Latest news with #KimAdair
Global News
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Rise in school violence across Nova Scotia leads province to update code of conduct
The Nova Scotia government has released an updated code of conduct for students in response to a spike in school violence. Education Minister Brendan Maguire says the code sets clear and consistent direction in the education system and also details consequences for those who violate the rules. For years teachers unions have called on the province to update its code of conduct, and last year the auditor general reported that training and prevention measures have failed to keep pace with the jump in violent behaviour in schools. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Auditor general Kim Adair said there had been a 60 per cent increase in reported school violence since 2017 and that staff had said they felt unprepared to deal with the concerning trend. Included in the revised code of conduct, scheduled to go into effect in September, are stronger definitions of unacceptable behaviour, such as racism, bullying and cyberbullying, sexual assault and physical violence. Story continues below advertisement The province has also created guidelines for teachers and administrators that list disciplinary measures for a variety of offences. As well, all school network employees will have a duty to report incidents to the Education Department, which will track the data. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 29, 2025.
CBC
11-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
N.S. auditor general calls out billions in spending outside budget process
Social Sharing Nova Scotia's auditor general is continuing her fight for more accountability over government spending that isn't approved by the legislature. Kim Adair says spending outside the official budget process has hit $7 billion over the last decade. Her new report released Tuesday says the government spent $1.38 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year that wasn't first authorized by a majority vote in the legislature. Adair says that extra-budget spending — called "additional appropriations" by the government — accounted for 8.2 per cent of the government's total expenditures in 2023-24, compared to only 1.3 per cent in the 2014-15 fiscal year. She says that in four of the past five fiscal years, government revenues exceeded budget forecasts — affording the governing party money to spend that isn't approved by the legislature. For the third consecutive year, Adair is recommending changes to the province's Finance Act that would give more oversight authority to the legislature, something the government has refused to do.
