Getting worse

Nova Scotia’s problems worsening under Liberal leadership, says Baillie

Wherever Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie goes since the legislature adjourned, he says people want to talk about the “really bad” Yarmouth ferry deal, roads and health care.

“The issues have not gotten better, they’ve gotten worse,” Baillie said. “The Liberals put the one health authority together. Now, we know that our emergency room closures are worse, mental health is worse, family doctor numbers are worse and they haven’t saved any money.”

Baillie said mental health is “the healthcare crisis of our time” and is an issue the Progressive Conservatives are championing.

“The Liberals actually cut funding for mental health services. To me, that is the cruellest, most backward thinking cut we’ve seen yet from them,” Baillie said.

He said the PCs would invest in Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie and Kings North MLA John Lohr are concerned with the state of healthcare, roads, the economy and the Yarmouth ferry deal.

mental health services first and foremost, especially for young people, so they can get on with productive lives. When mental health care goes unaddressed, the police and justice system become the front line, he says, which isn’t fair to people with mental illness or their families.

Baillie said emergency room closures are also concerning; the Liberal government hasn’t put together a plan to ensure adequate medical professionals.

Kings North MLA John Lohr wonders about the provincial priorities when emergency rooms and community health clinics are closed due to a lack of doctors.

Lohr also wants to know when a long awaited announcement about the construction of a hospice to serve Kings and surrounding communities will be made.

The County of Kings has put its money in and is concerned, he said. The $4 million raised by the public for the hospice has been sitting there for a couple years, probably declining in value in terms of what it can build. Health Minister Leo Glavine has said for more than two years that the announcement will be made soon.

Lohr said it’s also been a couple years since the announcement of a dialysis unit for the Valley Regional in Kentville was made and still no dialysis.

Ferry ‘extra frustrating’

Baillie said what is “extra frustrating” is that the Liberals have committed at least $100 million to the Yarmouth ferry, which he says is paying for travel lane and terminal upgrades in Portland, Maine.

“If you drive down a road in Kings County and hit a pothole, I know how frustrating it must feel that your tax dollars are going for the roads in Portland and not here at home,” Baillie said.

He said the PCs would cancel the deal and work to find a ferry solution that “makes sense”, taking the millions in savings and spending it on our own roads, schools and hospitals.

Baillie said the ferry numbers to date are “very disappointing,” with less than half the passengers that were anticipated, underlining how bad a deal it is.

“The dollar is low, gas prices are down, the weather is better, we should have a good tourism season,” he said.

Baillie said good roads are good for tourism. Lohr said about twice as much would have to be spent on roads to keep them well maintained.

Lohr said a few roads are getting done but, in Kings North, there are winter potholes yet to be filled. He calls it “a triage situation,” with some of the roughest roads being east-west connectors. Subdivision roads are also bad, he adds.

“I think the local crews are good, there’s just not enough investment in upkeep,” Lohr said. “We’re asking them to do $2 worth of work and we’re giving them $1 to do it with.”

Jobs, the economy and an election

Baillie said another major concern is jobs; Nova Scotia has lost 3,200 jobs since the Liberals took power. He said the economy continues to erode.

“We remain committed to the Ivany report and to a long-term job creation plan,” Baillie said.

Lohr is concerned with mounting losses in the agricultural processing sector and he isn’t sure the agriculture minister has done anything to address this.

Baillie said the best immigration strategy is a growing economy and this will be a big issue when the election comes - whenever that may be. Nova Scotians elect a government to serve a full term and a looming election call at this point is “ridiculous,” he said, and an unnecessary expense. But, whenever the call is made, Baillie said the PCs will be ready.

“It makes you wonder what bad things are coming around the corner that they don’t want us to know about right now,” Baillie said.

The PCs are pledging to pass fixed election date legislation if they are elected - something, Lohr said, the Liberals had promised.