South Coast Today - randy delorey

MLA challenges Health minister as Roseway ER shuts down once again

Timothy Gillespie — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 17:05:43 +0000

Closed Sunday, Sept 29 from 6:00am to 8:00pm

MLA questions minister on closures

Within minutes of Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim Masland holding Health minister Randy Delorey's feet to the fire during question period in the legislature Friday about the legendary emergency room closures at Roseway Hospital this year, the NS Health Authority announced yet another closure of fourteen hours this Sunday, from 6:00am to 8:00pm. That decision will bring the total hours of closure at Roseway to 798 hours since June 1.

As was her practice at the last sitting of the Legislature, Masland hammered at the minister about his inability to explain the constant failures of the health system in the province and for the government's seeming inability to admit that a health care crisis exists in Nova Scotia.

To her final question of whether the constant closures at Roseway's ER mean that Shelburne County residents are getting the health care they deserve, Delorey trotted out what seemed to be talking points about how effective the government had been in tackling the legion of health care issues plaguing the province.

The minister's responses appeared to be rehearsed and were the same or similar to those used last session regarding health care questions from several opposition MLAs. The minister ultimately failed to respond to Masland's question about whether Shelburne County residents deserved to have an emergency room which was closed an accumulated 32 days in four months.

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Emergency health service "Code Red", legislators told

Timothy Gillespie — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 10:49:44 +0000

Health Minister warned more than a year ago.

A provincial Code Red sounded at the government health committee meeting Thursday.

MLA Tammy Martin asked paramedics union executive Terry Chapman what happens if someone calls 911 from New Waterford for a loved one in cardiac arrest and the nearest ambulance is in Baddeck.

“You wait, you wait with a person that will probably be not living when they arrive,” Chapman responded.

“To make people who pay taxes aware of the probability that there may not be an ambulance when you need it,” he said of the paramedics’ immediate goal after more than a year of “poking the bear,” the Liberal government.

SEE FULL STORY IN HALIFAX HERALD

https://www.thechronicleherald.ca/news/local/paramedics-union-paints-dire-picture-of-response-times-overall-workload-292225/

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RED ALERT? Roseway ER crisis continues - 778 hours of recent closures - 118 hours since March 4

Timothy Gillespie — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 19:12:16 +0000

"Four days lying on a gurney in the ER with a spinal injury while waiting for a bed "not the desired experience", says health minister.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) made yet another advisory Wednesday of 26 additional hours of Emergency Room closures at Roseway Hospital, from Thurs., March 14 at 6:00am until Fri., March 15 at 8;00am. Previous closures in March include: March 11-13 (40 hrs); March 9-10 (14 hrs); March 4-5 (38hrs).

778 hours of closures

According to Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim Masland in Question Perid debate in the Legislature Tuesday, Roseway ER closures have exceeded 778 hours in recent months, the equivalent of more than 30 days.

When Masland asked Health and Wellness minister Randy Delorey, "Why the people of Shelburne still can't rely on their local emergency room to be open?," Delorey declined to answer, but suggested instead the importance of the new primary care clinic next door to the ER.

Rather than address what Masland, Shelburne mayor Karen Mattatall and dozens of Shelburne County residents have insisted is a full-blown health crisis, he went on to iterate a litany of other issues, such as new ways to incentivize physicians to cover shifts, the locum incentive program and the emergency shift premium. "We're looking at what we can do with our incentive programs to encourage physicians and other health care providers to cover these shifts," Delorey said.

Four days on gurney in ER
Masland testified that one of her constituents spent ten days in Roseway Hospital and was forced to lie on a gurney in the ER with a spinal injury for four days while waiting for a bed. During those four days, she added, the ER was closed twice.

Masland asked Delorey if he "believed this is an acceptable experience for someone seeking health care in this province?"

Not the desired experience
Describing it as "not the desired experience", the minister said the government was taking seriuosly the concerns of Nova Scotians, investing in the health care system, investing in infrastructure, investing in incentive programs to ensure we have the staff available to cover shifts in communities across the province. "We continue to listen to front-line health care workers to see what we can do differently to improve the situation.

