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NS: Scandal prompts taxpayers federation to come east
[HALIFAX, NS] — The MLA expense scandal and the recent HST increase have a national taxpayers’ advocacy group planning to open up More
NS: Criticism won’t lead to reduction in MLAs, says NDP
[HALIFAX, NS] — The Dexter government does not intend to reduce the number of MLAs as a cost saving measure, despite criticism from a sitting Liberal MP. Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison said the province is facing an economic catastrophe unless drastic steps are taken — including reducing the number of MLAs. More
NS: MLA spending watchdog OK’s specific exemptions
[HALIFAX, NS] — A new all-party commission created to monitor MLA spending okayed an exemption allowing politicians to play by the old rules a little longer. Any member with leftover funds from the period of January 1 to March 31 of this year will be allowed to spend them on donations and advertising More
PE: IT firm pulls out of Summerside
[SUMMERSIDE, PE] — Summerside is losing more than 40 jobs based out of the Holman Building in the city’s downtown. Carestream Health Inc., which is owned by the Onex Corporation, develops a range of health-related information technology services. The company branch has been located in Summerside for 10 years and is a high-paying employer in the [...] More
NS: Dredging delegation gets hearing but no federal money
[HALIFAX, NS] — A delegation of Cape Breton politicians seeking funding from Ottawa for the dredging of Sydney harbour came away from a meeting with federal ministers with a promise to stay in touch but no commitments of money. The group, led by Nova Scotia Deputy Premier Frank Corbett, which included local MLAs from all three [...] More
NS: NDP may soon face labour unrest as contracts expire
[HALIFAX, NS] — The Canadian Press is reporting that there may be even more tumultuous times in store for the NDP with many labour contracts set to lapse at the end of June, signaling hard bargaining ahead. For more information, read the story at: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/local/article/555124–civil-servant-contract-impasse-signals-potential-labour-unrest-for-n-s-gov-t More
NS: Parties attempt to take high road and resolve dispute
[HALIFAX, NS] — The leaders of the province’s three political parties will meet to try to solve a dispute that has one party boycotting committee meetings. Tory Cecil Clarke announced he and his party would refuse to attend future meetings after storming out of a Public Accounts meeting Wednesday. More
NS: Furious Tories boycott all committees
[HALIFAX, NS] — The Progressive Conservative party has pulled the trigger on a boycott of all government committees in protest of what one member is calling a “parliamentary dictatorship.” Tory MLA Cecil Clarke walked out of a Public Accounts Committee meeting on Wednesday after the NDP majority voted to strike an appearance by Nova Scotia Gaming [...] More
NS: MLA walks out, urges boycott of committee
[HALIFAX, NS] — The provincial legislature’s flagship committee may grind to a halt after a Tory MLA stormed out of a meeting yesterday and plans a full-scale boycott. Tory Cecil Clarke and two members of the Liberal party were livid after being outvoted by the NDP majority on Public Accounts, the legislature’s busiest and most high-profile [...] More
NS: Contentious meeting leads to cuts in speaker’s office
[HALIFAX, NS] — The province is gutting the speaker’s office as it further tries to reform itself after the expense scandal. It’s the outcome of a contentious first-ever meeting of the Assembly Management Commission, the MLA body that replaces the old, secretive system of setting political salaries and perks. More
NB: Graham insists government won’t hike taxes
[MONCTON, NB] — The Times & Transcript is reporting that Premier Shawn Graham is remaining firm in his stance that his government can deliver a balanced budget without burdening New Brunswickers with a higher harmonized sales tax. For more information, read the story at: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/1088482 More
NS: Liberals pan NDP with harsh report card
[HALIFAX, NS] — The Liberals assumed the role of schoolmarm yesterday, releasing an unforgiving report card on the NDP’s first year in office. The report card gives the “grade one” government the final mark of a D (slyly wedged between an N and P). More
NS: Baillie promises new direction for PC party, province
[HALIFAX, NS] – Today, Credit Union Atlantic CEO Jamie Baillie launched his campaign for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party pledging a return to accountability, conservative principles and a new direction for the party and the province. “I want all the people of Nova Scotia to know, in this time of great cynicism [...] More
NS: NDPs made little progress in first year, say analysts
[HALIFAX, NS] - The Canadian Press is reporting that analysts are giving Darrell Dexter and his NDP party a “thumbs down” for their first year in office, saying they haven’t delivered on their promise of a new kind of politics. For more information, read the story at Metro News: http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/canada/article/543576–ndp-s-first-year-in-power-marked-by-little-change-for-nova-scotia-analysts More
NS: Premier defends decision to withhold documents from auditor
[HALIFAX, NS] — On Thursday, Premier Darrell Dexter stood by his government’s decision to temporarily withhold documents from the province’s auditor general. Dexter told reporters the government made the right decision by withholding documents required by auditor general Jacques Lapointe to complete his review on Nova Scotia Business Inc. and the Industrial Expansion Fund. More
