New legislation for ABCS no longer certain: minister
Government will proceed with legislation if needed, Tom Osborne says
Finance Minister Tom Osborne says the government is still pressing for agencies, boards and commissions to find long-term “efficiencies” and “savings,” but he is no longer firm on bringing in new legislation to force it.
In question period at the House of Assembly on Monday, Osborne said there has been a change in communications with organizations he considered previously unco-operative.
Agencies, boards and commissions include, but are not limited to, Nalcor Energy, Eastern Health and Memorial University of Newfoundland.
At a news conference in midnovember for the fall fiscal update, Osborne said legislation was coming for all agencies, boards and commissions, without providing any details of what it might contain.
“This legislation will be brought in. Whether it has an impact on this upcoming budget remains to be seen,” he told reporters at one point during that news conference.
Yet Osborne is far less clear now on whether or not some kind of related legislation will be introduced.
“Mr. Speaker, I will say I haven’t ruled it out, but what I am indicating is that I want results.
Whether that is through legislation or whether it’s through co-operation, we need results,” he said.
Osborne was responding to questions from Progressive Conservative MHA Keith Hutchings, who asked about the legislation, as there is not much time remaining if the Liberals were to introduce something this year, and ahead of Budget 2018.
Outside of the House, the minister was asked directly if the legislation relating to agencies, boards and commissions was being shelved.
“I wouldn’t say that. The reason I wanted the legislation was to get the dialogue that was necessary, to get the information that was necessary, to have cooperation that was necessary in order to try and find savings,” Osborne said.
“It’s important that we find efficiencies within agencies, boards and commissions. If we’re able to do that without legislation? Look, I’m after results. If it takes legislation in order to get there? Well then, we’ll look at legislation if necessary.”