to Prermier of Nova Scotia re student de

Premier Hamm;

With twenty years in working closely with consumers, in investments, lending and consumer credit, I can say that I have a good solid understanding of what provincial government statistics hide, and what maladministration exists as a consequence of some of the government's its' employment initiatives, particularly in its' spin-offs into 'parasitical' markets.

How do we know that the unemployment statistic quoted in the Halifax media is an accurate report of people who are unemployed and looking for gainful employment in Nova Scotia? How much higher is the unemployment rate provincially, excluding the Halifax urban employment, which includes many, many of the young from these highly unemployed, small Nova Scotia towns? I don't think the job and unemployment statistics that the Premier's office are flogging, records the problems caused by unemployment to individuals who remain unemployed and looking for work.

Further, are the many small business who don't collect or contribute to unemployment insurance, and who are underemployed, or unemployed, tracked in this statistic? How does a government define small business in Nova Scotia? The support for one person businesses isn't there. Does a small business need to employ , for example, five people? I surely see 'small business' growth in high rate 'loan stores' and payday loan stores which certainly have a captured market in this Province, in spite of the Premiers 'statistics'. . I see a very healthy distress sale and foreclosure market.

What about the unemployment created by government programs such as the student loan program, which can has an adverse affect on a self employed individuals ability to obtain gainful employment, and can negatively affect the desire and ability to obtain a good, well paying job?

Indeed the 'student loan' aftermarket creates all manner of employment for collection agencies and bailiffs and even cops? Is this what the Premier means by booming small employment??
Student debt factors, such as poor credit histories resulting from inability to pay back these student loans, obliterate the possibility of the 'enhanced reliability' required by so many private sector and government jobs, and will continue to be a significant unemployment factor. Most people go to university to obtain jobs which require 'enhanced reliability', and the government's student debt process often maliciously and libelously ruins credit histories.

Indeed, many former university students are damaged by poor credit generated by a poorly administered student loan interest relief program, where delays in processing student debt interest relief is recorded as poor credit, often when it is an administration problem, not the fault of the debtor. These defaulting student debtors may not even get 'out of the gate' in their job search.

If there is one area where statistics should be questioned, it is surely in the area of post university unemployment, the statistics of which are more likely than not hiding a huge and growing unemployment problem.


Sincerely,

Peter Ewert, Urban Planning & Design Services
Mail to: 3421 St. Andrew's Ave., Halifax, NS B3L 3Y2
Studio: 3419 St. Andrew's Ave., Halifax, NS (Brass drop box at entrance)
Telephone: (902) 453-9316
Fax to e-mail: (902) 484-6955

Thank you for your comments, Johnny. I agree. My income tax refund was seized. The refund resulted from the automatic 10% withholding tax on an old pension annuity that I negotiated into a cash surrender value. I used it to pay my parents some of the money I owe them for keeping me housed. I expected the withholding tax to follow in January,2005, but it took until this month for the Federal SDC Collections to approve a cessation to what they refer to as 'OFFSET SEIZURES'.

To date this refund which I have recently received is my only income.

I agree, Buff. I was just entering grad school at TUNS when Dal absorbed TUNS in 1996-7. The salaries of TUNS staff was the highest in the city, and of course the unions for the acadmemic staff at Dal went on strike for wage parity with TUNS. No doubt SMU and the MSVU are at par now, as well. This seems to be the most substantial cost of education.

Ironically, many undergrad classes were taught by grad students during my undergrad at SMU when there was a glut of 'Ph.D.'s available to teach. The point is that there hasn't much improvement for students in spite of tuition increases.

Fewer 'locals' in Nova Scotia are attending university here now, and the local universities now are trying to attract more international students who apparently are more willing to pay their high tuition.

The university tuition increases make the bank goonery in the student loan program that much more eggregious, and the federal and provincial government ignore maladministration caused by their bank student loan providers.

You never hear of the universities sticking up for former university students who are being treated poorly by these banking entities. The university administrators don't seem to care about the problems they help create, and abet, in the student loan program, as long as they get their tuition.

I have had to take my complaints of bank and bank agent harrassment, maladministration, and false credit reporting to the provincial ombudsman because of the incredible lack of action by the provincial bureaucrats in the Provincial department responsible for credit and harrrassment complaints in my student loan problem.

I am glad that I have documented thjis bizarre nightmare and have provided valid records of my complaints to the Ombudsman.

This Hamillton character, the responsible bureaucrat for enforcing consumer protection at Service Nova Scotia should be replaced, along with several rather incompetent staff she employs..

Hi;

Thanks for your comments.


I am past wondering why, Johnny.

I took my complaints to the provincial ombudsman's office and so another delay.

I told the banks early on that I was going to look to them for my damages.

If I have to take my complaints to court, I will need to prove my complaints in a very well supported manner.

I have fully documented my complaints of maladministration, libel, and another very serious matter which remains unresolved.

Directly to directly to ... I say I say Boy. lol. Sorry for the repetition.

Let me have a look at your paperwork. I will help you out.

Johnny