BILL NO. 153

(2) The Small Business Service Agency shall be presided over by the Minister of Service Nova Scotia who has the supervision, direction and control of all affairs and matters relating to the Agency and who shall supervise the performance of the functions of the Agency.

(3) The Governor in Council may appoint a person to be Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Service Agency who shall be paid such salary as the Governor in Council determines and who shall perform such duties as are from time to time prescribed by the Governor in Council.

(4) Such other officers and employees as are required for the purposes of the Small Business Service Agency may be appointed pursuant to the Civil Service Act and that Act applies to those employees.

(5) Employees already appointed pursuant to the Civil Service Act may be transferred or seconded to the Small Business Service Agency with the approval of the Minister of the Public Service Commission.

25O (1) It is the function of the Small Business Service Agency to

(a) streamline and co-ordinate government services provided to businesses having fifty or fewer employees to minimize the requirements for those businesses to interact with Government departments, offices and agencies;

(b) assist the owners and operators of businesses having fifty or fewer employees to secure all necessary permits and licences to operate those businesses and to otherwise comply with Provincial Government operating requirements;

(c) facilitate and promote a co-ordinated approach within Government to the provision of services to small businesses and work with municipal and federal agencies to streamline services in order to reduce the regulatory burden on small businesses;

(d) develop advice and provide support to Government on matters involving the provision of services to small businesses; and

(e) carry out such other duties as are assigned to the Small Business Agency by the Governor in Council or by statute.

25P (1) The Minister of Service Nova Scotia shall submit annually to the Executive Council a report for the previous fiscal year setting out the outcomes respecting the priorities and programs set out in the business plan adopted for the Small Business Service Agency.

(2) The Minister of Service Nova Scotia shall table the annual report in the Assembly, if the Assembly is then sitting, or, if the Assembly is not sitting, file it within fifteen days with the Clerk of the Assembly.