Nova Scotia has decided not to privatize its three registries, saying it can cut citizens’ long wait times by improving technology rather than selling the registries off.
The Liberal government spent $825,000 studying a possible sell-off of the agencies – which register motor vehicles, companies and land purchases – before announcing Monday there were too many unanswered questions to proceed.
The consultants found the computer systems used by Service Nova Scotia are up to 20 years old and incapable of delivering services to citizens on their computers and smart phones.
But NDP Leader Gary Burrill said it was clear for years the agencies needed new technology, rather than multinational owners, and precious public money was spent studying a proposal that was dubious from the outset.
“The investment that was needed in the registries was one that should be taken through the public sector,” said Burrill.
“If your car needs brakes and exhaust, you don’t sell the car. If that’s the approach you take you’re going to be in trouble very soon.”
Service Nova Scotia minister Mark Furey maintained the money was well spent on consulting firm EY, formerly known as Ernst and Young, as well as on lawyers and a fairness monitor.
He said preliminary research and visits to Ontario indicated the study was worth continuing. He said that led to the hiring of a consultant that would seek proposals from companies interested in running the registries.
“Research and analysis … was required no matter which path we chose,” said Furey. “As such we required professional expertise in alternative service delivery.”
The study also concluded that Service Nova Scotia needs to improve its wait times, which average about 40 minutes in larger offices.
It noted clients were mostly satisfied, with 77 to 84 per cent saying they were content with the service they received.
However, Furey said the goal should be to start serving 80 per cent of clients within 20 minutes.
The minister said a key part of the problem was dated technology.
“Due to the age of the systems, there’s a high level of manual data entry at the access centre counters. This could be avoided with more modern systems, thereby reducing wait times,” he said.
The public agencies perform 2.5 million transactions a year and bringing in $150 million in revenues.
The province says it will issue a request for proposals to procure a new IT system to support the registry of joint stock companies.
It also says a plan will be developed to replace or update the IT systems supporting the land and motor vehicle registries.
Public sector unions in the province launched large advertising campaigns against the proposal to privatize the registries.
Furey said he considered the input from workers, but the union ad campaign wasn’t a factor in his decision.