Discussion papers released with recommendations for new standards for the oil and natural gas industry

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A discussion paper containing 116 recommendations designed to ensure the responsible environmental management of New Brunswick’s oil and natural gas industry was released today. The recommendations include proposals to complement the province’s existing regulatory framework.

“The proposals contained in this discussion paper would make our existing regulations even stronger and would ensure we are prepared if the industry expands in our province,” said Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup. “Our government is committed to maintaining responsible resource development and we look forward to receiving constructive feedback on these recommendations from New Brunswickers.”

The discussion paper, entitled Responsible Environmental Management of Oil and Gas Activities in New Brunswick, is organized according to a set of 12 principles announced by the provincial government late last year. The principles address a full range of oil and gas activities from exploration to well abandonment.

A second discussion paper was also released related to the sharing of financial benefits associated with the potential development of the natural gas industry.

Northrup also announced plans for legislative changes affecting the province’s royalty regime and penalties for violations of the Oil and Natural Gas Act.

The measures in the plan for Responsible Environmental Management of Oil and Gas Activities in New Brunswick focus on:

●    protecting water and the environment; and
●    protecting communities and landowners.

“We want to ensure we do everything possible to protect our environment and the people of New Brunswick when it comes to the potential expansion of the oil and gas industry,” said Environment and Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch.

The provincial government will receive comments on the discussion papers until July 18. Details of a related citizen engagement tour planned for June will be announced in the coming weeks.

“We look forward to hearing from New Brunswickers on this detailed plan,” Northrup said. “Extensive work has gone into creating these recommendations and they represent a solid, responsible environmental management plan for our province.”

Northrup said he looks forward to ongoing dialogue with New Brunswickers on the issue of oil and gas exploration and development.

Fitch said the discussion document acknowledges the importance of continuous improvement and said the requirements it contains can be strengthened as necessary in the future as new information, technologies and best management practices become available.

Following are highlights of the discussion paper. Its full content can be viewed online.

Protecting and managing water

Proposed measures include:

●    mandatory pre-seismic well water testing, which was first announced June 23, 2011, and post-seismic water well testing;
●    mandatory pre-drilling well water testing, also announced June 23, 2011, and post-drilling well water testing;
●    appropriate set-backs between oil and gas facilities and water supplies, wetlands, and watercourses;
●    establishing surface water and groundwater monitoring requirements;
●    establishing requirements for monitoring of petroleum wells for leaks, corrosion or deterioration;
●    establishment of a hierarchy of preferred water sources for hydraulic fracturing. For example, use of recycled waste water must be considered first;
●    mandatory assessments of proposed water sources that consider the needs of other water users, including ecological needs;
●    water use reporting by the operators of oil and gas activities; and
●    strategic water use planning.

Oil and gas well integrity and waste management

Proposed measures include:

●    enhanced casing and cementing standards for oil and gas wells;
●    assessment of geological containment prior to hydraulic fracturing;
●    pressure testing of equipment prior to hydraulic fracturing;
●    mandatory waste management plans that will require the chemical analysis of all wastes and approval of disposal locations before wastes leave the site;
●    requiring the use of “closed loop” (no open pits) systems for handling drill fluid, and the use of closed containers for receiving backflow water;
●    requiring petroleum operators to follow waste management guidelines that address such issues as flowback water and naturally occurring radioactive materials;
●    requiring petroleum operators to implement measures to prevent spills and leaks, and ensure notification and response protocols are in place should spills and leaks occur;
●    imposing chemical management requirements for fracture fluids and other chemicals; and
●    setting standards for storage tanks and containers, including mandatory leak detection systems and secondary containment.

In addition to the above measures, the discussion document contains recommendations for addressing a variety of issues, including air emissions, noise and visual impact, and emergency planning. The document re-affirms the provincial government’s commitment to having companies publicly disclose the contents of fluids used in hydraulic fracturing and enhancing public access to information about oil and gas activities.

Revenue sharing discussion paper

Northrup also released for public comment the discussion paper on sharing financial benefits associated with the development of the natural gas industry.

“On June 23, 2011, we announced our intention to develop a program to share the royalties from natural gas activities with landowners who host a producing well on their property as well as with nearby communities,” said Northrup. “Under our proposed program, a property owner would receive one half of one per cent of the royalty on natural gas collected by the province. As well, a total of two per cent of the royalty collected by the province will be shared with municipalities and local service districts within a 25-kilometre radius of the centre of a producing well pad. This funding will be available to support infrastructure projects.”

