South Coast Today - chris d'entremont

NDP demands explanation of $41.5 million in healthcare cuts

Timothy Gillespie — Wed, 03 Jun 2015 17:27:59 +0000

PC MLA claims $300 million "discrepancy" by Grits

The McNeil government needs to outline specifically what its $41.5 million Healthcare cut, announced today, will impact, according to a news release Wednesday from the NDP .

Progressive Conservative Health critic Chris d’Entremont says in a news release Wednesday that, in fact, McNeil Liberals must answer for a $300 million discrepancy in the Nova Scotia Health Authority budget.

Today, says d'Entremont, the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) released its business plan with a budget of over $1.82 billion. The budget passed by the Liberals in April only budgeted $1.52 billion for the NSHA. The Liberals, he says, have been unable to provide a good explanation for the difference.

“This speaks to the incompetence of the Liberal government,” said d’Entremont. “If the Liberals cannot even get the numbers right on paper or explain them, how can we trust them with patient care?”

According to the NSHA Business Plan budget, administration went up $33.3 million, meanwhile mental health funding went down $25.6 million.

d’Entremont says the Liberals must answer for the major discrepancy in the numbers.

“Our population is aging, waitlists are getting longer and longer. People need certainty health care will be there for them when they need it,” said d’Entremont. “This merger is too important for the Liberals to get it wrong.”

Earlier this morning, the NDP release stated, without a formal announcement or media briefing, the provincial health authority released its 2015-16 business plan which contained more than $41 million worth of “mitigations” to health care programs and services.

The NDP also complained that, while the plan contains categories from which cuts will be made, it provides no explanation for how the proposed spending reductions will be achieved.

“Instead of releasing this document on time, the McNeil government waited until after the spring sitting of the Legislature was over, and then quietly sent it out with the Premier out of the province,” says NDP Leader Maureen MacDonald. “Specifically, which programs are being cut to provide these savings? How will the cuts impact various regions of the province? Is the government considering outsourcing and privatizing laundry and food services? If they intend to increase revenue through fees such as parking, what specifically will these increases be?

The business plan, which one political analyst told SCT "looks like an 18-page flyer", was described as indicating significant spending reductions in areas such as acute care, mental health services and addictions services, without any formal explanation for how the reductions are being achieved.

“The public deserves to know the specifics of this business plan. Unfortunately, the McNeil government has once again failed to be open and transparent, which will undoubtedly bring more turmoil to our health care system,” says MacDonald.

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Liberal budget hard on rural communities, says d'Entremont

Timothy Gillespie — Tue, 12 May 2015 18:40:52 +0000

Important issues remain unresolved

Argyle Barringtopn MLA Chris d’Entremont says he voted against the McNeil government’s Monday budget because it provided no relief for people in rural communities.

The spring session of the Legislature came to a close last night when the Liberals used their majority to ram through their controversial budget, d'Entremeont said in a news release Tuesday, adding that the budget was highlighted by improper handling of the film tax credit, increased user fees, and lack of a plan for job creation.

“The Liberal government delivered a budget that will, in fact, eliminate jobs in rural Nova Scotia,” d’Entremont said. “The rural areas of the province really benefited from the economic spin-offs associated with the film industry and that’s at risk.”

While the government approved $42,000 worth of renovations for the Premier’s Office, continued the release, added another $100 million to the debt and included ‎a six per cent increase in senior-level administration costs, rural communities received no relief.

“Time and again, I asked the government for important infrastructure to help improve our communities,” d’Entremont said. “It’s hard to fathom that we still don’t have high-speed internet in many of our rural communities. That’s a pretty important part piece of infrastructure for helping small businesses thrive and for attracting and retaining people to our small towns.”

d’Entremont says he’s also worried about the lack of a competent plan for ongoing issues in the health system in his area.

“Roseway’s ER continues to be plagued with closures. An OB-GYN resigned in Yarmouth causing concerns for women’s health care in rural areas and we still have no commitment on a dialysis unit in Barrington Passage,” d’Entremont said.

“The government missed a huge opportunity to deliver real relief for families in rural Nova Scotia.”

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Barrington needs dialysis unit, says d'Entremont

Timothy Gillespie — Thu, 26 Mar 2015 19:26:20 +0000

No commitment from Glavine
Thursday during Question Period, Progressive Conservative MLA for Argyle Barrington and Health critic Chris d’Entremont asked if the McNeil government plans to establish a dialysis unit in Barrington Passage.

“People in this community face the real possibility of renal failure,” d’Entremont said in a news release. “Will the Minister commit to helping my residents receive this life or death procedure closer to home?”

d’Entremont says he has previously written to Liberal Health Minister Leo Glavine urging him to put machines in the existing Barrington Passage Health clinic. Today, the release said, he sought commitment on this from Health Minister Leo Glavine.

A group called the Barrington Dialysis Support Group have been fighting to get a dialysis clinic in the area. Earlier this year, a Wood’s Harbour resident who needed to travel 100km to Yarmouth for his dialysis treatment went off the road due to winter conditions.

Minister Glavine, according to the release, did not make a solid commitment.

d’Entremont indicated he would continue to follow up with the Minister to secure a dialysis unit for Barrington Passage.

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Samson a liar on ferry funding, says opposition house leader.

Timothy Gillespie — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 18:33:38 +0000

"To me that's a lie... " PC house leader d'Entremont

"To me that's a lie... and if you're going to stand there and you're going to continue to stretch the truth or you're going to lie, I don't think that's the right way to conduct a government," PC house leader Chris d'Entremont told CBC.

