PROMISES, PROMISES
Columnist offers a glimpse of what Nova Scotia might hear from new PC leader Tim Houston.
After wishing everyone well and asking God to bless all Nova Scotia, Progressive Conservative Party President Tara Miller issued the statement that her Party emerged from its recent convention united and dedicated to the shared purpose of forming the next government and returning Nova Scotia to a prosperous future.
Apparently, our prosperity has been interrupted by successive New Democrat and Liberal governments. Such is the language of politics. All parties adopt it to describe their opponents.
The leadership campaign had a prevailing sense of bitterness and seeming irreconcilable differences, particularly here in Cape Breton where the chief backers of newly elected leader Tim Houston displayed a visceral dislike for Cecil Clarke. At every turn they did their utmost to engage in the most scurrilous type attacks against him.
Yet, strangely enough, the healing process has begun. For as much as politics has a language it, as well, has a standard method of operation. This method demands discipline and obedience so that the team will succeed in achieving its most cherished objective: power.
For the Tories, that method is enhanced by the natural forces of political momentum. All things being equal, they will have the next turn at government. After eight or so years of being in, it will be time for the Liberals to be out, with the PC’s championing, as the Liberals did a short time ago, the message of reform, prosperity, better health care, of course, and every other conceivable form of political salvation.
So works the natural cycle of our politics. It will repeat itself with the parties reversing positions in the same threefold reciprocal game of blame, win the election and govern … until your turn remerges to bear the blame.
Yet, for the time being, the Houston team celebrates a resounding victory. Its chieftains are already assigning the positions that go with power. Some have gone so far to announce what roles each will occupy in the soon-to-be new government. They have about them a sense of urgency matched only by the bitterness they earlier displayed against Clarke. These are clearly important people and we dare not interfere with their march to the new political order in our province.
Having been treated so many times in the past to the stated wonders of what political parties will do when elected, might we not now speculate on the forthcoming similar works Houston will bring forth. Long ago United States President Woodrow Wilson had his 14 points. Let us then describe these as Houston’s 14 points, PC Party style.
1. We are going to talk more with Nova Scotians and get their views.
2. We are going to prioritize spending. This will allow us to provide more and tax less. Oh yes, it will allow us to balance the budget in the process.
3. We are going to emphasize transparency and accountability.
4. Nova Scotians want an efficient government. They do not want waste. We will end waste with brilliant efficiencies.
5. We will lead a humble and respectful government. No one thought of that before.
6. We believe in fairness and more fairness. In fact, we want fairness everywhere throughout the system.
7.This government has destroyed health care. We will rebuild it after, of course, we talk with Nova Scotians and consult with experts. We don’t know how we are going to do it right now, but we are going to do it. Put us in there and we will show you.
8. The same goes for education. Our education system under this government is missing out on the modern world. We are going to find ways, yet unknown, on how to provide a better education system.
9. We are going to strengthen the ability of the private sector to create jobs; lots of jobs, jobs will be everywhere.
10. Rural Nova Scotia has been forgotten. We are going to remember it.
11. Ottawa is not doing enough for this province. We are going to make it do more, lots more.
12. It’s time for sound business practices to play a bigger role in government. We are going to bring business practices to government.
13. We won’t play favourites in how we govern.
14. We will be not only transparent and accountable but answerable to you. In fact, we will appoint a minister responsible for being answerable.
Based on these guiding lights a new era will soon begin in Nova Scotia politics. Get ready for all these changes. I am willing to wager you never heard anything like them before. Did I mention that they will all be positive and forward-looking ones, designed to build a better future for all of us?