I grew up being told “a penny saved is a penny earned.” It’s always easier
to spend than to save and the NDP government is on a spending spree.
But remember, it’s YOUR money they are spending, not theirs.
I believe we need a government that will go through the provincial budget
line by line to find the efficiencies to balance the budget and stop putting
more debt burden on our children and grandchildren. We can find the
money needed for the services Nova Scotians need like education and
healthcare. It’s a question of priorities.
We need a Progressive Conservative government that will Lower Taxes to SAVE you money and attract businesses to Nova Scotia. A Progressive Conservative government that will Stop Wasteful Spending to provide the services Nova Scotians need. A Progressive Conservative government that will create More Jobs by making Nova Scotia competitive not just regionally, not just nationally but globally.
We will:
Bring back balanced budgets.
Instead of giving big handouts to big business, lower taxes such as the HST and scrap the 'first contract' labour law to make Nova Scotia more competitive globally. Then companies will want to do business here, want to create jobs here.
Bring in an energy plan that affordably integrates economic and environmental goals.
Roads
Note: All the photos shown in this "Roads" post
were taken on the afternoon of September 27, 2012 within 8 kms of my home in
Bayswater. You don't have to go far to find bad roads in Chester-St.
Margaret's.
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| Hwy 329 |
In my speech September 13th, 2012, when my nomination as the PC
candidate in Chester-St. Margaret’s was confirmed, I told this story about
traveling around the riding with Fred Keillor:
“One day we were traveling down the Forties Rd., and I said,
“Fred, you know I’m a good driver, right?”
“Yes”, he said.
“Good”, I said,
“I thought I should let you know that I’m driving on the wrong
side of the road because the right hand side has so many potholes and bumps
that I don’t want to damage the car. But as soon as I see someone coming
in this lane I’ll switch back.”
“Okay”, he said”
“Good roads are a necessity, not a luxury. Every one of us
depends on them. The goods we produce and consume travel by road. But there are roads in this area that don’t even meet the
minimum standards of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure
Renewal. Without good infrastructure, the economy can’t grow.
We need to change that.”
 |
| New Harbour Rd. |
All of us have felt the frustration of driving over bad roads.
Some are even dangerous because they are so rutted that they hold water that
causes aquaplaning. Some are so rutted snowplows can’t clear the snow off them;
the plow blade skims over the ruts. And many of us have bottomed out our cars causing
damage to the underneath of the car or hit a pothole that wrecks a tire and/or
the car’s suspension.
 |
| Hwy 329 |
 |
| New Harbour Rd. |
Both these photos of signs are taken
from
the driver's point of view
|
Then there is the brush on the side of the road. You can’t see
oncoming traffic at intersections because of brush and you can’t see some road
signs because they are hidden by brush. This isn’t safe or acceptable.
Ask yourself the question: With gasoline and diesel prices as
high as they have ever been, doesn’t that mean the fuel tax revenue to
the provincial government must be high? All that money should go to road repair
and construction. But is it?
The Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia has
stated very clearly that if we form the next government, all the revenue from
the provincial portion of the retail fuel tax will go towards repair and
construction of roads. And we will provide taxpayers with an independent audit
to prove that is where the money is going.
And road repair will be based on need, not politics.
If we can’t provide safe roads we are doing a disservice to taxpayers and we will have a hard
time attracting new residents and businesses to this province. Nova Scotia is
blessed with lots of coastline. Tourists love to get off the big highways and
drive along coastal roads, drive through our rural communities and visit our
parks, museums and beaches. There are thousands of businesses in our province that
depend on that tourist traffic. They help keep our smaller communities going,
they provide employment. If tourists damage their vehicles on our roads, if
roads aren’t safe, they won’t come. And in today’s world of instant
communications, they will tell others to stay away.
And, when possible, we need to provide bicycle lanes when repaving roads frequently used by cyclists. It's safer for cyclists, encourages a healthy lifestyle and is good for tourism.
And, when possible, we need to provide bicycle lanes when repaving roads frequently used by cyclists. It's safer for cyclists, encourages a healthy lifestyle and is good for tourism.
 |
| Hwy 329 |
Roads are a vital part of the infrastructure of this province.
Good roads are a necessity, not a luxury.
Aquaculture
Aquaculture is an important issue in our constituency. Here is where the Progressive Conservative party stands on this issue:
Baillie calls on Minister to halt open-pen salmon farm applications
July 21, 2012
HALIFAX, NS – The approval for applications for new open-pen salmon farms, like those currently under consideration on the Eastern Shore and in Jordan Bay, should be withheld by the NDP’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, says Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie.
