What did the NDP accomplish for Nova Scotia families?
The first session of the legislature under the NDP majority government has come to an end and to their credit they served a little over a month. What did they accomplish for Nova Scotia families?
They passed a budget that cost Nova Scotians an additional 300+ million dollars over the previous Tory government, while suggesting that it was the Tory budget they passed. During this time they passed a motion to suspend the debt payment from funds the off-shore deal secured by former Premier MacDonald has brought to our province. This was the real reason they gave for defeating the Tory government.
The NDP, upon election, immediately axed the tax on our electrical bills and almost immediately dismissed the department dealing with energy studies and appointed a new committee to do the same work. The only difference is the appointment of a new director and a committee under another name that will be paid for by, you guessed it, you the tax payer on your electrical bill. They also cancelled the heating subsidy program for fuel assistance that the previous government had in place for a number of years. Yes they gave in one hand and took it back with the other.
The utility and review board are now controlling the pricing of gas at the pumps. Have you noticed anything different other than we are now paying a high price for the utility and review board services.
They promise immediate end to emergency health care shortages and have responded with closures all over the province. Yes folks they do not have the medical practitioners to avoid closures ; however they did find the money to appoint a 135,00 a year man to carry out a study to fix the problem. Do they not understand that practitioner shortages and a bloated bureaucratic system is the problem?
I also found it amusing that a NDP member , Stirling Beliveau ,looking for a cabinet position was able to obtain a loan from the fishermans loan board ( a department that he administers as fisheries minister ) for a friend to buy his fisheries operation that the loan board had funded for him..Would this be double conflict of interest ?
Perhaps most alarming has been the free ride that the media has given them during the first few months, then again the socialist media put them in power so it will be awhile before they come out from under their blanket of hypocrisy..
Cannot District 2 News give Gary Hines a page for himself so that if we want to read his rantings, we would have the option of doing so. Opening up District 2 News & seeing his writings is not one of my likings. Keep politics in a separate political section. Thank you
You say “the socialist media put them in power”, does that include District 2 news? I’m not surprised you blame someone other than the PC party, they were powerless to prevent an NDP majority, IMHO. There was nothing any PC could do.
But to blame the media suggests people listen to the media rather than think for themselves. Mostly, I think the media were simply repeating what they heard candidates say. If pundits or commentators offer their opinion, I’m pretty sure people can tell the difference between opinion and fact.
Personally, I think voters made their choices based on that governments lack of progress. I think the people expected more and were disappointed. They may be again, I think it’s too early to say. I’m waiting to see the next budget; I find magic tricks very entertaining. But to balance a budget without new cuts or taxes, with growth limited by the recession? Penn & Teller will be taking notes I expect. So, it’s not in what the NDP have done, its in what they haven’t done, at least yet.
In the short term, I hope the H1N1 situation is under control. I don’t know anyone panicking yet, but I also suspect there is much more to come. Again its too early to say, but we’ll see before 2010.
Edna, this is his own page under columns.
Hi Tyler – since this is Gary’s own page under “columns” – why does it go out to (I suppose everyone). If I wanted to read about him, I would open http://www.district2news & read it. I just don’t like receiving anything other than news of the areas – what’s happening.
Edna, our feeds from feedburner pull in all content posted (I believe this is what you are referring to).
In the future we will be posting the Column title in with the article title, so you will know in advance that it is a column.
Brian Mulrooney wants us to believe there was nothing sinister in receiving $300k in cash in brown envelopes. Rodney Macdonald wants us to believe everything was above board when he appointed his “secretary” to a $140 k civil service job. Gary Hines wants us to believe it was the socialist media who put the NDP in power in NS.
What do these three conservatives have in common— a complete disdain for the intelligence of the people of this district/ province / country.
Thank you media for bringing these things into the open and for putting the NDP in power in NS.