Comments on the proposed revenue sharing program should be submitted by July 18. The citizen engagement tour planned for June will also receive comments on the revenue-sharing discussion paper.

Royalty regime

The provincial government would maintain its current royalty rate for natural gas at 10 per cent, as a minimum, but would introduce an economic profit royalty of 40 per cent of the profit from a resource investment.

“The current 10 per cent royalty ensures a minimum payment to the province but, on its own, does not capture the true value of the resource as prices increase,” said Northrup. “Adding an economic profit component ensures that the province would maximize revenue as prices increase or as projects mature.”

The basic royalty component of 10 per cent for natural gas is based on the actual selling price or fair market value at the time and place of production, less deductions. Deductions include processing costs to make the gas transportable and the costs of transporting the gas to the consumer markets. The deductions are unchanged.

For the economic profit royalty component, the allowable costs will include the gas field processing costs, transportation costs, capital costs, an overhead allowance and an accepted investment allowance.

Stronger penalties

Northrup said he will be introducing legislative changes to increase penalties that can be levied against a company that violates the Oil and Natural Gas Act.

According to existing legislation, fines of between $640 and $10,400 are applicable for most violations. The maximum penalty under the proposed changes would be $1 million.

As well, the Department of Natural Resources would be empowered to impose the penalties. At present, a charge must be laid in provincial court and penalties imposed by a judge.

Northrup said the legislative changes pertaining to the imposition of penalties and changes to the royalty regime will be made in the fall session of the legislature.

LINK:

●    Discussion paper: www.gnb.ca/naturalgas

Provincial government reduces deficit by half and invests in priorities

FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial government tabled its 2012-13 budget today with plans to further reduce the deficit by more than half.

The deficit will be reduced to $183 million compared to the $448-million deficit projected for 2011-12. This will be done without raising the harmonized sales tax, income or gasoline taxes, and without introducing highway tolls.

“This budget represents an important step forward in the efforts of New Brunswickers to rebuild our province,” said Finance Minister Blaine Higgs. “By governing smarter, we can continue to do more with taxpayers’ dollars and better focus on the needs of the people.”

Spending is projected at $8.196 billion. Savings and other efficiencies from corporate, departmental and other program initiatives identified through the government renewal process are expected to reduce projected spending by about $226 million in 2012-13. These include:

●    corporate savings of $123 million by managing human resources more efficiently and through other departmental initiatives;
●    program delivery efficiency savings of $55 million;
●    restructuring of departments and agencies to better align with government priorities will provide estimated savings of $24 million;
●    savings in government administration of $16 million; and
●    savings in other areas across government of $8 million.

Higgs noted that government renewal would continue to find savings.

“Government renewal is not a one-year process; it is a never-ending road,” he said. “It is about believing in our employees to bring about change to the culture of government. This will lead to a greater focus on core services and accountability through performance measures.”

Initiatives from the review of operations that form the basis for the 2012-13 budget include:

●    finding corporate opportunities to drive savings and reduce the size of government;
●    implementing more efficient practices;
●    aligning government priorities with accountability and performance management; and
●    realigning government to focus on core services.
“Along with our efforts to reduce expenses as a means of returning to balanced budgets, we are simultaneously moving forward with strategic investments to enhance New Brunswickers’ quality of life and fulfil our commitments,” said Higgs.

The provincial government will invest about $105 million in 2012-13 to implement legislative and government commitments, including:

●    $10.3 million for affordable housing;
●    $10 million for Invest NB to foster economic growth;
●    $9.8 million for nursing home renovation and replacements;
●    $6.4 million for pay equity;
●    $5 million in primary health-care investments;
●    $3.6 million for early learning and childcare to increase the number of childcare spaces, enhance childcare affordability for low income families and enhance the childcare subsidies for New Brunswick families;
●    $3 million for special care homes;
●    $2.5 million for inclusive education;
●    $2.5 million for  immigrant funding;
●    $2.5 million for elementary literacy;
●    $2 million to foster innovation;
●    $1.2 million for 231 new seats at the New Brunswick Community College and the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick;
●    $1 million for the co-ordination and strategic development of downtown and business parks;
●    $1 million for the Digital Media Development Program;
●    $808,000 for the enhancement of the province’s wellness strategy; and
●    $668,000 for the New Brunswick sports plan.

