Public Sector Organizations to Begin Compensation Reporting

Nova Scotians will have even more access to information about government spending as public sector organizations begin reporting on compensation.

The Public Sector Compensation Disclosure Act, which passed in December 2010, requires more than 100 public sector organizations to report compensation over $100,000. For most of these bodies, the deadline is Sept. 30.

"This reporting improves transparency of government spending and gives Nova Scotians access to information about the important public services they value," said Finance Minister Maureen MacDonald. "We anticipate organizations will begin reporting this month and continue until the deadline."

Public sector organizations include district health authorities, school boards, universities, and Crown corporations.

Under the act, public sector organizations whose fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 must report by Sept. 30. Organizations whose fiscal year ends Dec. 31 must report by June 30, 2013. Organizations may report any time before the deadline. The information must be disclosed in an audited statement and must be posted to a publicly-accessible website.

Nova Scotia joins British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario in requiring this type of disclosure from public sector organizations.