Nova Scotia holding its own?
Delory said that the challenges being faced in communities for filling emergency department shifts "are being felt in communities across the country," and that "Nova Scotia is certainly holding our own in the national context." Less than 24 hours after Delorey's comments, the Health Authority announced 26 hours of ER closures at Roseway, 24 hours of closures at Eastern Shore Memorial Hospital and cancellation of blood collection services in Lockport.

In 2017-2018 emergency rooms in the province were closed a total of 30,500 hours, with units in the northern part of the province, with 5,882 hours of closures, and eastern mainland and Cape Breton registered 4,238 closure hours.

North Cumberland Memorial Hospital in Pugwash had the most hours of closure in the north with 2,212, while the Glace Bay Health Facility had the most hours of closure in the eastern zone with 1,835.

Roseway Hospital in Shelburne saw 789 hours of closure. Smaller hospitals in HRM showed closure rates almost one-third those of Roseway.

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Opinion: Minster Delorey, enough platitudes about health care

Timothy Gillespie — Fri, 07 Sep 2018 14:23:14 +0000

As a sort of political junkie, I was excited to see the House of Assembly sitting again this morning. In fact, I took the time to watch a live feed of Question Period, in which the Premier and ministers are asked questions by opposition members about issues which concern their constituents.

I was not surprised - but was dismayed - at the blather that came out of health and Wellness minister Randy Delorey's mouth when he was asked a simple question by Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim Masland. Since thousands of her constituents depended on the health services offered at Roseway Hospital and since his department appeared to be setting up the hospital for failure, would he commit, she asked, to keeping Roseway open as a full service operation as long as he remained minister?

Delorey did not even come close to assurances to Masland or the thousdands of us whose lives depend on the services at Roseway. The minister mouthed a series of platitudes about the importance of heath care to his government and said he would do is to "provide health services which is in the best interests of all Nova Scotians."

Translation: if the McNeil government thinks it's in the best interest of his government or the bugetary bottom line, he and Delorey will pull the plug in a heartbeat.

Little comfort for anyone here

Timothy Gillespie is publisher of South Coast Today

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Queens-Shelburne MLA says "enough is enough" after notice of 66 hours of holiday Roseway ER closures

Timothy Gillespie — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 13:44:26 +0000

Health minister says closures due to "how doctors choose to practice"

After what could be described as an "epidemic" of emergency room and outpatient closures at Shelburne's Roseway Hospital over the past year, the Nova Scotia Health Authority announcement that Roseway Hospital emergency room in Shelburne would be closing its doors for sixty-six hours over the Thanksgiving weekend, Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim Masland said that "enough is enough".

Masland attempted to address the ER closure issue at Province House during Question Period this past week. Masland rose in the Legislature to ask Randy Delorey, minister of Health and Wellness, why the emergency room continues to close regularly.

During the months of July and August, there were approximately 80 hours of emergency department closures at the Roseway, said a news release from Masland, which the NSHA attributed to physician unavailability over the summer months.

“Once again, another busy weekend is approaching and residents of Shelburne will be forced to travel an hour, by car or by ambulance, when they are hurt or sick,” says Masland. “Shelburne residents are being treated like second-class citizens by this Liberal government. They deserve better emergency health services than this.”

In response to Masland's query, Delorey said that the closures were due to "how doctors choose to run their practices", and that hour-long trips via ambulance were be conducted by an emergency response program that was "the envy of neighboring provinces."

Masland says it’s also obvious now that the problems around physician shortages were not exclusive to the summer months.

“Enough is enough,” says Masland. “It is time for the McNeil Liberals to stop making excuses for the physician shortage in Shelburne and start doing something about it.”

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Opinion: Health minister is definitely in a dispute with doctors

Guest Editorial — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:51:40 +0000

On Oct. 3, in a statement to the media and during Budget Estimates in the Legislature, the Honourable Randy Delorey, Minister of Health and Wellness, said to the people of Nova Scotia that he is not in a dispute with physicians, he is only in a dispute with Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS).

Let us be clear. Doctors Nova Scotia is the province’s physicians.

Doctors Nova Scotia is 3,500 members; including practising and retired physicians, residents and medical students. The DNS Board of Directors is made up of 20 physicians and one medical student. The Board of Directors – a group of physicians acting on behalf of all physicians in the province – have served the provincial government with Notices of Intended Action to resolve two long-standing contract disputes in court.

Respectfully, the Minister is, in fact, in a dispute with physicians.