And how many seats did Brian and Rodney and Gary win in their first elections after they betrayed our trust and intelligence???? We can certainly do with out these 3 but we cannot do without investigative journalism.
Barry, Obviously your glass is still half empty not half full.I appreciate you are intelligent and can find something negative to espouse about Mulroney , Mac Donald and myself. Why do you not give a shout out to the positives like Mulroney on free trade, MacDonald on 860 million plus on offshore royalties and crown share and myself on being part of the groups providing much needed infrastructure for recreational facilities for our region?
I just pointed out the areas of concern regarding the new governments attempts to blame the PC government for their first budget and addressedsome inefficiencies of their new policies that the media have let slide. Does it really matter who pointed these issues out or are you choosing to extend a blind eye when I am the messenger?
Oh , by the way, we were able to open the Dome for ice services with a little help from my friends, Rodney and Peter ; time will tell if Darrell and Percy are as supportive . After all they got elected pledging to help Nova Scotia families.
Gary, a question – why are you crediting MacDonald with the offshore revenues and not Hamm?
Hi Bradley,
There were two offshore treasures from successive PC governments. John Hamm delivered 820 million and Rodney renegotiated and delivered on the original offshore deal of some 860 million and counting known as the crown share.Hope thisanswers your question. Bradford I looked at your profile and wondered how you counted Sarah Palin in with your Liberal friends? Perhaps it is her good looks!!
Thanks, I think I understand better now. However, not everyone thinks the new MacDonald deal is better than the older Hamm deal (Danny Williams? Bill Casey?).
I think Sarah Palin would better represent the Republicans federally in the U.S. I think conservatives ought to act (more?) conservatively, and she’s a good example. Good for her.
You may have also gathered from my profile that I lean Liberal. But I don’t want a 1-party system. I want a functioning multi-party system with different views and real choices, not just different labels on essentially the same thing. Which is how I feel about Dexter’s actions currently – how different are they from what MacDonald proposed and was defeated upon? I didn’t vote for that in the provincial election, but now I’ve got it anyway. Different label, same action.
I’m still looking for some evidence to support the socialist media claim, BTW. Example?
Great to see such fluid conversation here.
Bradley, You are correct Bill Casey did not fully understand the complexity of the offshore settlement negotiated by Rodney and Cecil Clarke that brought the Crown share to our province, something that successive premiers and prime ministers were unable to deliver. This deal brought a 860 million new money and established a gift that keeps on giving. There is also an opt out clause that would give the province an opportunity to return to the old agreement should it be more beneficial economically in years to come.
Danny Williams , on the other hand continues to reap benefits from an agreement that he was prepared to walk away from . Only for John Hamm, Cecil Clarke andLoyola Sullivan , Danny was prepared to walk and I suppose ,take down the flag again in protest. The night the deal was signed Danny was leaving to cease negotiations and come home but sanity at the table prevailed. Today as a result Danny claims victory and wines when he can’t get special treatment with equalization payments just because he is Danny in Newfoundland !
The bottom line is Rodney got the cash for Nova Scotians.
Regarding my claim that socialist media helped elect the NDP government one must only look at the attacks on Rodney and his government that delivered economic growth in 2008/2009 ; one of only two provinces to do so in times of economic decline in the world at large. More specifically, the media attacked Rodney personally, something they avoided regarding other politicians of all stripes. They also failed to make Darrell Dexter accountable on a promise to reveal 100% of his campaign contributions public before the election; something that the other two parties did. To this day the NDP has not been accountable on this one despite new legislation on future election funding. Must I continue. Oh by the way have the NDP promises worked out to date?
Gary: tell us who is out of touch with reality:
A)-The 85% of Canadians who chose to vote the Conservatives into near political Oblivion in 1993, after Mulrooney was forced to resign as leader.
B)-The 75% of Nova Scotians who chose to soundly defeat Rodney and his party (incl you), placing them third
C)-The majority of Newfoundlanders who gave Danny Williams a significant Majority in 2008
D)-The majority of electors in Cumberland / Colchester who elected Bill Casey as an independent in the last fed election?
