Source: Communications NS

The man in charge of Invest Nova Scotia, who’s also a “personal friend” to Premier Houston, is stepping down less than a month after assuming the role.

Executive Chair Tom Hickey gave his notice to Houston Wednesday, who shared in a statement that he “reluctantly accepted.”

Houston came under fire from NDP leader, Claudia Chender, following Hickey’s appointment in July for what she called “finding jobs” for his friends.

“Now, it seems that the premier thinks that his personal friends deserve to make $1500 a day, while many Nova Scotian’s don’t deserve to make $15 an hour,” Chender said during a July 28 sitting of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly.

Invest NS is a Crown corporation which infuses Nova Scotian entrepreneurial ideas with cash, with the condition that it sparks innovation and is collaborative, measurable and sustainable.

“Public service, in all of its forms, requires great sacrifice from those who take on the challenge, and I appreciate Mr. Hickey’s candour in assessing his capacity to make the sacrifices necessary to provide the level of attention that Invest Nova Scotia requires,” Houston said in his statement. “I want to thank him for his long career of service to the province.”

Economic Development Minister, Susan Corkum-Greek, and the department will lead Invest Nova Scotia until the position is filled.