Latest news with #Bill12
CBC
13-05-2025
- Politics
- CBC
'We just want to be a world-class college,' says NSCC president as college looks to the future
As university officials across the province continue to work through what the fallout of Bill 12 means for them, the president of the Nova Scotia Community College knows what it does not mean for his institution. "We have no aspirations to become a university," Don Bureaux said in a recent interview. "We just want to be a world-class college." Although much of the attention Bill 12 — An Act Respecting Advanced Education and Research — received as it was being debated at Province House centred on its ramifications for the province's 10 universities, the bill also made changes to Research Nova Scotia and the Community Colleges Act, the latter of which governs the NSCC. Those changes include giving the responsible cabinet minister the power to give binding directions to the NSCC board respecting policies, programs of study and services, and property, revenue and business affairs of the college. Changes not a surprise Bureaux said none of that caught him or anyone else at NSCC by surprise because of conversations they were having with government officials in the lead-up to the Progressive Conservatives introducing Bill 12 this past winter. "Quite frankly, many of the changes that affect our act were housekeeping," he said. "We were operating under those rules of engagement anyway." To observers, perhaps the biggest change in Bill 12 for NSCC is the ability to grant undergraduate degrees if authorized by the provincial cabinet and certain criteria are met. Bureaux said it's becoming more common for colleges across the country to grant degrees, but if it happens at NSCC, it would be focused on workplace-driven needs and done in a way that does not cut into the work already happening at universities. He gave examples of degrees related to advanced manufacturing, mining operations and the ocean sector as some of the offerings at other colleges. "For the most part, they're very applied degrees that are conducive and aligned with the applied learning environments that exist at colleges," said Bureaux, adding that conversations at NSCC about what could be offered there are only just beginning. "Right now there's no definitive plans as to what degrees we'd offer and we'd want to be very aware of the 10 universities in this province that we work very closely with — that do a great job — to make sure that we're adding and not duplicating or competing with the pre-existing degrees that are in the province." Even without adding degrees to the college's offerings, there are annual reviews to ensure the programs that are available meet the needs of students and the province more broadly. Always evaluating program offerings Officials at NSCC recently announced the music business program would be placed on hold and several campuses will not offer the business administration diploma program in the coming semester. In both cases, low enrolment was a driving factor in the decision. "We make sure that we have programs that students want to enrol in, that the economy needs in terms of workforce development and that those jobs are contributing to the priorities of the province of Nova Scotia in terms of where the economy or society is going," said Bureaux. In recent years, that's meant a "dramatic increase" in demand for training in the health-care and skilled trades sectors. Bureaux said students are coming to NSCC with the expectation that when they complete their training there will be a good job waiting for them in Nova Scotia. The provincial government has called on the college periodically to increase opportunities for programs such as continuing care assistants, early childhood education and in the construction trades to meet pressing employment needs in the province. Bureaux said the determining factor in whether those programs can accommodate more people comes down to a combination of available space, faculty and, in the case of skilled trades, available apprenticeship agreements. In some cases, program expansion can be accommodated through creativity. Some long-term care facilities that need workers have partnered with the college to provide learning space for students who could go on to become future employees. "They actually can be training on site with dedicated classrooms at their facilities that would allow for that integrated learning to happen," said Bureaux.