E)-YOU!!!
It is very difficult to solve the problem if you do not admit there is a problem.
For the record this province is in a deficit position due to the serious mismanagment of successive Conservative and Liberal governments over several decades. The fiscal mismanagement took root under former Premier Gerald Regan and blossomed under former Premier John Buchanon. To now characterize this problem as something created by the NDP in the last few months since being elected is to either ignore historical fact or to be intentionally misleading.
Gary, like most, if not all politicians, is incapable of admitting to errors of any kind because it is not the most “politically correct” thing to do. Like the previous Liberal and Conservative governments before him Rodney MacDonald’s government made serious mistakes. This more than any conspiracy by the media cost him the election. In fact, it is well documented that the lead at ATV, Steve Murphy, engaged in suspect journalism during the last federal election when he took advantage of former Liberal leader Stephane Dion. His actions can hardly be termed a conspiracy by the “left wing” media. Another so called independent news personality, Mike Duffy, was recently appointed to the Senate by the Conservative government. More conspiracy by the “left wing” media I suppose.
The problem with former Premier MacDonald was primarily two fold. Firstly he appeared to be overmatched in the position. He did not have what it took to be a great leader. He could be excused for this because when looking at his professional and personal resume there was nothing in his background to indicate that he had the necessary experience to run or was capable of running a business much less a province. The reality is that there are not many in politics today that have that experience or resume. Like Bill Black found out, the political establishment does not readily welcome sucessful people from outside the rather parochial party structure because of the fear they might make real change and disenfranchise the party insiders that really control who gets the perks of power.
Secondly and more importantly, Premier MacDonald’s demise was more likely due to the fact that he was unwilling or unable to be honest with the electorate. It was no secret that the world and the province by association was going through an extremely difficult time financially as many long time institutions found themselves on the brink of disaster. This included such well know entities as General Motors, Ford, CitiBank and so on. And yet MacDonald and his supporters, including Mr. Hines were posturing that somehow Nova Scotia, with its very tiny economy in relative terms, was somehow immune. This included the insistence that the provincial budget would be balanced. Even someone with the most basic understanding of financial workings could see that the Ex-Premier and his party were not following Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in making this assertion.
What followed from this was the Ex-Premier loosing credibility with the electorate. And although I do agree with Gary that the larger press is generally “left wing” , MacDonald’s incompetence and disengenuous approach towards the citizens of the province over several critical issues led to his defeat. Remeber the old adage that governments get voted out not voted in.
Now I will turn my attention to Mr. Hines and his treatment by the press. Gary Hines finished third and I believe last in this historically conservative riding because of at least a couple of reasons. Firstly his agenda was often at odds with the desires of his constituents and secondly he suffered because of the coat tail effect of the disdain the public had for Rodney MacDonald. I suspect that there were many peopel in our riding that wanted to vote Conservative but just could not support Rodney MacDonald. having said that it is however very unusual for an incumbent to lose and particularly unusual for an incumbant to finish last in his or her own riding. Gary lost simply because he made too many mistakes and not because of any sinister conspiracy by the media. Indeed many in our community were of the believe that the Laker could have been more aptly named the “Tory Times” during Gary’s term in office. In issue after issue there were more submitted stories and photo ops about Gary Hines than all other people in our communties combined. This always seemed strange for a local paper. While Mr. Hines and his team were free to submit story after story the editorial staff at the paper could have demonstrated a little more discretion. However they can hardly be accused of a conspiracy to defeat the Tory government.
Additionally it would be difficult for Mr. Hines to suggest that the District 2 News has treated him unfairly. Although being nothing more than a defeated political candidate, albeit at times an entertaining one, he continues to be given a free column to promote himself and maintain a political profile for him and the Conservative Party. This hardly suggests traces of a conspiracy by the “left wing media.” It is time that Gary accepted some of the responsiblilty for the poundng both he and the party suffered and give the electorate alittle more credit for being able to think for themselves. Left wing conspiracy…hardly.