Revenue is expected to increase 5.2 per cent from 2011-12 revised estimates, to $8.013 billion. This estimate includes extraordinary capital revenue relating to the federal government contribution to the Route One Gateway Project, which has been applied directly to the deficit.

Measures across government are expected to increase revenues by $100 million in 2012-13.

Net debt is projected to increase $738.9 million in 2012-13. Almost one-half of this is expected to be due to the Route One Gateway Project, reflecting an obligation made before October 2010. The net debt is expected to total $10.8 billion by the end of 2012-13.

“We continue to see challenges in our debt and in the fact that our revenue is not enough to pay for the public services we are providing, but we have tabled a plan to meet our commitment of returning to balanced budgets by 2014-15,” said Higgs.

Citizen engagement

Higgs said the public’s input and assistance was critical in helping to formulate the 2012-13 budget.

The provincial government received ideas through the Taxpayers FIRST website on how to raise revenues and deliver public services more efficiently and effectively.

At 10 public and stakeholders meetings around the province, individuals, unions, public servants, businesspeople and stakeholders provided valuable and focused input. Many New Brunswickers provided input through other means.

The message received through consultation is that the provincial government should:

●    become smaller, reduce costs and be more efficient;
●    increase revenue; and
●    focus on the needs of New Brunswickers as opposed to their wants.

Effectively managing human resources

The total wage bill for the public service is close to $3 billion annually and represents one of the provincial government’s largest expenses. To contain costs associated with salaries and promote fairness in the workplace, the provincial government will:

●    continue to apply a number of wage restraint measures, including a two-year wage freeze for employees who have not yet participated and a freeze on upward reclassifications. The Christmas Holiday Leave Initiative, which generated more than $1 million in wage savings in 2011, will be repeated in 2012;
●    replace only those positions that are critical to the delivery of core government services, resulting in a net reduction in the size of the public service. This is expected to save more than $86 million by 2014-15;
●    reduce the maximum number of sick days that employees can accumulate to align it more closely to the qualifying period for long-term disability benefits; and
●    reduce the wage gap between men and women with the inclusion of $6.4 million. This is just the beginning of the provincial government’s investment in pay equity to conform to current legislative requirements.

Lowering procurement costs

The provincial government spends about $1.5 billion on procurement of various goods and services. The budget includes estimated procurement savings of $14 million for 2012-13, growing to an estimated $70 million annually by 2014-15.

Finding efficiencies in program delivery

Higgs said that finding cost and efficiency improvements in the delivery of programs and services are important government initiatives. The budget includes $55.1 million in program delivery savings across a number of departments. These include:

●    finding operational efficiencies in nursing homes will result in savings of $1.5 million;
●    setting costs per weighted case targets in the health-care system that are based on national averages; and working collaboratively in a wide variety of ways to drive down costs.
●    reducing unconditional grant funding to municipalities for 2012 by two per cent, providing savings of $1.4 million;
●    establishing a new accountability framework in the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development to ensure continual improvement in both cost savings and service delivery will save an estimated $1 million; and
●    effective March 31, 2013, the agreement providing supplemental funding to Horse Racing New Brunswick Inc. in support of the harness racing industry will be terminated, resulting in savings of an estimated $600,000 beginning in 2013-14.

Increasing revenues in a responsible manner

●    To provide additional revenue, effective June 1, 2012, the Real Property Transfer Tax will be increased to 0.5 per cent from 0.25 per cent, raising an estimated $7 million annually.
●    Effective April 1, 2012, the Financial Corporation Capital Tax will be increased to four per cent from three per cent, providing an estimated $5 million annually.
●    The budget contains projected revenue of $10 million from Crown asset sales in 2012-13. During the coming months, the provincial government will examine the business cases for other divestiture opportunities, such as the viability of owning and operating the government airplane and an extensive review of government vehicles and related policies.
●    The provincial government is developing a royalty system that will eventually see it receive its fair share of profits from the development of natural resources.

Property tax reform

Phase One of the property tax reform plan, which consists of a four-year phase-in of property tax changes, will be implemented beginning with the 2013 property tax year. Phase One is a step forward in delivering on a commitment to make the property tax system more fair for the long term. Some of the areas that will be addressed include:

●    more equitable treatment of all property types, ensuring local services are paid for in a more fair manner;
●    a gradual reduction of the provincial residential property tax rate on apartments, second homes and cottages to bring it more in line with most other jurisdictions; and
●    a gradual reduction in the provincial business property tax rate, which is among the highest in Canada.