CBC
06-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.S. government outlines priority areas for research funding
Nova Scotia's advanced education minister has outlined the sectors he wants the provincial Crown corporation responsible for research to prioritize, and he wants proof his government is getting bang for its buck. A document from the department of Advanced Education Minister Brendan Maguire breaks the priorities for Research Nova Scotia into three categories: natural resources, climate change and clean energy; life sciences and health sciences; and construction and transportation. According to the agency's website, "the connection between research supported and economic benefit will need to be tangible and demonstrable." "Researchers and Research N.S. will need to show how the research they are conducting and funding is contributing to measurable changes in these [economic] outcomes in their reporting." Research Nova Scotia gets an annual transfer of about $4.6 million from the province. In the past five years, however, it's received an additional $50 million to help secure additional funding partners. Research funding commitments from the Crown corporation have ranged from $10 million to $20 million a year, according to officials. Changes connected to Bill 12 Maguire was not made available for an interview, but the directive from his department provides greater detail about changes first laid out in Bill 12, omnibus legislation the Progressive Conservative government introduced and passed during the recent winter session of the legislature. Although the bulk of the attention the bill received related to changes to universities, the legislation also included amendments to the Research Nova Scotia Corporation Act that give the minister of advanced education discretion to determine the province's key research priorities for the Crown agency. "This ensures that research priorities will now be directly communicated from the minister to Research Nova Scotia, guiding funding decisions," according to a government information sheet dated May 1. The act requires Research Nova Scotia officials to "develop and implement a strategic plan for how the priorities will be advanced through research." "For further clarity, all activities and funding provided by the corporation must align to the research priorities, as provided by the minister." The minister's directive also includes objectives and examples of research areas for each of the three priority sectors. Natural resources, climate change and clean energy: The objectives include ensuring "growth in sustainable and responsible development" of natural resources; strengthening exploration, mining, midstream processing of critical minerals and clean technologies; addressing the province's climate change needs and advancing clean energy solutions. Examples of research include resilient and efficient supply chains; sustainable mining practices and resource management; exploration, extraction, processing and recycling of critical minerals, including lithium and uranium; renewable energy technologies; carbon capture and storage; environmental science; oceans technology; and electrification and energy storage. Life sciences and health sciences: The objectives include improving health outcomes for humans, plants and animals, advancing the delivery of health care through research and learning by doing, and developing new methods to create materials, foods and other products using bioprocesses. Examples of research include medical technology, animal and plant health and innovation, biomaterials and bioproducts, artificial intelligence in health-care settings, oceans technology and food security and self-sufficiency. Construction and transportation: The objectives are to improve infrastructure to support population growth and increase the efficiency of movement of people and products. Research examples include sustainable and resilient construction technology, materials science, cellular and internet networks, innovative building materials, and urban and rural transportation solutions. 'Overarching outcomes' The document setting out the provincial research priorities also outlines "overarching outcomes" the government expects to achieve through its funding. There are seven key outcomes that fit into two groupings: Provincial productivity: "Increase technology development, uptake and use; increase knowledge and innovation diffusion into industry; and increased investment in tradable sectors and expansion of exports." Provincial economic growth: "Enhance commercialization of research, including retention and deployment of Nova Scotia intellectual property in the province; increase the number of highly-qualified personnel employed in Nova Scotia; increase investment in research and development in key sectors; and increase to [the] provincial GDP." According to the document, achieving these outcomes will require leveraging funding from other sources, such as the federal government, the private sector and through philanthropy.
CBC
25-04-2025
- Business
- CBC
University agreements with N.S. government outline funding, accountability rules
Nova Scotia's 10 universities have signed new agreements with the province that outline funding, accountability requirements and stipulations the schools must abide by to access some of the money. The two-year agreements, which have not yet been publicly posted, do not allow universities to increase tuition for Nova Scotia residents in undergraduate programs, but come with a two per cent increase in operating funds. However, there are no restrictions on funding increases for students coming to Nova Scotia universities from other provinces, international students or graduate students, a spokesperson for the department of advanced education told CBC News. According to a news release from the province, the 10 universities will see a boost of $7.7 million in the 2025-26 fiscal year, and $7.8 million the following year. However, some of that operating grant will be held back if certain universities don't meet certain targets. Those targets include filling at least 97 per cent of health program seats, ensuring housing is available for 15 per cent of students and that on-campus housing has a maximum vacancy rate of five per cent. The agreements also continue the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary program, which reduces tuition by $1,283 for Nova Scotian students with a full-time course load. Nova Scotian students will also be given preferred admission in undergraduate health and bachelor of education programs beginning Jan. 1, 2026. Universities will be required to increase work-integrated learning opportunities to ensure students have job-ready skills, the news release said. Program reviews Universities have previously expressed concern about Bill 12, legislation that would increase government oversight of schools, forcing them to align academic programs with the government's social and economic priorities, and allowing the minister of advanced education to appoint up to half of members on the board of governors. It appears that some of those priorities are reflected in the agreements. The news release says the agreements include a stipulation that universities must undergo a program review to ensure they "meet current educational standards, respond to labour market demands and are economically viable." An internal memo from Acadia University president Jeffrey Hennessy that was obtained by CBC News this week called program rationalization — which he said involves reducing or discontinuing programs with low labour market need, low utilization and high program costs — was "perhaps the most sweeping and impactful section of the agreement." The agreements also impose new financial reporting requirements that will be reviewed each year.