The NDP can take none of the blame for creating the mess we are in today. This is primarily because they have never had the opportunity to waste our tax dollars like the other parties. I agree with Gary Hines when he says they have done little to demonstrate that they are going to be any better than their predecessors. They couldn’t even wait until the next day after officially taking power to start having expensive dinners at expensive restaurants at the taxpayers’ expense.
The fundamental problem is that our system is broken and no politician seems willing or able to do anything about it. Politicians by and large are accustomed to the largesse that is government and feel entitled to share in it. Cell phones, dinners, trips, expense accounts, so-called conferences in various parts of the world have all become part of the package for the politician and there is no effort to “cut back” on this type of discretionary spending. Until some politician in their party makes a serious effort to eliminate waste I am afraid the NDP are going to provide more of the same.
Steve, I know you are usually right ;however I would suggest that Ford Motor Company should not be quarterd with others in economic demise as you have done . Also I was not the incumbent as you have suggested in the last election.
Barry,losing an election is real; however so is the fact that I have been pushing, that you just don’t get it ,Rodney delivered on the crown share and the Accord which continues to give to our province what is rightfully ours. Deal with the truth of the message and avoid personal attack and your light will shine brighter.
Gary
I’m glad to see that you are still a solid Ford man. I trust you will enjoy watching Jimmy Johnson win the Cup again driving a good ole Chevy.
My apology for having you as the member going into the last election. Maybe since you were in the news more than Percy I got a bit mixed up. Nice to see the Dome up and running just the same.
Mr. Boyce; I think you are being a little generous to give the NDP government a free pass on the size of the deficit they have brought forward.
All indications are the Budget would have contained a $300- $350 m deficit however they have chosen to take that bad situation and make it worse by advancing expenditures from next year and introducing some new stuff, and as a result we end up with a deficit that is projected to be double what it would otherwise be. They should be held accountable for those decisions and they should be held accountable for not doing the right stuff to minimize the deficit.
In line with what you are saying, new governments normally do this kind of maneuvering. Make the outgoing party look as bad as possible, ( not that difficult given the Rodney Government) increase the size of the problem and advance stuff from the future, and guess what— it is a much easier to look good in the future budget. Part of the shell game played for years. Mr. Dexter had indicated he would not do the normal.
If we were really expecting Mr. Dexter and Mr. Paris to start bringing about change, we should be starting to get concerned. The budget that was brought forward is a major disappointment and reflects many of the same old positioning games that past governments have tried to fool us with. Spending on the perks of power (meals) reflects continued abuse, and the reduction of $200k from MLA expenses is not all that significant and reflects tokenism not a substantial commitment to change.
I am not panicking yet, but we are in such desperate shape, the bringing about meaningful change was easy. Unfortunately Mr. Dexter has, to date, retained the old style of governing and seams reluctant to bring about the structural changes we need.
Hopefully the faith we placed in MR. Dexter, by giving him a majority, was not a mistake. However I for one expected more!
Mr. Boyce, I am disappointed by the NDP efforts to date and I give them a failing grade not a passing grade. I believe the currect year deficit is artifically inflated so Mr. Dexter can justify breaking his promises to balance the budget and NOT increase taxes.
Barry
I didn’t intend to give the NDP a free pass. However when a family goes into debt to the point of bankruptcy recovery takes more than a few months with a new banker. My concern is that spending within various government departments seems to be business as usual and I have heard no announcements from Premier Dexter or any members of his cabinet members to the effect that unnecessary government spending is even being examined, much less curtailed. There is waste going on with every second I write this opinion. Premier Dexter knows it. Percy Paris knows it and we know it.
