Laurel Broten named NSBI CEO
Posted Jan 14, 2015 11:26:35 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Former Ontario cabinet minister Laurel Broten has been named the new president and CEO of Nova Scotia Business Inc.
A release from NSBI says Broten has “extensive experience in economic development and job creation,” and has worked in the public and private sectors.
She recently led a review of the province’s tax system, which recommended such controversial measures as eliminating the rebate on children’s clothing and lowering taxes for those earning more than $150,000 per year.
Her appointment to the NSBI role takes effect Jan. 26.
Kevin Lacey with the Canadian Taxpayers Federation wonders why Broten was hired.
“Being a Liberal should not disqualify you from working for the Nova Scotia government,” he said. “What should disqualify you is being a Liberal being your only qualification for working for the Liberal government.”
Lacey says Broten has no economic development experience, especially in this region.
In 10 years as a Liberal cabinet minister in Ontario, Broten served as education minister and minister of intergovernmental affairs, and practiced law in Toronto for 10 years before that.
NSBI board chair Janice Stairs says even though she’s only been in Nova Scotia 18 months, Broten knows the region better than anyone.
“She’s just recently completed the tax review, and in that process she did travel from one corner of the province to the other, top to bottom,” she said.
Broten says although she never held any economic or business development portfolios in office, she has a wealth of experience.
“I think I have 20 years of both public and private sector experience, and a good understand of the challenges we have here in Nova Scotia,” she said.
Stairs tells News 95.7 Broten will make $210,000 in salary as president and CEO of NSBI. Her predecessor, Stephen Lund, amde $237,000 in 2013.
Stairs says Broten’s compensation is lower than Lund’s due to a process of “give and take” based on the “skill set of the individual and also the ability of the organization to pay a certain salary package.”
She added, “in light of where we are today within the province, and the economic constraints we find ourselves in and NSBI in turn finds itself in, we feel we were very fortunate to be able to persuade Ms. Broten to join us for the compensation package she agreed to.”
