He said, he said... parties joust on Liberal successes in house

Timothy Gillespie — Tue, 12 May 2015 09:41:06 +0000

McNeil says "tough choices" the hallmark of session

As the spring House session wrapped up Monday night, the Liberal and Progressive Conservative caucuses fired off competing news releasees, each appearing to describe a completely different session, with the government release claiming great accomplishments and the PC release railing about failure and incompetence

From the premier's office, a news release ballyhooed great works of legislative effectiveness, saying "Government continued to make tough choices to protect and invest in areas that are important to Nova Scotians during the spring sitting of the legislature.

Premier Stephen McNeil said government "continued the difficult work of regaining sustainability in public finances."

He says it is a difficult journey, but the destination will benefit all Nova Scotians.

The release claims the new Department of Business, the reduction in the size of the public service, the established of a permanent review of all programs, the implementation of the Education Action Plan, increased university funding, increased funding to people with disabilities, addressing orthopaedic surgery wait times, putting a timeline on closing the Boat Harbour Effluent Treatment Facility in Pictou County and investing in education.

The premier's office also claims to have reduced wait times for hip and knee surgeries and to have introduced legislation to ban the sale of flavoured tobacco.

Other highlights from the session, says the release, included ensuring marine renewable energy projects are developed in a responsible manner, introducing amendments to improve the effectiveness of public inquiries, further protecting transgender Nova Scotians from harassment and discrimination and further strengthening protections for victims of sexual assault.

Nova Scotia in worse shape, says NDP, giving "thumbs down"

NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald said in a release Monday night - headlined "Thumbs down" - that "Nova Scotia is in worse shape than it was just eight weeks ago due to a series of bad decisions by the McNeil government."

“This is a government that has proven time and time again that it would rather pick fights and abuse its majority than make sound decisions that strengthen Nova Scotia communities,” says MacDonald. “Just look at what has happened with the film tax credit. Instead of taking the time to consult with the screen industry to develop a plan to support and create new jobs, Stephen McNeil hastily slashed the credit placing a valuable and prosperous industry at risk.”

The freeze of the health care budget, a moratorium on new long-term care beds and cuts to dozens of not-for-profit organizations that support vulnerable Nova Scotia will also have a negative and long-lasting impact, added the release.

“This is a government that has done nothing but create chaos in our health care system since the moment it took office and freezing the budget is only going to make things worse,” says MacDonald. “Just look at how slow it was to react to the cancellation of almost 500 surgeries due to contaminated equipment. Ensuring quality patient care and support for families and seniors should be priorities.

MacDonald said she is also extremely concerned about the impact Bill 100 will have on universities and she is fearful of the consequences of the McNeil government's decision to remove the tuition cap.

“The government should be looking to improve our post-secondary institutions but instead it’s created uncertainty and unrest by attacking faculty, staff and students,” adds MacDonald.

"In spite of the confusion brought to Province House by the McNeil government's mishandling of the spring budget," said the release, "the NDP were able to introduce many bills designed to improve life for Nova Scotia families." The list included whistleblower protection legislation for teachers and health care workers, a bill to provide nurse to patient ratios, legislation to ensure universities have clear sexual assault policies in place, a bill to allow for provincial consultation on environmental racism, and Gordie Gosse’s bill to provide the HPV vaccine to boys and young men.

“Our job as an opposition caucus is to hold the government accountable and to provide solutions to the problems affecting Nova Scotians. Regardless of how poorly the McNeil government performs we are going to keep bringing forward good ideas for the consideration of our elected house of assembly,” says MacDonald

Baillie slams Libs again for incompetence
In a news release titled, "Liberal incompetence on full display in spring legislative sitting," PC leader Jamie Baillie rolls out the tired chestnut of Liberal incompetence (used in almost every news release issued by Baillie and the PCs this session) and adds that the McNeil government "has no plan for rebuilding our economy."

Baillie says the spring session of the Legislature "wrapped up with the McNeil Liberals using their majority to ram through the disastrous Financial Measures Act. It will kill good jobs and make life more expensive for Nova Scotians."

