Surplus Crown Property Report Tabled

More than $1.2-million was returned to the provincial treasury in 2008-09 through the province's annual disposal of surplus Crown property.

The province's Surplus Crown Property Disposal Report was tabled today, Oct. 15, in the legislature. It outlines how surplus materials were disposed of during the 2008-09 fiscal year.

The Computers for Schools Program received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of used computer equipment from the province. The equipment will be refurbished and put into schools throughout Nova Scotia. The list of donated equipment this year includes 1,987 computer CPUs and 212 laptops, plus hundreds of pieces of assorted equipment such as keyboards, monitors, printers, drives, docking stations, speakers and computer mice.

"In the computer world it takes about 15 nanoseconds for equipment to get out of date," said Bill Estabrooks, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. "Keeping our gear up to date is crucial for vital government services but, thanks to the Computers for Schools Program, the retired equipment is still providing benefits to our students and teachers around the province.

Although the Computers for Schools Program is the main beneficiary of used government equipment, many smaller, non-profit organizations request and receive surplus items of all types. Chairs, tables, desks, and filing cabinets are the most common donations, but the report outlines a wide variety of donations to 77 different non-profit organizations. These range from the small (an in/out box to the Inverness Development Association), to the medium (a ride-on lawnmower to the Upper Hammonds Plains Cemetery Committee), to the large (a tractor to the Cape Breton Federation of Agriculture).

David Dewar, curator of the Wallace and Area Museum, said donations through the Surplus Crown Property Act have been vital to his operation.

"We were at the limit as to what we could spend so these donations have been a big help," said Mr. Dewar. "Our building is the home of an old shipyard owner, filled with interesting items that we were unable to store properly. The donated equipment will help us do a better job of protecting and presenting our wonderful collection."

The report provides details of the $1,395,582.57 in gross revenue raised by surplus sales. Public auctions($908,859.72) were the largest revenue generators, followed by land sales ($467,003.95).

Surplus items are distributed under the authority of the Surplus Crown Property Disposal Act. All profits are used to help pay down the provincial debt.

The report is available on the Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal website at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/publications/SCPDR_2008-9.pdf