or heard a lot about it. I just don’t gamble and feel all that money spent uselessly on lottery tickets, those vile VLT’s, all that money would be spent elsewhere, and on much more important things.
As for provincial spending, we need smaller government on all levels. As to the top spenders in the government, Health, Education, and Social Services, and I see what goes on at CHDA every friday at the VG Hospital, CDHA needs a complete and thorough overhaul, chop, regroup, but needs to be fixed. If you’ve heard what I have heard going on at the VG site, you’d sit there and throw your lunch up. NS Government is doing a crappy job at promoting NS tourism. NS government needs to get on the alternative energy bandwagon. As per the homeless, shit, building housing out of shipping containers and making them top notch to look at and live in, is perfect. It’s being done around the world now.
Last but not least, Nova Scotians, cannot afford the taxes we are paying, it’s making things very lean and mean.
Cheers to a successful and prosperous 2014.
Ken
All forms of government have to start listening to us or we’ll lose more thousands more citizens to other parts of Canada, and the world.
Great. I think that is great. I hope you get lots of comments. I especially like the tone and simplicity. You can be sure that somewhere, somebody will recognize your good ideas and use them. I like the idea of a Freeport. If Halifax was designated a Freeport, and there was an invitation out to businesses here and elsewhere, to access the BEST advertisers in the business that would initiate interest, but there has to be follow up with businesses to get on the bandwagon and hire, supply and show enthusiasm for actually making Nova Scotia the best place to live. When people get here, they need to find that Nova Scotia is telling the truth and have a plethora of things for them to do. The oldies are tired of trying. It is up to the new generations to accomplish what they started. Use the knowledge gained and build. Transportation, parking, infrastructure safety, personal safety and friendliness. You know, like Nfld. It takes someone with vision to crank that old engine of entrepreneurship, or at least press the button.
Nova Scotia and Halifax are more than just South End Halifax. People have to want to be hospitable and give tourists something to do. That place is stagnant. There are better advertisers in the music industry than in the Dept. of Tourism. Get them onside. Get reps from all the good places to visit together and find out what they want and how they can contribute to tourism. Greed is not attractive, hospitality is. Find out what will attract more talent. Good parking? Good roads, reasonable prices? We already have good food. That’s a start. Value added to the fish products. Take care of the fishermen. I’ve seen those little boats go out in the dark laden with traps. It is a job that needs respect.
Interesting that you should mention rethinking Community Services and separating disabilities and welfare. Any ideas on how to propel this further? I’d like to see this happen in 2014. I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on this topic! C
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Jordi, happy new year. I’m very happy that I’ve come upon your blog through Google and I’ll continue to follow it.
Thank you for this lastest post making us aware of the work being done in Saskatchewan on behalf of those, in society, with disabilities. I’m especially interested in mental health and my addition to your list of making-things-better would be for our newly minted Liberal government to make broadening of mental health coverage, a priority during their mandate. In other words, working towards making access to mental health as easy and as cost-free as access to GP’s and physical health.