July, 2009

I’d like to extend great and heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank and surrounding communities for re-electing me as your MLA.  Thank you for speaking to me with such candour and interest when I came to your neighbourhoods. And thank you for helping Nova Scotia elect its first NDP government.   It is a privilege and honour to serve as your representative in a government led by Premier Darrell Dexter.

THANKS TO ALL CANDIDATES

Thank you also to the Conservative, Green and Liberal candidates who put their names forward and worked hard on their campaigns. We all chose to run for public office because we know how important government services are to citizens in our local communities and across Nova Scotia. Government choices affect people; good governance can make a genuine difference to people’s lives.

On June 19, I had the honour of being appointed to Cabinet as minister for three portfolios: Tourism, Culture and Heritage; Economic and Rural Development; and African Nova Scotian Affairs.  I am also the minister responsible for Nova Scotia Business Incorporated. These are all important, interesting and challenging Cabinet positions and I look forward to working with citizens and groups from all sectors affected by the work of my departments. Please bear with me over the next couple of weeks as I attend to the aftermath of the election, my new positions, and organize my roles appropriately.

Some people have asked me about the status of my office in the constituency, now that I have accepted my ministerial roles. My constituency office in Windsor Junction will remain open every day, and I will continue to be available to constituents. My office will continue to be staffed by a full-time constituency assistant who does research and casework for anyone seeking help.

REVIEW OF GOVT. FINANCES GETS UNDERWAY

I’m writing this column just days after Darrell Dexter was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia. On June 25, the Legislature will convene in a special session to swear in all MLAs and appoint legislative committees, which do important work in many areas, including veterans’ affairs and community services. While these are early days, one thing is clear: our new government has a lot of work to do this summer and fall. We need to begin implementing our platform to create jobs, improve access to health care, and take the provincial portion of the HST off home electricity. We also need an audit of the province’s books before bringing down our budget. The independent review will begin July 6, with an interim report due Aug. 7. The first phase of the report will examine the government’s finances, while the second phase will study a number of issues previously raised by the Auditor General. In the meantime, government business can run on special warrant spending, just as it did after John Hamm was elected in July 1999. The new NDP government will introduce a provincial budget this fall.

Constituents raised a diverse range of concerns this election—mostly about issues I hear on a day-to-day basis in my role as MLA, and on which I’ve been working for the past three years. People’s concerns with municipal services such as water, waste collection and public transit underscore the need for the province to work closely with the municipality. Concerns about health-care delays and emergency services  as well as  assistance for seniors reinforce the importance of the NDP’s platform promises to reduce wait times, open the Cobequid Centre 24/7, and provide more  support for seniors to stay in their own homes and to receive better care in nursing homes. And, of course, I heard many concerns about provincial and municipal roads. I have relayed concerns about provincial roads to the Department of Transportation, and I will continue to advocate for better services to our communities.

CONGRATULATIONS TO GRADUATES

This is a time of exciting beginnings for many people. Lockview’s Class of 2009 holds its graduation ceremonies on June 26. This is a special ceremony for me, because my daughter Jacqui is among the graduates. Congratulations to all the graduates who are leaving Lockview and opening a new chapter in their lives.

Again, I’d like to say how honoured I feel to be your elected representative. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.