Details of these and other steps toward improving the fairness of the property tax system will be released in a white paper to be made available within several months.

Returning to balanced budgets by 2014-15

The provincial government has committed to a deficit reduction plan, including a three-year plan to return to balanced budgets. Higgs said the 2012-13 budget makes major strides in achieving these objectives. The goal is to budget for a $99-million deficit in 2013-14 and for a $6-million surplus in 2014-15.

LINK:

●    Department of Finance: www.gnb.ca/finance

Generic drug pricing policy announced

FREDERICTON (GNB) – A generic drug pricing policy that will reduce drug costs for all New Brunswickers was announced today by the provincial government.

“Even though generic drugs are cheaper than brand-name drugs, the fact is New Brunswickers are paying more for generic drugs than most of their provincial counterparts,” said Health Minister Madeleine Dubé. “The efforts announced today will ensure that all New Brunswickers benefit from more affordable drugs; and pay a similar price for generic drugs as their counterparts in other jurisdictions. The policy will help to ensure the sustainability of drug programs for future beneficiaries.”

The policy is part of an overall effort to address rising drug costs, which pose a significant challenge to the New Brunswick health-care system. It will set maximum allowable prices for generic drugs.

The provincial government recognizes that reducing generic drug prices will impact pharmacy revenues. In light of this, the provincial government will reinvest a portion of the savings achieved through the reduction in generic drug prices back into pharmacy services in the following ways:

●    investing about $4.5 million in 2012-13 to increase dispensing fees paid to pharmacists and paying a mark-up on generic drugs to help offset the reductions in revenues that pharmacies receive through rebates from generic drug manufacturers;
●    investing $233,000 to implement NB PharmaCheck, a medication review program, as an insured service under the New Brunswick Prescription Drug Program for which pharmacies can be compensated;
●    investing $295,000 in a rural pharmacy incentive initiative by paying an additional $2 dispensing fee for the first 10,000 provincial prescription drug program prescriptions filled at pharmacies 25 kilometres or more from the next nearest pharmacy; and
●    investing $1.2 million to help offset the costs associated with pharmacies connecting to the provincial Drug Information System / Prescription Monitoring Program, which will improve prescribing and reduce the abuse of prescription drugs.

The provincial government will continue to engage pharmacies by establishing a working group comprising representatives from the Department of Health and the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association. This group will monitor savings achieved by the policy and to discuss opportunities related to the role of pharmacists in the health-care system.

The provincial government will continue to work to find efficiencies within the provincial prescription drug program to ensure it is sustainable.

This program has a number of mechanisms in place to contain costs, including:

●    an evidence-based drug review process to ensure cost-effective drugs are covered as benefits;
●    special authorization is required for coverage of certain high-cost drugs when lower-cost alternatives have been tried and found unsuitable;
●    narcotics and controlled drugs have annual quantity limits; and
●    the new Drug Information System/Prescription Monitoring Program is being developed, which will improve prescribing and reduce the abuse of prescription drugs.

“All stakeholders – including government, pharmacy, drug manufacturers and drug plan beneficiaries – must work together to find long-term solutions to rising drug costs that are fair to everyone,” said Dubé. “If we are to maintain a program that helps New Brunswickers with their drug costs, it needs to be sustainable so it can continue to benefit those who need it for many years to come.”

Public consultation for a new employment action plan for persons with disabilities

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The public is invited to dialogue sessions to provide input into the development of a new employment action plan for persons with disabilities.
Grand Falls-Drummond-Saint-André MLA Danny Soucy and employer representative Jonathan Davenport, of UPS Canada, are co-chairing the steering committee for the action plan. The objective is to have it ready by April.

The aim of the plan is to encourage more persons with disabilities to take advantage of post-secondary education opportunities and to participate in the labour force.

Public dialogue sessions will be held in several locations at the same time on both Jan. 11 and Jan. 18.  Written submissions will also be accepted until Jan. 20.

Following are the dates and places of the public dialogue sessions:

Jan. 11:

Bilingual sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 24 if cancelled)
Simultaneous translation provided.

●    School District 5, 21 King St., Campbellton.

French-only sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 24 if cancelled)

●    School District 1, 425 Champlain St., Dieppe.

●    School District 3, 298 Martin St., Edmundston.

●    School District 9, 3376 Principale St., Tracadie-Sheila.

●    School District 11, 10 Commerciale St. (Unit 2), Richibucto.