My point was that people in government are so used to getting taxpayer funded perks, such as meals, cell phones, gas, clothing, stationery and trips for free that they don’t even recognize waste when it stares them in the face. How much taxpayer funded electronic equipment has walked out the government door in the past few years? I would hazard a guess that there is almost no inventory control system in place. Why else would there be situations where retired civil servants still have government issued blackberrys, whereby the taxpayer still pays the monthly usage charge. Why else would the blackberry be replaced at least twice since retirement of the individual.
It is open season on the public purse and has been for many years. I have seen no indication that the NDP is serious about changing things. Far from a free pass, I think I indicated that due to their lack of addressing this key component of government largesse I am expecting more of the same and higher taxes for all to support the insatiable appetite for money with this animal called government.
Steve and Barry,
Looks like you guys really did get my message in the initial statement regarding the failing grade in the first test of the NDP government.
Gary:
Since you want to use a school type analogy (“failing grade”) I will follow suit.
When you are teaching school you don’t give out failing grades in September because the term has barely started. In other words the NDP have been in office for too short a time to be given a passing or failing grade at this time even as it relates to a so called “first test.”
On the other hand, since the Conservatives and Liberals have been looking after the provincial finances since at least 1867 it would be fair to say that they have produced enough of a body of work to justify getting a grade from the public. They clearly deserve no more than an “F” or failing grade, particulalrly since about 1970.
Meanwhile the NDP have just started school and in political terms are only in the first couple weeks of September. While there have been a couple of assignments turned in that have been less than impressive, some of the tests scores have been very good. Eliminating the ability of defeated MLAs from selling taxpayer funded office equipment and pocketing the money got an A plus in my books. Reducing office expenditures was also a good project.
Most of what they have done has been quite good but until they take aim at reducing needless government waste they won’t move to the top of the class. Let’s be clear though that the NDP did not create the deficit. That was solely the work of previous Conservative and Liberal governments.
PS. It isn’t wise to suggest that the NDP did a bad thing by dismantling the endowment Foley-Melvin was handed by the former premier. As they say, “That horse won’t run.”
PPS. Stirling Beliveau handled his situation exactly as he should have handled it but it makes good political theatre nonetheless to pretend that he actually did something sinister or unethical.
Steve , lets be fair and give credit where credit is due. The john Hamm and Rodney MacDonald governments presented a series of balanced budgets leading up to the last election and only went to a defecit when a panel of economists and business people advised an economic stymulus package. The NDP defeated the Tories on a vote against that deficit plan only to double the deficit on attaining power. Now they are suggesting more deficit , more taxes and broking promises and you want to view the first session of the leg.like a test in school with the big exam to follow. Anxiously we will wait for the graduation day four years hence when there is no one to blame.
” Quite good “is a relative term given the helecopter ride and the deputy premiers frequent dinner parties !!
Folks I have lived under two successive NDP regimes in BC. I can assure you that within a year you’ll be dreading tax time.
The only “constituents” who benefited during those years were the guy who built the Premiers deck for free and got a casino license, a bingo hall that funneled dollars earmarked for charities to NDP coffers and the unions who got billions to build ferries that were flawed and had to be scrapped brand new.
So… time will tell. I for one am not looking forward to next year’s tax bill. I can assure you folks, it will take your breath away and probably wipe you out.
When you can’t balance a cheque book how can you run a province?
Well, I don’t believe we (NS) can “grow our way out” of the current deficit. We must either raise taxes or cut expenditures. Any idea that we can get the deficit under control without raising taxes or cutting spending was nonsense all along.
I haven’t see many suggestions for cutting spending from any party, only taxes.
To those who want lower taxes, shouldn’t we reduce the debt, and therefore the interest charges and debt repayments? The money NOT spent of those things would make a fine tax cut.
And honestly, who would RATHER spend money on interest and debt than, say ANYTHING else?
I’d like to see action against the deficit in the next budget. Something. Anything but ignore the problem.