Editorial

Nova Scotians have a plan finally for expanding the earning power of under-qualified workers, and it comes in the form of Conserve Nova Scotia.

While Premier MacDonald has yet to announce formally the true mandate of this new program, he made his intentions clear by hiring his former chief-of-staff, Heather Foley Melvin, to serve as CEO for Conserve N.S. Ms. Foley Melvin’s new role as head plank of the province’s energy conservation platform is surprising, considering her background in marketing and advertising in the automotive industry.

How a keen understanding of car sales and miles-per-gallon relate to this new position has yet to be explained, and don’t expect much in terms of elaboration anytime soon.

Both Foley Melvin and MacDonald have remained tight-lipped regarding the circumstances surrounding her new job except to admit that she will rake in a hefty six-figure salary.

Foley Melvin was appointed MacDonald’s chief-of-staff in February and a week after the June 13 election was promoted to head Conserve N.S. without any advertisement or competition from other undoubtedly more qualified persons.

Despite repeated requests for more details, the premier and Foley Melvin refuse to give in, citing privacy and the personal nature of the conversation that led to the controversial posting. NDP MLA Graham Steele grilled Foley Melvin last week to get her to explain how she landed the job. Foley Melvin evaded the questions and indicated she was above having to answer to Steel or anyone else.

But the outspoken NDP MLA pointed out that, as a “highly-paid public servant,� Foley Melvin didn't get to decide what information should or should not be released. At issue here is more than one appointee’s dubious qualifications, but also the fact that she was relieved of her duties as the premier’s chief-of-staff the very day this new 'Conserve' portfolio was created.

Foley Melvin was unable to fulfill her duties as chief-of-staff, but was deemed an appropriate selection with the energy efficiency agency that hadn’t even been created yet, with a salary of $131,13.82 of taxpayer’s money and a budget of more than $10 million for starters.

Opposition members are claiming Foley Melvin has already spent a small fortune hiring consultants to do work she’s supposed to be capable of performing.

The words “culture of entitlement� were used ad nauseum as a critique of the Liberal party leading up to the 2006 election, and now the Conservatives are forced to choke down their own rhetoric. It’s hard to believe the premier when he insists he “wanted to get the best possible person for the job,� even though there was never any intention of posting the position to the public.

MacDonald should have provided an opportunity for Foley Melvin to prove herself by making the position open to the same public that funds it, and appointing her only after the traditionally accepted avenues of evaluation, such as consideration of all applicants, were utilized.

The premier’s office refused to comment on further plans to appoint other automotive marketing and advertising specialists to key positions within the Conservative party, but these recent events are a beacon of hope to like-minded workers throughout the province.

So don’t worry; there will likely be more opportunities for political wannabes. Work hard in the political arena, make connections and soon enough you’ll land a career you didn't earn, with credentials you don’t have and responsibilities you can’t handle.



- The Hants Journal