BILL NO. 277

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
1 Charles III, 2023

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Civil Service Act (amended)
and
Conflict of Interest Act (amended)

 

The Honourable Zach Churchill
Yarmouth

First Reading: March 28, 2023

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Notes

Clause 1 amends the Civil Service Act to prohibit setting the rate of compensation for new hires in executive positions in Nova Scotia’s Civil Service at a rate greater than that established by the regulations or under a collective agreement.

Clause 2

(a) amends the Conflict of Interest Act to require a person being considered for a senior managerial role as a public employee to undergo a screening interview with the Conflict of Interest Commissioner; and

(b) requires the Commissioner to make a summary of the interview public when the person is hired.

Clause 3 requires the Commissioner to review the Act annually and make a written report respecting the review public.

An Act to Amend Chapter 70
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Civil Service Act, and
Chapter 35 of the Acts of 2010,
the Conflict of Interest Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Chapter 70 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Civil Service Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 34 the following Section:

34A Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, where a person is hired for an executive position, including on an interim basis, the rate of compensation set for that person may not be in excess of the rate set for that position in accordance with the regulations or a collective bargaining agreement.

2 Chapter 35 of the Acts of 2010, the Conflict of Interest Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 22 the following Section:

22A (1) In this Section, “executive hire” means a person being considered for a position as a public employee in a senior managerial role and includes a person being considered for a position as a deputy minister, associate deputy minister, assistant deputy minister, chief executive officer or executive director.

(2) The Commissioner shall conduct a screening interview with each executive hire before an offer of employment is made to the executive hire.

(3) An interview under subsection (2) must include disclosure by the executive hire of any previous interactions, business relationships and personal relationships with any member of the Executive Council.

(4) An interview under subsection (2) may include disclosure or discussion of any other matter that the Commissioner considers appropriate.

(5) The Commissioner shall make a summary of an interview under subsection (2) public upon the executive hire accepting an offer of employment for the senior managerial role.

(6) Where the Commissioner makes a summary public under subsection (5), Section 10 applies with necessary changes.

3 Chapter 35 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 35 the following Section:

35A The Commissioner shall initiate a review of this Act annually and make a written report respecting the review available to the public.

 

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