CBC
25-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Winter session at N.S. Legislature nears close as bills clear third reading
Social Sharing The end of the winter session at the Nova Scotia Legislature is within sight after multiple pieces of government legislation cleared third reading on Monday night at Province House. Bill 1, a controversial piece of omnibus legislation that saw intense public blowback, passed with amendments to two of its most contentious aspects. As previously promised, the government withdrew provisions that would have allowed it to fire the auditor general without cause and give cabinet ministers the power to suppress reports from the office. The government also amended changes to access to information laws so a government employee can't reject an application for being frivolous or vexatious without the approval of the province's privacy commissioner. Other aspects of Bill 1 that remain unchanged, however, include the end of fixed election dates, pay and expense increases for MLAs, and the ability for the government to fire non-unionized civil servants without cause. It's that last aspect of Bill 1 that received the most attention from opposition MLAs on Monday night. When a little controversy unites N.S. politicians 4 days ago Duration 3:33 It hasn't exactly been a conventional spring sitting in the House of Assembly. CBC's Jean Laroche and Michael Gorman explain how some controversial bills and amendments have created some unexpected unity. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said it has civil servants fearing for their jobs and it's affecting morale. People who have opposed the bill note it will mean civil servants outside a union will have less job protection than what is afforded long-serving retail workers through the provincial labour code. "It's the absolute worst message you could send to the civil service," Mombourquette said during debate. The minister responsible for the Public Service Commission, Twila Grosse, has said the government needs the flexibility to adapt the public service as necessary during the uncertain times of U.S. tariffs. Grosse has pledged that anyone who loses their job would be compensated beyond labour code requirements, but she's also said there are no plans for layoffs or reorganization within government. University bill passes third reading The government's legislation giving it more oversight of the province's universities also cleared third reading. Critics have said Bill 12 would allow the government to have more power over how universities function and who serves on boards, and risks interference in their independence and operations. But Advanced Education Minister Brendan Maguire has countered that the bill is instead about ensuring universities remain fiscally sustainable for the long term and are in a position to succeed. Maguire has said recommendations in a recent auditor general's report on university funding are in line with what the government is trying to achieve with Bill 12. He's repeatedly said the government does not intend to tell universities how to operate. Bill 21, which creates a mechanism to repeal legislation that has been passed but not proclaimed after a decade, cleared third reading. The families of two men killed outside bars following interactions with bouncers voiced concerns that the Security and Investigative Services Act could potentially be one of those pieces of legislation that will be repealed by Bill 21. Acting justice minister Barb Adams told the House on Monday night that the government has already made some changes to make cabarets safer and is committed to talking with the families about how to do more. She noted that no bills could be repealed before sometime in 2026. "It is also important to know that the appeal timeline can be extended, allowing for further consideration of any bill." NDP Leader Claudia Chender called on the government to follow through on Adams's pledge. "There are very few cabarets and there are very, very many bars where very many people drink lots of alcohol in our province and where there are fights," she said. She called on the government to extend the same changes relating to cabaret safety to all bars in Nova Scotia. Concerns about deed transfer tax, income assistance rates The government's legislation that is intended to break down interprovincial trade barriers passed third reading. Bill 36 would clear barriers between Nova Scotia and any other province willing to pass mirror legislation. The government was forced to amend the bill after provincial regulators noted it would unintentionally remove their ability to regulate who is coming to the province to work. The Financial Measures Act also cleared third reading. That bill has been criticized for the lack of a meaningful increase to income assistance rates and for an increase in the deed transfer tax to 10 per cent from five per cent for non-Nova Scotia residents purchasing a seasonal home. Last week, MLAs also passed an amendment to the act that will remove the rebate on the purchase of new vehicles manufactured by Tesla because of CEO Elon Musk's connection to U.S. President Donald Trump. Finally on Monday night, Bill 11 passed third reading. Among other things, the legislation will end the annual publication of a report on emergency department closures in the province. Health Minister Michelle Thompson has said the document is months old by the time it is published and more relevant, timely information about the state of emergency departments is available online for the public to consult.