Jan. 18:

Bilingual sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 25 if cancelled)
Simultaneous translation provided.

●    School District 8, Donaldson Room, 490 Woodward Ave., Saint John.

English-only sessions – 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Jan. 25 if is cancelled)

●    School District 2, first floor, 1077 St. George Blvd., Moncton.

●    School District 16, first floor conference room, 78 Henderson St., Miramichi.

●    School District 18, Conference Room A, 1135 Prospect St., Fredericton. Use School District 18 entrance.

LINK:

●    Premier’s Council on the Status of Disabled Persons: www.gnb.ca/council

Review of Youth Criminal Justice Act to be undertaken

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The provincial government has been notified by the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate that it will carry out a systemic review of services to young persons in New Brunswick in relation to the application of the federal Youth Criminal Justice Act. Christian Whalen, acting child and youth advocate, advised his intention to carry out this review in a letter to Attorney-General Marie-Claude Blais. “New Brunswick has much higher youth incarceration and charge rates than most other provinces in Canada,” said Whalen. “Other jurisdictions have seen youth incarceration rates decline since the inception of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, but New Brunswick has seen little progress.” In his letter to Blais, Whalen raised concerns that the provincial government, law enforcement, and the judiciary have yet to adopt many practices under the act that are intended to divert youth with complex needs from the criminal justice system. Concerns raised by Whalen include: ●    the lack of designated hospital facilities for mental-health assessments; ●    the lack of progress on the development of community youth justice committees; ●    underuse of family case conferences; ●    the absence of detailed guidelines for pre-charge screenings; and ●    the absence of a specialized youth criminal justice defence bar within the province. The Office of the Child and Youth Advocate has notified the following departments of the review and has asked them to provide relevant documents: ●    Social Development; ●    Education and Early Childhood Development; ●    Health; and ●    Public Safety. The RCMP, municipal police forces and the New Brunswick Legal Aid Commission will also be asked to aid in conducting the review. The review follows the Whalen’s recent submission to the House of Commons committee on justice and human rights that called on Parliament to suspend further consideration of the proposed amendments to the Youth Criminal Justice Act, contained in Bill C-10. That 10-page submission raised concerns about what the proposed changes could mean for youth in New Brunswick, and it highlighted six proposed amendments in the bill that appear to detract from the purpose of the act. “We all have an onus to ensure that young people engaged in youth criminal justice processes receive the best services and equal protection and benefit of the law,” said Whalen. “We also need to do a better job of using the act to find solutions at the family and community level that will keep our young people of the criminal justice system and away from a life of crime. That is how we will truly keep communities safe. “Putting families at the centre of the solution whenever we deal with youth with high-end needs is the most effective way of intervening. That is why we want to hear from New Brunswick youth with an experience with the Youth Criminal Justice Act and their families as this review unfolds.” Comments and questions about the Youth Criminal Justice Act may be submitted by e-mail to advocate-défenseur@gnb.ca. Whalen’s submission to the House of Commons standing committee on justice and human rights is online. LINK: ●    Office of the Child and Youth Advocate: www.gnb.ca/cyanb

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The 2011-12 speech from the throne sets out an agenda for the coming year that continues the work being done to change the culture of government.

This agenda includes targeted measures to invest in jobs; support healthy families and an enhanced quality of life; and ensure continuous government renewal.

Delivered by Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas today, the speech opened the second session of the 57th legislature.

“This throne speech marks the beginning of the legislative year and the continuation of your government’s work to support a stronger economy and enhanced quality of life while living within our means,” said Nicholas. “The last few years have seen significant and difficult changes which have impacted the people of New Brunswick. It is no longer business as usual.”

The speech focuses on plans to transform government by building a robust economy; promoting healthy families; reducing poverty and enhancing education; and improving the culture of government to focus on core services, accountability through performance measures and continuous performance improvement.

“Today’s speech from the throne lays out a new foundation for rebuilding our province,” Premier David Alward said. “This foundation will be built on an economic development strategy that will move our workers from ‘hope wanted’ to ‘help wanted,’ with investments in job opportunities. It will be built by supporting families with renewed programs and services to help overcome poverty, increase access to primary health care and provide quality education for our next generation. This foundation will be supported by a government that is innovative, equitable and sustainable.”