CORRECTION: Based on an email from a Department spokesperson, SCT has reviewed the original story and determined that the assertion in headline that minister Samson had admitted lying about ferry funding was conflation of facts and not necessarily a fair report. In the email, the department states that minister Samson disagrees with Mr. d'Entremont's allegation, but respects the process of a review of his actions and will participate fully. SCT regrets the error and any embarrassment caused by it to the minister.

SEE GLOBE & MAIL STORY HERE

SEE HERALD STORY HERE

SEE HERALD OP-ED HERE

SEE VANGUARD STORY HERE

Economic Development minister Michel Samson has admitted to withholding information from Nova Scotians about how much money the province spent subsidizing the ferry between Yarmouth and Maine.

Samson said no repeatedly when he was asked numerous times recently whether the government had authorized or given the operators of the Nova Star more money than the $26 million disclosed to date.

Days later, Samson admitted he "misspoke" when he failed to disclose that an extra $2.5 million had been committed Christmas week.

Samson told CBC Thursday," "If I could go back I would do it differently."

The Conflict of Interest Act states, "Ministers shall be truthful and forthright and not deceive or knowingly mislead the House of Assembly or the public."

When asked by reporters, premier McNeil denied that his minister has breached that code of conduct.

The PC Caucus office has announced that they have called for a review of Samson's actions as they relate to the Ministerial Code of Conduct

Outline of story elements

Minister Samson repeatedly denied that the government had committed additional funds.
A news outlet in Maine reported that, according to government documents, an additional $2.5 million had been committed in late december
Subsequently, minister Samson admitted he "misspoke" when he failed to disclose that an extra $2.5 million had been committed Christmas week. Samson told the Chronicle Herald," "If I could go back I would do it differently."
The Nova Scotia Conflict of Interest Act states, "Ministers shall be truthful and forthright and not deceive or knowingly mislead the House of Assembly or the public."
Premier McNeil denied to media that his minister has breached that code of conduct.
PC House Leader Chris d'Entremont issued a news release in which he said Samson's denial was "a lie."
The PC Caucus announced that they have called for a review of Samson's actions as they relate to the Ministerial Code of Conduct
Samson agrees to cooperate in review
Department demands retraction of conflated assertion in headline.
SCT revises story

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d'Entremont, Belliveau, others, garner Better Politics Awards

Timothy Gillespie — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 17:10:27 +0000

Photo Rebecca Zimmer

The Nova Scotia Springtide Collective wants to change the trend of disinterst in politics and recently held is first annual Better Politics awards, designed to acknowlede MLAs and democratically conscience citizens as they work towards a more active democracy. For Mark Coffin, President and founder of Springtide Collective, it is all about creating the opportunity to celebrate.

Among South Coast winners at Wednesday nights award ceremony were Chris d'Entremont for Legislator of the Year and Sterling Belliveau for Most Collaborative.

MLAs included (Left to Right) Norm Collins for Advocate of the Year, Geoff MacLellan for Most Open MLA, John Lohr for Rookie of the Year, Chris d'Entremont for Legislator of the Year, Maureen MacDonald for Most Knowledgeable MLA, Sterling Belliveau for Most Collaborative MLA and Bill Black for Story Shaper of the Year. Missing, David Darrow for Public Servant of the Year. Photo Rebecca Zimmer

SEE ORIGINAL STORY FROM HALIFAX MEDIA CO-OP

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OPINION: NDP unwilling to listen on boundary issues

Timothy Gillespie — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 10:22:21 +0000

by Chris D'Entremont, MLA Argyle
I thought I’d share my thoughts and some information about the new boundaries proposed recently by the 2012 Boundary Commission.

For the past 11 months, I have been fighting to maintain strong Acadian representation in the legislature, by voting against the resolution that started this process on October 31st, 2011.

We were the only opposition caucus that understood it would give unprecedented power to the Standing Committee that was to pick commission members and set a terms of reference.

During the last two processes, the Legislature itself debated resolutions that set up a clear set of rules, like taking in consideration geography, cultural differences and history before trying to make all constituencies equal.

This is a right that stems from our very own constitution. I believe that effective representation is much more complicated than setting a minimum and maximum of total electors.

The NDP members of the committee moved to set terms of reference that would eliminate “protected” ridings. I dissented against these terms of reference back in December because I knew it would erase the concept of minority rights.

I was very proud of Argyle constituents and Acadians in Clare and Richmond for coming out, fighting for good representation in the Legislature and speaking about how having Acadian MLAs helps keep the distinct culture and language vibrant in Nova Scotia. This lead to a very favourable interim report from the Commission that kept our communities in South West Nova Scotia in tact.

This was a tremendous victory that lasted for only a short time until the Minister of Justice and Premier came out and squashed the work, saying it ran against the terms of reference.

The Commission was then compelled to rewrite the report, which then caused great concern in Yarmouth because it recommended splitting up the county in two. The community came out and made the Commission aware that this was not acceptable to the area and that they should go back and try again.

Try again they did! In the final report from the Boundary Commission it recommended splitting Shelburne County into two new areas, Argyle – Barrington and Queens – Shelburne leaving Yarmouth together.

While, on paper, this may seem reasonable, the voices of the Municipality of Barrington have not yet been heard. So before too much time passes, I would ask residents of the municipality to let their voices be heard by dropping me an email [email protected]?subject=Proposed Boundaries">[email protected] so I can bring them to the government and be ready when boundary Legislation is introduced and debated in the House of Assembly.

This was done by the NDP government as they were unwilling to listen to people who actually know their communities.

Blindly they dictated a terms of reference that would, as a side effect, impact neighbouring communities to the minority ones. Darrell Dexter, Ross Landry and Sterling Belliveau were very well aware of the outcome, as they tried to influence it at every opportunity.

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