ICD EVENTS TIMOTHY PORTER PHOTOS: STEPHEN MacGILLIVRAY Reworking government At the ICD’s fourth Premiers Series event, New Brunswick Premier BLAINE HIGGS sat down with CEO RAHUL BHARDWAJ and members of the Maritime chapter to discuss the value of well-trained directors, the push to diversify the province’s economy and the importance of removing politics from government decision-making MAY/JUNE 2019 19 ICD EVENTS New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs from issuing motor vehicle licences to people of the province. His stated mission appealed to members of the ICD to use organizing the annual draw for moose- boils down to changing the way New their “unique perspectives” and insights hunting licences. Brunswickers relate to and interact with to help his Progressive Conservative-led “It is through well-trained directors their government. Or as he puts it, “We minority government make the province who understand the importance of good need to change the way New Brunswickers stronger. governance and the role of directors that think about their government. Speaking to the Institute of our agencies will be stronger – and strong “Instead of always turning Corporate Directors’ Maritime chapter Crown agencies are critical to a strong to government to fix things, New in Fredericton on May 8, he noted that New Brunswick,” he said. Brunswickers need to stand up for this many in the room were board members Higgs said organizations such as province and ask: ‘How can I contribute? or senior staff of Crown agencies and the ICD can offer wise counsel to his How can I be part of the solution?’ ” Crown corporations. “The work you government, adding that members need Higgs said his challenge is convincing do is incredibly important to the future to make their voices heard. “You and your New Brunswickers to “do more with what of New Brunswick and realizing our members come from different sectors. You we have now.” collective potential,” he said. see the issues we are facing and – thanks Since forming government, New Brunswick’s Crown to your unique perspectives – have insight the Premier has focused on curbing corporations play vital roles as regulators into possible solutions. government spending. To the chagrin and service delivery agencies, and they “You need to challenge government of federal politicians, even joint are key revenue generators for the like never before,’’ the Premier said. “We infrastructure-funding arrangements financially struggling province. “It’s cannot let political barriers stifle what’s have met his chopping block. important for government to respect best for the province.’’ Many years retired from big arm’s-length [leadership], but not be Since forming New Brunswick’s first industry, Higgs hasn’t lost his zeal hands off with Crown agencies – the key minority government in nearly a century for plotting performance and results. word being Crown,” he told the audience. last November, Higgs – a former oil He contends greater scrutiny is The province’s more than 80 agencies industry executive and onetime provincial needed to determine whether a employ some 6,000 people and provide finance minister – is looking for a new project is worthwhile and whether hundreds of government services, style of working relationship with the the infrastructure can be maintained, 20 DIRECTOR JOURNAL ICD EVENTS Clockwise, from top left: New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs holds court at the ICD's fourth Premiers Series event; the audience is welcomed; attendees chat at the University of New Brunswick venue; and the Premier poses with ICD CEO Rahul Bhardwaj, centre right, and members of the Maritime chapter. before he can assess if a cost-sharing his mission, and the way to do so is to have to see when they look at New arrangement is a good deal for New separate service delivery from the policy Brunswick that we are a place to invest Brunswick. set down by politicians. because we have fiscal accountability “I don’t need to build another road “If doing the right thing can and a management structure.” that I don’t need,” he explained to the ICD actually be promoted, without it being Event moderator Rahul Bhardwaj, audience gathered on the campus of the tied to a political price, that will change president and CEO of the ICD, said the University of New Brunswick. “I want to the game,” Higgs said. Premier’s focus on more disciplined start building a future for the province.” The Premier recently appointed a spending is evident but he asked what Among the audience was ICD Fellow senior official in his office to manage is being done to diversify the province’s Ed Barrett, the chair of NB Power. Barrett government service delivery. “We’re economy. stood up during the question-and-answer not going to back down on this,” he New Brunswick has an abundance session and asked the Premier how the said. “We have timelines, we have of traditional, resource-based industries, province can achieve high performance ownerships, we have results to report and the Premier said his challenge is from public-sector boards. on, and we need someone accountable.” to manage the transition to a more “Many board members are there for Higgs’ government reshaping has technology-based economy. the right reasons but what they lack is what drawn criticism, particularly his use of “We have a stable economy that is I call the desire to be great,” Barrett said. private sector consultants who share traditional in many ways but provides The Premier acknowledged that he, his vision. In response, he has defended us with a good base,” he said. He cited too, has seen bureaucratic complacency their hiring, saying that the consultants, new investments in cybersecurity and at the board level. “If boards want to be who report directly to him, have a increased seafood exports to new, Far more functional, they need to be more different attitude and perspective from East markets as activities of which he is prescriptive on the types of individuals the view of regular public servants. A particularly proud. and skill sets they need,” said Higgs, who necessary move, Higgs argues, if this oversees the appointments to most public- small eastern province is to eliminate its sector boards. debt burden. TIMOTHY PORTER is a former journalist and He said stripping the politics from “We’re done giving money if you’re served as the Secretary to the Council of government decision-making is core to not getting results,” he said. “People Atlantic Premiers from 2012-17. MAY/JUNE 2019 21.