The province’s doctors expect DNS to effectively represent us. We are the Board of Directors of DNS and we govern the organization to ensure it fulfils its purpose, which is to help physicians thrive and have a positive impact on their patients’ lives, both at an individual and system level. We employ our CEO and staff to help us protect physicians’ interests, all for the benefit of our patients.

Doctors Nova Scotia’s role goes beyond negotiating physician’s remuneration. It includes working with all partners in health-care delivery to ensure Nova Scotia is positioned to recruit and retain talented and skilled doctors, to introduce new and innovative ways to deliver health care, and to continuously look for ways to improve patient care and access.

The Minister’s suggestion that DNS is not representative of physicians is one of the very reasons we find ourselves in this unfortunate situation. The government refuses to acknowledge and accept the fact that it is not only DNS’s right, but also our obligation, to ensure physicians’ interests are protected in contract matters. We do this so physicians can focus on what they do best, and that is to take care of Nova Scotians.

Let the record be corrected: Doctors Nova Scotia is the province’s physicians. And we have each other’s backs on these matters.

Dr. André Bernard

(on behalf of the 20 physicians who make up the DNS Board of Directors)
Chair of the Board of Directors, Doctors Nova Scotia
Anaesthesiologist, QEII Health Sciences Centre, Halifax

Dr. Manoj Vohra, President, Family Physician, Truro
Dr. Tim Holland, President-elect, Family Physician, Truro/Indian Brook
Dr. Michelle Dow, Past President, Family Physician, Clare
Dr. Heather Johnson, Family Physician, Bridgewater
Dr. Kathy Gallagher, Family Physician, Bedford
Dr. John Ginn, Family Physician, Dartmouth
Dr. Michael Wadden, Family Physician, Kentville
Dr. Monika Dutt, Family Physician, Sydney
Dr. Alfred Bent, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Truro
Dr. Gary Ernest, Family Physician, Liverpool
Dr. Kelly Dakin Hache, Anatomical Pathologist, Halifax
Dr. Scott Mawdsley, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Dartmouth
Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie, Obstetrician/Gynecologist, Bridgewater
Dr. Minoli Amit, Paediatrics, Antigonish
Dr. Alex Mitchell, General Surgeon, Dartmouth
Dr. Celina White, Family Physician, Amherst, member of the Canadian Medical Association Board of Directors
Dr. John Murdoch, General Surgeon, Dartmouth
Dr. Caitlin Lees, fourth-year resident, Internal Medicine
Malik Ali, second-year medical student

SEE PREVIOUS STORY: http://www.southcoasttoday.ca/content/doctors-nova-scotia-pushing-back-g...

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Doctors Nova Scotia pushing back on government "hardball" with possible lawsuit

Timothy Gillespie — Wed, 04 Oct 2017 15:27:49 +0000

$4 million in arrears claimed
Doctors Nova Scotia (DNS) filed notices with the Nova Scotia courts that it intends to proceed with three lawsuits against the government for breach of its rights to represent physicians and breach of the "master agreement" between DNS and the government. DNS alleges that the government is arrears for more than $4 million owed to the organization for payment of health and other benefit programs.

At an impasse
In a news release, the association, which represents 2400 physicians in Nova Scotia, says it has been working to resolve these issues for 12 months and that all doctors in the province could be impacted if the contract issues are not addressed. “We’re at an impasse on two contract issues and despite having worked over the past year to find solutions, we’re now at the stage when we require a third party to resolve them,” said Dr. André Bernard, Doctors Nova Scotia’s Board Chair. “The association’s Board of Directors, which is made up of 21 physicians from across the province, agreed that all possible avenues have been exhausted and, therefore, legal resolution is necessary.”

In a hastily called news conference Wednesday, Health and Wellness minister Randy Delorey disputed some of the assertions made by DNS in their notices about the impending lawsuits. Delorey said that the dispute is not with the doctors, but with "an organization." Nancy MacCready-Williams, CEO of Doctors Nova Scotia says that, becuase they are the negotiating agent fr the master agreement, a dispute with them IS a dispute with physicians.

Under dispute are the government’s use of unapproved contracts for Alternative Payment Plan (APP) physicians and monies owed to Doctors Nova Scotia for the physicians’ health and dental plan and other benefits.

