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McNeil begins 2nd year of mandate, takes aim at public sector costs

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s Liberal government has opened the fall session of the legislature with a throne speech that takes aim at public sector labour costs.

The government, which was elected nearly a year ago, says unsustainable wage increases have exceeded the province’s ability to pay in recent years and added to the mounting debt.

The throne speech says that, as a result, there will be a slowdown in hiring.

The government says it is also considering whether some services can best be delivered by the private sector, although it does not specify which services are being examined.

One of the steps the government says it plans to take to reduce costs is cutting the number of health authorities from 10 to two.

The health minister says legislation to do that will be introduced Monday.

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Read the full text of the throne speech below:

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