“This budget was a test of the McNeil Liberals’ competence. It was a complete and utter failure,” said Baillie. “We need a plan for job creation, not a budget that actually costs jobs. The Liberals kneecapped the growing film industry and raised fees and taxes even higher.”

This, according to Baillie, marked a number of Liberal blunders, including:

Gutting of the film tax credit on budget day and the daily gaffes that followed.
Laughing off well-respected OBGYN Dr. Robyn MacQuarrie’s allegation that a Minister’s Executive Assistant was keeping a file on her and that he used it to intimidate her.
Increasing user fees, including raising some ferry fees by 160 per cent.
The tale of two fact sheets: completely fumbling the move of the animation industry to the digital media tax credit.
Backtracking on their promise of a mining fuel tax rebate for the mining industry.
Putting vulnerable people at risk by cutting funding to community groups like CNIB, Alzheimer Society, Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia, Eating Disorders Nova Scotia and Hope Blooms.
Calling on Nova Scotians to tighten their belts, but initially allowing the NSLC to spend $140,000 on a management party and spending $42,000 to renovate the Premier’s office this year.
Rejecting openness and transparency of posting ministerial expenses online.

This session also marked a number of Liberal redo's, including:

Getting rid of the statute of limitations for past victims of sexual abuse to pursue civil litigation. Despite repeated attempts by PC MLA Allan MacMaster in the fall to make this change, which the Liberals refused, Justice Minister Lena Diab finally made it right at the beginning of this spring session.
Reworking the ban on flavoured tobacco. In the fall, the Liberals gutted their own bill on flavoured tobacco, only to come back this spring and do exactly what the PCs recommended last fall.

Baillie says the McNeil Liberals have established a pattern of incompetent gaffes.

“This Liberal government seems incapable of getting it right the first time,” said Baillie. “After spending the entire first year on studies and commissions, it is incredible that they have stumbled so much in their second year. Sadly, it is Nova Scotians who end up paying the price for their incompetence.”

The PCs also listed their Bills from the 2015 Spring Legislative Session

Bill No. 73-Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (amended)

This Bill requires a public body to notify every individual or group whose personal information has been compromised.

Bill No. 77-Conflict of Interest Act (amended)

This Bill requires that the Conflict of Interest Commissioner be an officer of the House of Assembly and requires the Conflict of Interest Commissioner to make an annual report to the Speaker who is then required to table it in the House of Assembly.

Bill No. 81-Public Utilities Act (amended)

This Bill amends the Public Utilities Act to require Nova Scotia Power Incorporated to prepare service-standards audits and to require the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board to review the audits and apply service-standards penalties, if required by the regulations, when determining the allowable return on common equity included in the general rate set for Nova Scotia Power Incorporated.

Bill No. 92-Municipal Restructuring Act

This Bill requires public consultation prior to a municipality making an application to restructure a municipality by amalgamation, annexation or dissolution of a town.

Bill No. 93-Transparency in Ministers' Expenses Act

This Bill requires Government ministers and their executive assistants to maintain records of their expenses as ministers or executive assistants and requires that copies of the records be made publicly accessible including on a public website.

Bill No. 96-Revenue Act (amended)

This Bill exempts the mining industry from the gasoline and diesel oil tax in the same way as the fishing, farming and forestry industries are exempted.

Bill No. 115-Transparency in Expenses Act

This bill requires Government ministers (including the Premier) and their executive assistants to maintain records of their expenses as ministers or executive assistants and requires that copies of the records be made publicly accessible including on a public website.

It requires the Leader of the Opposition and any other leader of a recognized party (other than the Premier) to maintain records of their expenses as leaders and requires that copies of the records be made publicly accessible including on a public website.

Bill No. 116-An Act Respecting the Rights of Persons with Guide Dogs or Service Dogs

This Act would allow people with service dogs to have the dog certified to avoid arguments when entering public places like buildings, taxis or public transit.

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He said, he said... parties joust on Liberal successes in house