Following are highlights of the speech from the throne:

Investing in jobs

• A working group on innovation, including academic and private-sector leaders, will bring forward recommendations to improve innovation, research and development.
• A new procurement act will be introduced to enhance competitive opportunities for New Brunswick companies and to ensure maximum value for public funds is realized.
• An employment action plan for persons with a disability will be developed to increase the number of persons with disabilities in the labour market.
• The provincial government will proceed with its commitment to ensure predictable, multi-year funding for universities and predictable tuition for students.
• Planning is underway to introduce an online reservation system for New Brunswick’s provincial parks.
• Fleet rationalization to provide greater economic sustainability in the fishing industry will continue by finalizing purchase agreements in the ground fish fleet.
• The provincial government will continue to invest in the development of an integrated pest management framework and research on alternative products to manage and control sea lice.
• The Growing Forward 2 Multilateral Framework Agreement signed in July will be developed to help agriculture meet future challenges and opportunities. The delivery of farm fuel tax exemptions and rebates will be improved.
• A digital media incentive is being designed to encourage economic growth and job creation in this important sector.
• The provincial government will bring qualifying large industrial companies’ electricity costs in line with their Canadian competitors through a large industrial renewable energy purchase program.
• Policies will be developed and implemented to optimize the energy output from wood-based biomass resources.
• Minimum energy efficiency standards will be required for new building construction by adopting national standards through amendments to the New Brunswick Building Code Act.
• The provincial government will perform a comprehensive review of the Petroleum Products Pricing Act and regulations to ensure it continues to foster price stability.
• A full-time public energy advocate will be appointed to replace the ad-hoc appointments of public interveners as part of amendments to the Energy Utilities Board Act.
• The provincial government will review the natural gas rate structure and distribution network to achieve a more equitable rate structure and work to improve natural gas access throughout New Brunswick to help companies reduce their energy costs.
• The provincial government is developing a comprehensive action plan to ensure New Brunswick has a strong regulatory regime in place for oil and gas exploration that includes robust monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
• An environmental protection plan is being developed by a multi-disciplinary team of experts to protect individuals and their property as well as vital aspects of the environment.
• The provincial government will announce its 2012 Forest Management Strategy, taking into consideration the recommendations of both the private and Crown land task forces.
• The provincial government will reaffirm its commitment to the Canadian military and armed forces reservists in New Brunswick by enhancing existing leave for reservists’ rules under the Employment Standards Act.
• A smart regulation system will be developed to guide development of provincial regulations during the coming months.

Healthy families and an enhanced quality of life

• A strategic action plan for primary health care will be developed that will incorporate recommendations to come in 2012 from the Primary Health Care Steering Committee.
• Consultations will be held with New Brunswickers and stakeholders on the development of the next provincial health plan. The current one expires at the end of 2012.
• Following extensive consultations, changes to the Early Learning and Child Care Act will further advance New Brunswick as a leader in early childhood development.
• Following the current consultations on the entry point of early French immersion, the four-member task force on the issue will make recommendations to the provincial government in early 2012.
• The provincial government will announce a plan to address inclusion in the school system. This plan will help refocus the provincial government’s efforts to ensure a consistent approach in inclusion practices.
• A second phase of public dialogue sessions on learning will begin in January 2012.
• A new vision and dental program for children in low-income families will be implemented in the next year. A prescription drug program for non-insured New Brunswickers is being developed.
• A panel on seniors: living healthy, aging well will be created as a targeted advisory body to the premier and will provide advice on developing a progressive living healthy, aging well blueprint for seniors in New Brunswick.
• Amendments to the New Brunswick Building Code Act will be introduced to improve accessibility for New Brunswickers with disabilities.
• The provincial government will support the work of the special committee on the revision of the Official Languages Act to ensure New Brunswickers have the opportunity to offer their views and comments on amendments to the act.
• A new species at risk act will be introduced that will complement similar federal, provincial and territorial legislation in a national effort to prevent the loss of plants and animals due to human activities.
• A series of measures will be developed to assess and communicate better the risks of the effects of climate change under a 2012-20 climate action plan, including specific actions to flag flooding and storm surge risks.
• The provincial government will implement a wetlands management strategy encompassing longer-term actions to safeguard the natural environment in support of sustainable development.