“Ultimately, we believe this government is in breach of contract with physicians,” said Dr. Bernard.

In June 2016, after protracted negotiations costing more than a combined $700,000 in lawyers fees, agreement was reached and physicians ratified both the Master Agreement contract and the Clinical/Academic Funding Plan (C/AFP) contract. The Master Agreement contract serves as the basis for APP contracts.

Unnecessary risk
In the past 12 months, says DNS, government has unilaterally deviated from the previously negotiated APP contract templates. In some cases, government has removed important clauses, including references to the Master Agreement. In other cases, government has asked physicians to sign just a “deliverables” document, with no accompanying contract. These changes, says DNS, create uncertainty and could put physicians at unnecessary risk of losing protections negotiated through the Master Agreement.

DNS asserts that the government is $4 million in arrears for payments due for physicians’ health and other benefits as agreed to in the Master Agreement contract. These funds are used to support the physicians’ health and dental plan, parental leave and professional support program.

Depletion of contingency fund
“Without these payments from the government, Doctors Nova Scotia has had to deplete the contingency fund that enables us to maintain these important health programs for doctors,” said MacCready-Williams, at a news conference in Halifax. “We find ourselves in this situation because the government has taken exception to the association legally retaining a contingency fund for the benefits programs we administer under our contracts with government.”

Hardball
A physician familiar with the protracted negotiations and the issues behind them told SCT Wednesday that he interprets the government forcing DNS to deplete the contingency fund as a form of "hardball" politics. "It looks to me," he said, "that the government may be trying to squeeze DNS out of existence."

The government refusing to honour the master agreement, says DNS, could make it difficult in the future to attract and retain physicians, resulting in a further erosion of medical care in the province. In a recent DNS report based on consultation with physicians, the doctors identified threats to the medical system, including; fragility of the physician workforce, loss of professional autonomy and satisfaction, erosion of comprehensive family medicine, unsustainability of rural specialty services and lost opportunities to leverage technology.

One of the primary issues in the dispute is the creation by DNS of a contingency fund to "ensure that physicians’ benefits are protected from changes in the political and health-care environments." They describe the fund as part of what they describe as good governance and a prudent fiscal management strategy. Minister Delorey says that the fund is comprised of a surplus resulting from previous "overestimation of benefit costs".

No overpayments
When asked about the "overestimation" issue, MacReady-Williams said via email, "The contingency was built up over years. There were no overpayments by government. Government made only the payments required to be made by contract. Those payments were for benefits AND for other recruitment and retention initiatives (at DNS' discretion). DNS' Board, exercising good fiscal management, has built up a contingency to protect physician's interests."

“Ultimately, we are working to protect the rights of physicians so that they can focus on what they do best: delivering the best possible care to the people of Nova Scotia,” said MacCready-Williams. “By resolving these issues, we will help make the environment more welcoming, an important step in resolving the province’s current physician recruitment and retention shortages.”

Doctors Nova Scotia says it aims to resolve the contract issues in order to clear the air with the provincial government. Then, all parties will be able to move on to solve some of the health-care system’s more significant challenges, as outlined in Doctors Nova Scotia’s recent report “Healing Nova Scotia: Recommendations for a Thriving Physician Workforce.”

Contract spat a distraction
“These contract issues are a distraction from the real work we all need to do to strengthen Nova Scotia’s health-care system,” said Dr. Bernard. “Putting these issues in the hands of the courts allow us to focus on what’s really important: our patients.”

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"Steady as she goes" not enough, says NDP; "house of cards" says PC critic about Liberal spending plans

Timothy Gillespie — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 20:26:02 +0000

Liberals willing to balance budget at any cost?

REVISED: After hearing the quarterly budget forecast update from Liberal government Thursday, the NDP Caucus and leader Gary Burrill are none too happy about what they feel are inappropriate priorities in government spending. "While funding for seniors' care is being cut, food bank use is up 20%," says the release, " and our classrooms need investment, the December budget update shows the Liberal government is intent on balancing the budget at all costs."

Minister of Finance and Treasury Board Randy Delorey presented the forecast update early Thursday, with a projected surplus of $12.1 million, down $5 million from the net position on budget day.

