Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston has decided to retract proposed amendments to the Auditor General Act following criticism that the changes would compromise the independence of the office, according to a statement made in the legislature on Monday.
The amendments, part of Bill 1 omnibus legislation, aimed to grant the government the authority to dismiss the auditor general without cause with two-thirds support from the House and allow cabinet ministers to keep certain audit information private. The Progressive Conservatives hold the majority of seats in the House.
Houston stated that after consulting with the Nova Scotia auditor general and her team, he no longer supports the proposed alterations. He clarified that the original changes were intended to modernize the office based on national best practices and not to alter the existing auditor general.
Opposition leaders welcomed Houston’s decision but criticized him for not providing details or the amendments beforehand. They suggested that public backlash and pressure led to the premier’s change of stance.
Auditor General Kim Adair expressed gratitude for the premier’s decision to withdraw the amendments, mentioning the overwhelming support her office received since the introduction of Bill 1. Houston acknowledged increased funding for Adair’s office in the recent budget and reiterated his commitment to a collaborative relationship.
While the amendments to the Auditor General Act have been withdrawn, other provisions in Bill 1, such as the power to dismiss non-unionized government employees without cause and the dissolution of Communications Nova Scotia, remain unchanged. Additionally, the legislation grants government officials the authority to reject frivolous or ambiguous freedom of information requests.