“Modern and sustainable aquaculture has a future in Nova Scotia, but the NDP has an open-pen application process that the public has no confidence in,” said Baillie. “Residents are concerned with what appears to be a rubber-stamp process.”
All 10 applications made in recent years for open-pen fin fish farms have been approved.
Baillie recently again met with concerned local residents and business owners from the Eastern Shore and has met with many concerned Nova Scotians in coastal communities in recent months. He agrees with their concerns that the application process and regulations are deeply flawed.
“An open door, open-pen policy that has rubber-stamped all applications raises serious questions," said Baillie “Today in Nova Scotia, the NDP's flawed policies are moving us further and further away from the goal of becoming an innovative, world-leader in aquaculture.”
Stewart Lamont, Managing Director of Tangier Lobster and a spokesman for Harvesters and Seafood Companies on the Eastern Shore said Baillie’s position is a “terrific first step”.
“We need to slow down this mad rush to open-pen fish farming in Nova Scotia. There is so much at stake, and the due diligence simply has not been completed by the provincial government,” said Lamont. “Not only on the Eastern Shore but in all coastal communities in the province, we need to make certain we protect the wild catch fisheries and that we engage the communities.”
Baillie says a PC government would support sustainable aquaculture and the jobs that go with it by ensuring a regulatory and approval process is in place that has the confidence of the residents of our province and the industry participants.
He says a Progressive Conservative government will ensure aquaculture grows and develops in the right way: with community support, science-based proven safeguards and clear regulations that enhance the value of our products and protect our coastlines and communities.
Baillie says the NDP’s misguided rubber-stamp approach to aquaculture development is rooted in their failure to create jobs in Nova Scotia. The NDP have spent almost half a billion dollars in an attempt to create jobs, but Nova Scotia has lost 3,400 full time jobs since they were elected three years ago.
NDP put double-doubles before diabetic care
Nova Scotians can't afford 399 administrators making more than $100k per year each
HALIFAX, NS - The Dexter government is paying six-figure salaries to 399 people in health care head offices and PC leader Jamie Baillie says the outrageous costs are out of line with what Nova Scotia can afford.
"We don't need 10 health authorities. We also don't need 399 people making six-figure salaries while real cuts occur in our hospitals and emergency rooms," said Baillie.
"Wait lists and wait times are growing right along with the salaries of those at the top of the health care system," he continued. "It's time for a reality check. Nova Scotians expect their health care dollars to go to the delivery of frontline care."
At the Dartmouth General, the average wait time for people with potentially life-threatening problems is almost two hours. The national benchmark for this high level of urgency, Level 2 emergencies, is 15 minutes.
Other waits are off the charts as well. Joint replacement wait times got a failing grade in the most recent Wait Time Alliance report. There have been no new long-term care beds created in Nova Scotia in the past three years. The wait list for a bed has grown to an all time high of 1,900 people.
The provinces are hoping to negotiate future health care funds with Ottawa but Baillie says Premier Dexter is weakening Nova Scotia's position by allowing such a gross expenditure at the top. In total, spending on health administrators' salaries is now $49.9 million. Nova Scotia spends nearly $2.6 million in CEO salaries alone according to Public Sector Compensation Disclosure documents.
"Darrell Dexter would have a stronger hand in health talks with Ottawa if he got our own house in order first," said Baillie.
Baillie says a PC government would provide leadership by cutting costs at the top, reducing the number of DHAs, freezing executive pay, eliminating perks that aren't a part of the job, and holding back bonuses and salary increases until real outcomes improve.
Click here to view the policy paper.
Health Care
NDP put double-doubles before diabetic care
Baillie says protecting kids should come first
February 7, 2013
HALIFAX, NS – Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie announced today he will take the $1.4 million the NDP is using to fund money-losing Tim Hortons in hospitals and use it to provide insulin pumps for children under 19-years-old, who need one.
“Kids are paying the price for a government that continues to use valuable healthcare dollars to subsidize Tim Hortons restaurants, while they go without a life-changing insulin pump,” said Baillie. “Nova Scotia is one of only two provinces that do not provide funding for insulin pumps for diabetic kids, and I commit today that a PC government will change that.”
George Canyon, the award winning Canadian country music artist, who was born and raised in Pictou County, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age 14. Canyon endorsed Baillie’s commitment to helping children with Type 1 diabetes and is happy to support today’s announcement.
