Contentious bill casts chill over job protection, access to information in N.S., committee hears

Members of the public in Nova Scotia voiced their concerns on Monday regarding a government bill that they believe could have a negative impact on public servants’ job security and limit access to information. Bill 1, among other things, proposes giving the government the authority to terminate non-unionized civil servants without cause. This provision would exempt these workers from the protections provided by the Labour Standards Code, which typically cover most employees in the province.

During the public bills committee hearing, individuals expressed their worries about the implications of this bill. Pat Clahane, a former Justice Department lawyer, highlighted the disparity in job security between highly skilled professionals like Bob Strang, Nova Scotia’s chief medical officer of health, and other workers in less critical roles. Concerns were raised about the potential for political interference in decision-making processes within the public service.

Lily Sangster emphasized the importance of trust in government institutions and raised questions about the possible misuse of power granted by Bill 1. She urged Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) to consider the long-term implications of giving any government the authority to dismiss employees arbitrarily.

Sandra Mullen, president of the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union, spoke about the impact of Bill 1 on unionized workers. She highlighted previous disputes over job protection language during negotiations with the government.

Another contentious aspect of the bill is a proposed change to access-to-information laws, allowing heads of government departments to reject applications deemed “trivial, frivolous, or vexatious.” Residents like Hugh Thompson argued that this amendment contradicts the principles of transparency and accountability in government operations.

Although Premier Tim Houston has pledged amendments to address some of these concerns, details have yet to be made public. Calls were made for the privacy commissioner to have order-making powers to oversee information requests.

The government recently backtracked on clauses in Bill 1 related to the province’s auditor general following public outcry. These clauses would have given the government the authority to dismiss the auditor general without cause and suppress their reports from public scrutiny.

Other measures included in Bill 1 are still under scrutiny, with ongoing testimony scheduled at the committee. The public is closely monitoring developments, with a total of six bills currently under review.

The discussions at the public bills committee underscore the importance of upholding transparency, accountability, and job security within the Nova Scotia government. As stakeholders continue to engage with policymakers on these critical issues, the outcome of Bill 1 will have lasting implications for public servants and residents across the province.