"I'm pleased we've stuck to our plan that invests in health care, education, and employment initiatives for our youth," said Mr. Delorey. "This has allowed us to make key investments and move towards fiscal sustainability, which is why we've been able to respond to uncertain and unexpected events, like new federal infrastructure programs, the flood damage in Cape Breton and forest fires earlier this year."

Delorey noted new federal-provincial cost-sharing programs; clean water/waste water projects, ocean research, an enhanced science complex at Acadia University and projects at Nova Scotia Community College campuses in Bridgewater and Stellarton.

The delay in the completion of the new Halifax Convention Centre will have several revenue and capital implications for the province. It reduces revenue ($110.3 million), the capital expenditure ($169.2 million) and debt servicing and amortization costs ($1.8 million).

"Despite the enormous need for social investment, the Liberals continue to have only one idea: balance the provincial budget at all costs," said NDP leader Gary Burrill. "The results of this failed approach can be seen in the crises in our classrooms and in seniors' care."

The Liberals' approach, added the release, has been to cut back on the services Nova Scotians depend on with cuts to seniors' care, community organizations and the arts.

Progressive Conservative Finance critic Tim Houston says Stephen McNeil’s budget "is a house of cards."

"Today’s update shows revenues are down $73 million and expenses are up $45 million," says a news release from Houston, who adds that "it’s a recipe for disaster when an economy is as weak as Nova Scotia’s." The budget forecast update says that for the first eleven months of 2016, employment and labour force are both down.

“People need jobs. We are facing a serious cost of living crunch. Inflation and taxes are going up and people have less money in their pocket,” says Houston. “Stephen McNeil has proven in his first three years he has no idea how to get our economy going and aggressively grow revenue.”

Houston says on top of that, the McNeil government has completely poisoned the negotiations with unions, putting the entire budget at risk.

“Stephen McNeil has made a huge mess with negotiations. The stress level is really high for Nova Scotians,” says Houston. “It didn’t have to come to this. If Stephen McNeil actually did the work upfront to negotiate, rather than legislate, they could have worked out a reasonable solution that Nova Scotians could afford.”

Houston says the poisoned negotiations have created a massive distraction from what the Premier should be doing.

“There’s no leadership or common sense from Premier McNeil,” says Houston. “He’s unavailable. He keeps ducking from one scandal to the next and he’s distracted from the real goal of rebuilding our economy. That has to change.”

"The 'steady as she goes' approach is not what is required," Burrill told SCT in an interview, "especially in a crisis situation brought about by the contract dispute between the government and Nova Scotia Teachers."

"Nova Scotia should take advantage of historic low interest rates to begin investing adequately in our people's health, education and opportunities," added Burrill. "The McNeil Liberals have a great deal to answer for."

Delorey also noted:

-- revenue is projected to decrease $72.9 million to $10.2 billion, mainly due to the convention centre delay and lower tax revenue, which is partially offset by increased recovery revenues
-- forecasted tax revenue is down $45.5 million, mainly from reduced personal income tax, motive fuel tax and HST. The reduction is partially offset by projected increased revenues from corporate income tax and tobacco tax
-- expenses are forecasted to be up $45 million to $10.2 billion, mainly due to participation in new federal infrastructure programs

-- three additional appropriations, totaling $11.6 million, are necessary, with the largest at Labour and Advanced Education, with the increase due to recoverable expenses.

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Provincial finance update: $11B revenues - $11M deficit - $15M decrease in offshore royalties

Timothy Gillespie — Tue, 09 Aug 2016 16:20:06 +0000

Health and Wellness underspent by $31 million
The McNeil government released the public accounts for the 2015-16 fiscal year on August 9, saying it included funds to keep class sizes small in grades P-4 and support math and literacy; increase home care funding; expand the caregiver support program; provide no-interest student loans for university students and to fund and more orthopedic surgeries.

The deficit was $10.7 million, $86.9 million lower than the budgeted deficit of $97.6 million. Finance department staff said this is due to higher than expected revenues from income taxes, provincial recoveries, net income from government business enterprises, and other revenues.

The department of Health and Wellness underspent budget estimates by $31 million, more than all other underspent departments combined.

"We are working to manage revenues and control the expenses we can so we can invest in the things that are important to Nova Scotians, such as health care and education," said Randy Delorey, Finance and Treasury Board Minister. "Over the years government has continued to keep a close eye on expenses. The 2015-16 public accounts demonstrate that we are on the right track and continue to move toward a sustainable, balanced budget."

