Qualified Person Program

1. Qualified Person Program The Nova Scotia Environment Experience Adrian Fuller & Christine Penney September 29, 2008 ENVIRONMENT

2. Presentation Objectives • Qualified Person Program Overview • What Challenges was Nova Scotia facing? • What Nova Scotia hoped to achieve? • How did we decide Next Steps? • How we moved from the current situation to results? • How are we doing now? • Key Elements of the Success of the Program • Current Challenges • Questions

3. Qualified Person Program Overview • Onsite Sewage Applications supported by selection/design by a Qualified Person (2000) • Role previously carried out by NSE staff • 2 types of Qualified Persons – QP 1 & 2’s • QP 2’s issued certificate of approval each year • QP 1’s are engineers, licensing through APENS

4. The Challenges Nova Scotia faced in the 1990’s? • 6,400 permits issued annually • Average waiting period of 4 to 6 weeks • Staff compliment was significantly reduced

5. The Challenges Nova Scotia faced in the 1990’s? • Great regulatory responsibility/liability on the Department • Little Enforcement ability • Heavy Supportive Structure – 23 Municipal Boards of Health

6. What Nova Scotia hoped to achieve?Outcomes • Cultural Shift for • Inspection staff • Industry • Increase capacity • Technical/Human • Improved Client Service • Turnaround times

7. Public Policy Consideration • Review of instruments • User fees • Behavioural Conscientiousness • Industry • Compliance • Approvals and auditing • Efficiencies • Public, Government, Industry

8. Public Policy Consideration • Review of instruments • User fees • Behavioural Conscientiousness • Industry • Compliance • Approvals and auditing • Efficiencies • Public, Government, Industry

9. The Move from Situation to Results • Administrative Changes Necessary • New Regulations -1997 • Repealed Boards of Health • New Approach • Private Sector Participation • Define private sector capabilities

10. The Move from Situation to Results • Increase staff capacity • 50 (1997) to 72 (2008) • Time to Transition • 3 years for Phase 1 • Still evolving

11. How are we doing now? Enforcement required has decreased

13. How are we doing Now? The number of Approvals issued since 2000 has decreased by 31% based on 2008 projections

15. How are we doing Now? • Turnaround Times have Decreased by 92% since 2001 Turnaround times have decreased by 92% since 2000 and continue to do so

17. Keys Elements to the Programs Continued Success • Setting Targets • Business Plan • Corporate Initiatives • Better Business • Competitive & Compliance • Continuous Improvement Model • Constant Re-evaluation of the program

18. Keys Elements to the Programs Continued Success • Demonstrated Commitment to Industry • Annual Engagement Opportunity • Memorandum of Understanding (2003) with Waste Water Nova Scotia

19. Keys Elements to the Programs Continued Success • Supportive Policies/Infrastructure • Update to guidelines 2000, 2004 & 2006 • Revisions to regulation in 2007 • EIMAS 2000 • Ensuring Compliance • On-Site Services Advisory Board • Streamlined approval and auditing process

20. Current Challenges • Continue to decrease Approval turnaround times • Consistency in program delivery • Administrative Burden on Industry/Public/Staff • Revising Performance Target

21. Thank youQUESTIONS ?