“If I had had an insulin pump from the time of my diagnosis as a teenager to now as an adult, I would have had a much easier time controlling my diabetes and living my dreams. There is no amount of money that you could pay me to give up my insulin pump,” said Canyon. “My hat is off to Mr. Baillie and the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia for taking the initiative and standing up for Type 1 diabetics in Nova Scotia."
Baillie thanked Mr. Canyon for his hard work and commitment to raising awareness about the importance of insulin pumps for people with diabetes.
JDRF and the Canadian Diabetes Association support a provincial plan to fund insulin pumps for Nova Scotians living with Type 1 diabetes. In 2012, the Canadian Diabetes Association released a study showing the economic benefit of funding insulin pumps for Type 1 diabetes suffers in Nova Scotia..
Baillie said only the NDP could lose money running a Tim Hortons in Nova Scotia. A PC government would provide leadership by cutting costs at the top, reducing the number of DHAs, implementing recommendations to streamline administration, and direct money back to frontline care. The Liberals and the NDP will not.
Baillie to Dexter: Show restraint at the top
Aug 07 2012
Nova Scotians can't afford 399 administrators making more than $100k per year each
HALIFAX, NS - The Dexter government is paying six-figure salaries to 399 people in health care head offices and PC leader Jamie Baillie says the outrageous costs are out of line with what Nova Scotia can afford.
"We don't need 10 health authorities. We also don't need 399 people making six-figure salaries while real cuts occur in our hospitals and emergency rooms," said Baillie.
"Wait lists and wait times are growing right along with the salaries of those at the top of the health care system," he continued. "It's time for a reality check. Nova Scotians expect their health care dollars to go to the delivery of frontline care."
At the Dartmouth General, the average wait time for people with potentially life-threatening problems is almost two hours. The national benchmark for this high level of urgency, Level 2 emergencies, is 15 minutes.
Other waits are off the charts as well. Joint replacement wait times got a failing grade in the most recent Wait Time Alliance report. There have been no new long-term care beds created in Nova Scotia in the past three years. The wait list for a bed has grown to an all time high of 1,900 people.
The provinces are hoping to negotiate future health care funds with Ottawa but Baillie says Premier Dexter is weakening Nova Scotia's position by allowing such a gross expenditure at the top. In total, spending on health administrators' salaries is now $49.9 million. Nova Scotia spends nearly $2.6 million in CEO salaries alone according to Public Sector Compensation Disclosure documents.
"Darrell Dexter would have a stronger hand in health talks with Ottawa if he got our own house in order first," said Baillie.
Baillie says a PC government would provide leadership by cutting costs at the top, reducing the number of DHAs, freezing executive pay, eliminating perks that aren't a part of the job, and holding back bonuses and salary increases until real outcomes improve.
Power Rates
August 6, 2013
Baillie
government will give families five years of power rate relief
PCs
release detailed power policy
Nova
Scotians can no longer afford annual power rate hikes and as Premier,
Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie will provide five years of power
rate relief by freezing rates at their current level.
Today, Baillie
released a policy paper: An energy policy that works: Rate relief for Nova
Scotia families,
which outlines his Party’s five-point detailed plan to stop power rate
increases and get our economy working.
“It’s time that working families,
seniors, others on low or fixed incomes and small business owners got a break
from skyrocketing power prices,” says Baillie. “The NDP jacked up everyone’s
power bill beyond what they can afford and it is costing jobs and hurting
our
economy.”
The
former Credit Union president and chartered accountant announced today that a
PC government will make sure there are no rate increases in all customer
classes (residential, commercial, industrial) for a total of five years,
beginning January 1, 2014.
The PCs five-point detailed plan to provide
rate relief includes:
1. Buy
renewable electricity within the current rates;
2.
Scrap the fuel-adjustment mechanism;
3. Rein
in Nova Scotia Power by removing its guaranteed profit;
4. Use
more natural gas; and
5.
Create a Maritime energy grid
Under
Darrell Dexter’s NDP government, electricity rates have increased by almost 30
per cent, to the highest in Canada.
Baillie says families are left in the dark
as Nova Scotia Power takes in record profits and that has to change.
“We are
all frustrated when Nova Scotia Power gets a guaranteed profit, regardless of
performance or the prices charged. We will change that,” says Baillie. “Both
the NDP and Liberals also have power policies, but they won’t stop the
increases. Rates will keep going up.”
Baillie says affordable electricity
prices are part of building a modern, dynamic, 21st century economy.