Government renewal

• A balanced scorecard initiative is being developed to provide the provincial government with a tool to focus public-sector efforts toward achieving key performance outcomes and provide a clear vision of overall government direction, goals and targets.
• An improved culture of government will be focused on core services, accountability through performance measures and continuous performance improvement to ensure there is an alignment between affordable quality public services and public expectations.
• The feasibility of creating a single, independent financial services regulatory agency will be examined to bring consistent application of regulatory authority, reduced duplication and to provide for an independent hearing tribunal.
• A structural review of legal aid will be undertaken to provide greater efficiency and accessibility and better ensure access to justice for those who can least afford it.
• NB Liquor will introduce a comprehensive report on its mandate and future. The provincial government will begin implementing approved recommendations in early 2012.
• The provincial government is committed to completing a renewal of the 2002 Provincial Cultural Policy that will include public and stakeholder consultations.
• The provincial government will implement Jordan’s Principle on providing public services for Aboriginal children during the session.
• A healing-to-wellness court pilot project will be located at Elsipogtog First Nation. It will be the first of its kind in New Brunswick and will include First Nations practices and culture.
• A duty to consult policy will be brought forward to guide departments through the constitutional duty to consult with the province’s First Nation communities.
• The legislative assembly will consider changes to the Electoral Boundaries and Representation Act to ensure provincial ridings are as representative and equitable as possible for all electors. The number of electoral districts will be reduced as part of these amendments.
• The provincial government will introduce legislation to enable persons to vote on New Brunswick nominees for the Senate.
• Recommendations from Bernard Richard’s report on legislative officers will be considered and amendments to relevant legislation and operating procedures will be introduced.
• The legislative assembly will also review and consider new legislation governing the Office of the Auditor General to render this service more modern and effective.
• A multi-year capital budget plan will be tabled to reflect the ongoing funding required for projects already underway and the funding necessary to maintain existing infrastructure.
• Following extensive consultations, the provincial government will bring forward a local governance action plan that will create a new model for community-governed regional service delivery.

“Earlier this year, your government began its first steps towards changing the culture of government,” Nicholas said. “The results of these efforts will include a legislative and budgetary agenda to be considered by this Assembly that will lay a new foundation for rebuilding New Brunswick.”

The complete text of the speech from the throne and highlights are online.

LINK:

• Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick: www.gnb.ca/legis

Education and early childhood development is a government priority. In the interest of transparency, we want to ensure our stakeholders, parents and the general public have an opportunity to review the information and consider potential improvements to our education system.” – Jody Carr, Minister (see message)

Consultation: Education and Early Childhood Development

Members of the public are invited to read the Discussion Paper and submit ideas, comments and suggestions on ways the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development can manage departmental and school administration spending, including how best to re-allocate funding to support student achievement.

Education and Early Childhood Development Minister Jody Carr recently attended sessions with anglophone and francophone stakeholders. When combined with the public consultation, the ideas and insights received will assist the department in developing its proposal for the 2011-2012 provincial budget.

The consultation is part of a government-wide renewal exercise designed to ensure the long-term affordability and sustainability of programs and services.

Deadline: October 31, 2011

FREDERICTION (CNB) – The provincial government has launched a review to ensure that public sector pension plans are affordable, sustainable and have secure benefits.

Finance Minister Blaine Higgs announced the review today.

“As a government we need to ensure that public-sector pension plans are managed as efficiently and transparently as possible and are reasonable for both the public service employees and New Brunswick taxpayers,” said Higgs. “This review will include consultation with the public, including employees, contributing employers, union representatives and pensioners. The objective is to ensure the long-term financial viability of the plans and also to ensure we are following the best possible governance and management practices.”

Among the issues to be considered during the review are:

●    the differences between provincial public service pension benefits and retirement provisions and those offered by private sector employers, in the context of overall employee compensation;
●    the needs of the provincial public service to recruit and retain qualified employees with consideration given to competing employers;
●    the need to ensure that future pension benefits are reasonable throughout the public service; and
●    how risk should be shared between the government and employees.

The review will be completed by the task force which is currently examining private sector pensions for the Department of Justice and Consumer Affairs.

“The fact that these experts have already been studying various pension plans and regulations in a New Brunswick context means they have already accumulated significant information and established key relationships with stakeholders,” said Higgs. “This will allow them to conduct this review more efficiently than a newly appointed group. Ultimately, this will mean savings for the taxpayers, which is important in a time of fiscal restraint.”

While no date has been set for the conclusion of the review, the provincial government has committed to completing the review as quickly as possible. Progress updates will be provided as the information becomes available.

