News Release Archive
BUSINESS/CONSUMER SERVICES--TAX COMMISSION STAFF TRANSFERRED ----------------------------------------------------------------- As a result of the Harmonized Sales Tax agreement with the federal government, 31 Provincial Tax Commission employees will begin new careers with Revenue Canada in April. Shortly after the initial Harmonized Sales Tax agreement was signed, Provincial Tax Commission employees were invited to declare their interest in transferring to Revenue Canada. Those who did attended sessions in which the federal department outlined what it was offering and the associated timetable. They were also given the option of having individual discussions with representatives from Revenue Canada, the Tax Commission and Human Resources professionals. Over the next four years, Revenue Canada will employ 70 people from the Provincial Tax Commission. The first 31 from Nova Scotia received letters of offer yesterday and have 14 days in which to accept or reject the offer. "Protecting jobs for our employees is a high priority. All of our negotiations and interaction with staff were accompanied by frequent and in-depth consultations with the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union," said Business and Consumer Services Minister Sandy Jolly. "Situations like this, in which there is a major change in government policy yet no jobs are lost, are uncommon." "We are confident that the employees who are leaving our department have made an informed choice," said Minister Jolly. "They have been provided with their options and given every opportunity to get information so they could make the decision that is right for them. They were also provided with expert advice regarding pension transfer." The province has negotiated with Revenue Canada to ensure the federal department will recognize earned but unused vacation and sick leave credits of provincial employees and will recognize years of provincial employment as continuous employment in the federal public service for the purposes of special leave arrangements such as maternity leave allowance. In addition, provincial employees hired by Revenue Canada will be given the opportunity to transfer their pension credits. Because of the injection of staff from the three provinces, Revenue Canada will be able to double its efforts on underground economy initiatives. "We see the harmonization agreement as an opportunity to devote more resources to responding to the underground economy," said Roy Jamieson, director of communications for Revenue Canada in Halifax. "We are now in the process of developing strategies to do so." -30- Contact: David MacNeil 902-424-2933 trp Mar. 27, 1997 - 2:05 p.m.