Effective September 1, NSAC will become the Faculty of Agriculture at Dalhousie University.

Legislation background

The Dalhousie University—Nova Scotia Agricultural College Merger Act was introduced in the Nova Scotia legislature on May 8, 2012.

A full version of the bill will be available at the legislature website. All bills go through a series of debates before being passed, a process that normally takes between one and three weeks.

Legislation is only required for certain aspects of the merger. The merger agreement will contain technical details related to property, finances, employees, and academics and research. Other aspects of the transition will be dealt with informally.

Both the legislation and agreement remain consistent with the terms of the agreement in principle that was announced at NSAC on March 23.

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Overview of the Act – Key Clauses

  • The purpose of the act is to provide for and facilitate the merger of NSAC with Dalhousie.
  • The act provides for the Minister to enter into an agreement with Dalhousie.
  • The legislation says NSAC will merge with Dalhousie on the effective date. The government and Dalhousie have agreed that the effective date will now be September 1, 2012.
  • The Minister may transfer funds, assets or liabilities from the Province to Dalhousie, as outlined in the agreement.
  • The Minister and Dalhousie will continue to have access to dairy quota.
  • The Minister may transfer or disclose personal information to Dalhousie for the purpose of the Act.

Employee Provisions

  • Designated employees will be officially employed by the merged university on the effective date, by agreement to be September 1, 2012. At that time, they will cease to be members of the civil service.
  • Continuity of employment is not broken. Past service in the government will be recognized by the merged university.

Collective bargaining

  • The merged university is bound by a designated employee’s existing collective agreement as if it were a party to the collective agreement.
  • If notice of collective bargaining has been given before the merger date, the merged university will become the employer for the purpose of concluding and signing a collective agreement.

Pension

  • Designated employees will continue to be members of the Public Service Superannuation Plan. Service in the employment of the government and the merged university will be counted toward their pensions.
  • The Supplementary Employee Retirement Plan, or SERP, will not apply to Dalhousie.

NSAC Foundation

  • The Nova Scotia Agricultural College Foundation is dissolved and its property becomes part of the Dalhousie University Foundation. Dalhousie will continue to honour the terms of all current and future gifts to NSAC or the Faculty of Agriculture.