HALIFAX, NS: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation (CTF) has determined the number of public servants earning $100,000 or more has ballooned by 26 per cent since just last year. The numbers are the result of an analysis conducted by the CTF of the Nova Scotia Public Accounts – Supplementary Accounts for fiscal years ending March 31st, 2010 and March 31st, 2011.
“With the Province projecting a $390 million dollar deficit and each and every Nova Scotian paying more in taxes, the government shouldn’t be increasing the number bureaucrats earning $100,000 by 26 per cent, it just doesn’t make any sense,” says Kevin Lacey, Atlantic Director with the CTF.
The CTF estimates the total number of provincial Nova Scotia employees earning over $100,000 in 2010-11 is 445, an increase of 92 compared to 2009-10 when there were 353. The departments, which saw the largest percent increase in the number of employees earning more than $100,000 are the Department of Health and Wellness, Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Affairs and Department of Transportation.
Despite Finance Minister Graham Steele announcing a 1 per cent public sector salary freeze to control administrative costs, costs have continued to escalate.
“It’s high time the government examine its administrative costs. Nova Scotia is the highest tax jurisdiction in all of Canada, it’s time to cut the size of government, and curtail the huge increase in employees making $100,000 or more,” concluded Lacey.
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