Balancing the books

By Yvette d'Entremont - The Weekly News
SACKVILLE - When Nova Scotia Finance Minister Graham Steele started his Getting Back to Balance public consultation in Lower Sackville last week, he made it clear the MLA expense scandal wasn't going to be the evening's focus.
"It is perfectly understandable that people are upset, and annoyed, frustrated, angry about the abuse of taxpayers dollars by their MLAs," Steele said.
He explained that the Auditor General has recommended repayment of $28,000 in expenses, and added that all the questionable expenses together totalled $80,000.
"There will be change and there will be consequences," he said. "For tonight's purposes, I need you to understand we could fundamentally overhaul the MLA expense system and it's a drop in the bucket compared to the size of the financial challenge facing the province."
The Feb. 17 meeting at the Sackville Lions Club was one of many that have taken place in various communities throughout the province since January. Steele is hoping to gauge public opinion and is seeking ideas and input about how best to bring the province's books back into balance.
He told the crowd of about 60 people that while many Nova Scotians have thousands of great ideas about how to spend money, the province lacks the money to implement them.
"Once they've seen the presentation, about two-thirds of a room will typically agree an increase in the HST is one of the ways back to balance, sometimes with conditions," Steele explained in an interview. "Some people would like to see it phased in, others phased out, while some say there has to be support for low income people."
Steele said the Nova Scotians he has met with so far have overwhelmingly agreed the provincial government can also save money by eliminating inefficiency and waste in government. He said it's proving more difficult for people to pinpoint the exact areas of inefficiency.
The format of the Getting Back to Balance meetings groups four to six people at a table so they can brainstorm and focus on the following four specific questions:
What should the government do to increase revenue and reduce spending?
What changes should be made to programs and services? Are there things government should do better, stop doing, or do more of?
What investments should be made today that will help to grow the economy in the long term?
How soon should government bring Nova Scotia's finances back to balance?
"This is not exactly a pre-budget consultation, however the first tangible result that people will see from this process will be in the next budget if there's a consensus on certain issues," Steele said. "And if there's not, we still have to make decisions. This is designed to guide the government for the next three or four years. It's a process that will continue."
Participants in Lower Sackvi-lle threw out a number of ideas, including an HST increase of three per cent for three years, the abolishment of P-3 funding, and greater investment in renewable energy resources. Suggestions also included implementation of measures to retain skilled workers and encourage immigration, a freeze on replacing retiring civil service workers, and a three year government wage freeze.
Others encouraged considering two-tier health care, amalgamating Nova Scotia's universities, and reducing the size of government from 52 MLAs to 36.
Results of previous Back to Balance meetings are available online via the Department of Finance website. Those who've been unable to attend a dialogue session are encouraged to visit the site at www.gov.ns.ca/finance/backtobalance, where they can share their ideas.
ydentremont@hfxnews.ca