Biographies of task force members:

Susan Rowland

A graduate of Osgoode Hall Law School, Rowland has focused her career on pension and benefits law, with particular expertise in the restructuring and funding of pension plans. Appointed as representative counsel by the Superintendent of Financial institutions for Ontario, she has assisted in resolving the under-funding of several high-profile pension plans, including: Algoma Steel, Ivaco Inc., General Motors of Canada and Chrysler Inc. Rowland has published numerous papers in professional journals and has been frequently invited to speak before groups interested in pension and insolvency issues.

Paul McCrossan

Throughout his career as a consultant and actuary, McCrossan has held various positions with the Canadian Institute of Actuaries, the Society of Actuaries and the International Actuarial Association. He has written and lectured extensively on the topic of finances and pensions. Serving twice as a Member of Parliament, he was involved in the reform of a number of key pieces of pension-related legislation, including the Pension Benefits Standards Act and the Canada Pension Plan Act.

Pierre-Marcel Desjardins

Desjardins has a PhD in economics and has been teaching economics at the Université de Moncton since 1990. He is also researcher at that Canadian Institute for Research on Public Policy and Public Administration. He is vice-president of the Fédération des caisses populaires acadiennes, the executive director of the Canadian Regional Science Association, a member of the board of directors of the Caisse populaire Kent-Sud, and a member of the advisory committee for the Sainte-Marie-de-Kent local service district.

FREDERICTON (CNB) – New Brunswickers are being invited to comment on a legislative discussion paper that seeks to establish parameters governing the election of regional health authority board members.

The Department of Health recently submitted the discussion paper, Regional Health Authorities Governance, to the legislative assembly’s standing committee on health care. The document is available at the legislative assembly or on the legislative assembly website.

The bipartisan committee, appointed following the introduction of amendments to the Regional Health Authorities Act, has the following MLAs as members:

● Madeleine Dubé (Edmundston–Saint-Basile);
● Dorothy Shephard (Saint John Lancaster);
● Ryan Riordan (Nepisiguit);
● Sherry Wilson (Petitcodiac);
● Serge Robichaud (Miramichi Bay-Neguac);
● Troy Lifford (Fredericton-Nashwaaksis);
● Bill Fraser (Miramichi–Bay du Vin); and
● Donald Arseneault (Dalhousie–Restigouche East).

The committee was asked to examine three issues pertaining to the election of board members of regional health authorities, as outlined in the discussion paper. These issues need to be addressed prior to the election of new board members, beginning with the 2012 municipal election. The committee is looking for specific direction from the public on regional health authority boundaries, electoral boundaries and election rules.

Public hearings on the discussion paper will be held in all seven New Brunswick cities from mid-August to mid-September. A full schedule, including dates and times, is on the legislative assembly website.

Individuals or organizations wishing to make a presentation to the committee should notify the Office of the Clerk of the Legislative Assembly by telephone or by sending an e-mail to leg-consultations@gnb.ca before Aug. 15.

Those preferring to submit a written brief should do so by Monday, Sept. 12, by contacting:

Office of the Clerk,
Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick,
P.O. Box 6000,
Fredericton, N.B.
E3B 5H1

506-453-2506 (office)
506-453-7154 (fax)

LINK:

● Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick: www.gnb.ca/legis

FREDERICTON (CNB) – The provincial government is asking for input on how to make drugs more affordable and accessible for families.

“New Brunswickers expect that prescription drugs be affordable and that prices paid here be similar to those paid elsewhere,” said Health Minister Madeleine Dubé. “We need to ensure that our drug programs are sustainable – now and for the future.”

Generic drugs are lower-cost versions of brand-name drugs. They are produced by generic companies once patents expire on brand-name drugs, and they are as safe and effective as the brand-name version.

There is no national price regulation for generic drugs. During the last few years, however, several provinces – including British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia – have announced changes in the price of generic drugs.

During the past decade, expenditures for the New Brunswick’s Prescription Drug Program have more than doubled – to almost $190 million in 2011-12. In fact, New Brunswickers pay more for generic drugs than people in many other provinces.

As part of the consultation process, New Brunswickers are encouraged to read the document Fair Drug Prices for New Brunswickers, now posted on the department’s website. They will also be able to make recommendations by submitting written comments. This consultation will continue until Aug. 15.

During the next few weeks, representatives from Department of Health will meet with stakeholders – including pharmacists, pharmacy owners, drug manufacturers, wholesalers and private insurers – to receive their input on how to get better drug prices for New Brunswickers while supporting pharmacy services.

The information received will be compiled and analyzed by the Department of Health and a recommendation prepared for government.

LINK:

● Department of Health: www.gnb.ca/health