Total consolidated revenues were $10.9 billion, an increase of $164.6 million from budget estimate, primarily due to higher than expected revenues from income taxes, external recoveries, interest income, and federal transfers.

Total consolidated expenses were $10.9 billion, an increase of $77.7 million from estimates. The increases were due in part, said the Department, by savings from delays in projects and lower than expected requests for certain services.

Year-end additional appropriations total $43.1 million, mainly due to funds required for the remediation of Boat Harbour, by-elections that were held in three ridings, pension valuation adjustments and operational increases. Total additional appropriations for the year were $128.3 million.

Net debt was $15.1 billion. Net Debt-to-GDP for 2015-16 was 37.9 per cent.

The news release said that Auditor General Michael Pickup has provided an unqualified opinion of the public accounts for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2016. "In his opinion, the 2015-16 financial statements fairly present the consolidated financial position of the province in accordance with Canadian generally accepted accounting principles for the public sector."

The documents are online at www.novascotia.ca/finance .

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Grits announce 150% increase in deficit from original estimate

Timothy Gillespie — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 16:39:50 +0000

Fiscal incompetence combines with lack of plan for job creation, says Baillie

Finance and Treasury Board Minister Randy Delorey outlined Nova Scotia's vulnerable fiscal situation and pledged continued spending discipline during government's second 2015-16 forecast update on Monday, Dec. 14.

The deficit is forecasted to be $241.2 million, an increase of $118.6 million from the September forecast update and $143.6 million above the original budget estimate of $97.6 million, with reduced tax revenues and offshore royalties driving up the deficit, according to a government news release.

In a separate release, Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie says today’s budget forecast proves the McNeil government’s fiscal plan is failing.

“What the Liberal government is doing isn’t working,” said Baillie. “People need work, and families need stable incomes. They need to see the promise of job-creating conditions in Nova Scotia. Instead, this government has shut the door on new jobs and investment.” Baillie's release says also that real GDP growth for 2016 has been cut in half as projections for corporate income tax decline by $45 million and fewer people are working and spending money.

“Stephen McNeil’s attempt to cut his way out of this financial hole, with no plan for job creation highlights the main problem with this Liberal government. It’s more than fiscal incompetence. While Nova Scotians are struggling to pay the bills or moving away, the Liberals are drowning in red ink and random cuts. Nobody wins,” said Baillie. “We need a real plan from the Liberal government to spur economic growth and create jobs.”

"This update clearly shows how vulnerable our fiscal position is and how significantly a negative swing in revenues impacts us," said Mr. Delorey in his release. "In areas where we have control, on the spending side, we have made progress. We need to continue to be disciplined if we are to reach a sustainable fiscal position.

"As finance minister, I would love to be able to invest more in areas that matter to Nova Scotians - new and improved schools, state-of-the-art hospitals, better programs for seniors and those in need. Quite frankly, we can't get there if we don't stick to a fiscal plan that matches our programs and services to our ability to pay."

Highlights of Delorey's update included:
--total revenues forecast to be $9.8 billion, down $135 million from budget day
--provincial tax revenues forecast down $79.5 million, with reductions in corporate income tax of $44.9 million (down 9.1 per cent), HST, fuel and tobacco taxes
--total expenses forecast to be $10 billion, down $4.3 million
--net departmental expenses are up $4.4 million from estimate (Department of Community Services requires an additional appropriation of $14.4 million because of increased expenses in support programs, Pharmacare and other areas)
--a prior year's adjustment reduces revenue by $86.1 million (increases in personal income tax and HST are offset by a reduction in corporate income tax, offshore royalties and other areas)
--a $98.2 reduction in prior year royalties from the Sable offshore as estimated costs to wind up the project continue to rise
--forecasted real GDP growth has been revised down to 1.0 per cent from 1.7 per cent for 2015 and the 2016 real GDP growth has been reduced to 0.8 per cent from 1.5 per cent

Baillie says he is worried this is only the start of more bad news to come. He’s calling on the Liberal government to release the capital plan tomorrow.

“Today’s forecast is more proof the Liberal government is incapable of managing the budget,” said Baillie. “Nova Scotians deserve to see this government’s priorities now.”

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