CBC
18-03-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Faculty members, students pan Houston government's university restructuring plans
Faculty members and students are concerned changes being proposed by the Houston government could have severe consequences for Nova Scotia's 10 universities. Six of the seven people who appeared Tuesday before the Nova Scotia legislature's new public bills committee worried the changes proposed in Bill 12 would give the province too much control over what universities teach and what research they do. The proposed law would give the province — a key funding partner — greater control over university governance, the power to force universities deemed to be in financial trouble to come up with a revitalization plan, and the option of withholding funding if it were not happy with those plans. Peter McInnis, the president of the Canadian Association of University Teachers, which represents 75,000 members across Canada, warned committee members the process could result in fundamental changes. "Revitalization sounds perhaps innocuous or anodyne," McInnis said. "Like a trip to a day spa. But in reality, this revitalization could be severe for several reasons, including closing or amalgamating programs or the abrogation of existing collective agreements." McInnis said the Nova Scotia government was granting itself "unique" powers over universities. "This is a power accorded to no other province and would force universities to restructure according to government directions," he said. Cathy Conrad, president of the Saint Mary's University Faculty Union, said the proposal was already creating turmoil within her university. "Just yesterday, I was in a meeting with senior administrators at my university who have put pause on operations that are critical to engaging with equity, diversity and inclusion on our board and on search committees for senior academic members," Conrad told the committee. "Because in their opinion, we can't talk about anything until we see what's happening with Bill 12, because it's going to turn us upside down and inside out." Darryl Whetter, speaking on behalf of the association of university professors and librarians at Université Sainte Anne, called the bill an attempt "to create Soviet-style political control of research and teaching." Student leaders also sounded the alarm, suggesting provisions in the bill giving cabinet greater control over research grants were an attack on academic freedom, a concept Dalhousie University student Maren Mealy called "a cornerstone of higher education." "The bill gives the minister of advanced education the sole power to set provincial research priorities, requiring Research Nova Scotia to align its work with those priorities or risk losing funding," said Mealy. "This risks stifling academic freedom and devaluing research that doesn't align with whatever the government decides are its interests." Nova Scotia's auditor general recently issued a report critical of the lack of control over public funding to universities. A former senior bureaucrat was the lone voice Tuesday in support of the government's attempt to gain greater control over the money it gives universities. Former deputy minister Rick Williams told the committee of his frustrations dealing with the universities during his time in the senior government post between 2009 and 2013. "One issue that took a lot of my time over the four years was the state of the university system," said Williams. "As in 2010, we today confront a difficult reality — every one of our universities is too big to fail in its local community. "I support the government's intention to improve accountability and exercise more direct influence over decision-making in individual schools." But rather than current plans, Williams urged the government to establish a "planning process" similar to the 2014 Ivany commission on revitalizing Nova Scotia's economy. The aim would be to develop "a shared vision for a financially sustainable higher education system."
