ELECTION 2009: Who will you chose?

Just days remain before Nova Scotians head to the polls to divvy up the seats in Nova Scotia’s next legislative assembly, and voters are keeping their cards close to their chests.

Late breaking polls suggest a significant late break toward the NDP, but it is far from clear how this will play over the province’s pronounced rural-urban divide, what effect the final leaders debate will have, or whether traditional allegiances will soften or harden once voters step inside the booth.

All in all, despite a lackluster campaign many prognosticators are predicting a watershed election with the potential to rewire provincial power lines for years to come.

So, as you enter your final weekend of deliberation (or not) here is a summary of many of the priorities expressed in official party platforms, because while June 9 looms large in everyone’s minds today, starting June 10 one of these men will be pushing (or not) the policies described below * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Progressive Conservative Party

Leader: Premier Rodney MacDonald

Annapolis Candidate: Kent Robinson

Contact: 825-3894, 665-3059, pcannapolis@gmail.com, www.pcparty.ns.ca

Campaign Slogan: Proven Record. Economy First. (Side-campaign Slogan: The NDP, A risk you can’t afford)

Platform summary: - The economy: wage freeze for MLAs, deputies, political staff ; improve 2000 km highway ; index personal income brackets ; phase in decreased business tax ; invest in tourism ; rebates on apprentice training ; extend graduate tax credit for NS grads who work in province ; raise Seniors Property Rebate to $600 ; double arts and culture funding in 2010 ; - Rural development: review HRM amalgamation ; invest in Buy Local promotion ; help farmers adapt to changing markets ; review issues surrounding long-term future of agriculture land base ; - Fighting Crime: increase anti-gang funding and officers ; invest in training, staff and equipment ; new forensic science facility ; public curfew for unattended youth under age of 16 ; - Defending Nova Scotia: funding to health authorities and IWK for diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical equipment ; move toward Electronic Health Record ; additional funding to Building Facilities and Infrastructure Together program ; increase tax on tobacco ; invest in long-term care beds ; increase subsidized seats at medical and nursing schools ; create Integrated Learning Centre for health professionals at Dal ; expand Nova Scotia Child Benefit, increase access to Children's Low Income Pharmacare Program ; increase employment support, income assistance rates for personal, shelter allowances ; phase in 2000 new NSCC seats ; funding for Nova Scotia University Student Bursary Trust ; - Roads and Infrastructure: improved energy conservation at government buildings, schools, hospitals ; invest in roads, highways, bridges ; improve schools, invest in technology ; renovate hospitals, build affordable housing, courts, jails ; preserve and enhance tourism, culture, heritage. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

New Democratic Party

Leader: Darrell Dexter

Annapolis Candidate: Henry Spurr

Visit: www.ns.ndp.ca

Campaign Slogan: For Today’s Families

Platform summary: - Create the secure jobs Nova Scotia’s economy needs: invest in infrastructure ; 10% Manufacturing and Processing Investment Credit ; one-year 50% HST rebate on construction ; develop 10-year farm strategy ; staff for direct-marketing of primary industries ; protect resources and access through Community Land Trust ; pilot program for Prior Learning Assessment ; - Keep emergency rooms open and reduce health care waits: open hospital beds ; fund for hiring doctors ; reduce surgery waits with “Pre-Hab” ; hire advisor to improve emergency care ; reduce doctor paperwork, set preventative care standards ; Drug Management Policy Unit ; more primary care nurse practitioners ; - Ensure more young people stay and build a life here in Nova Scotia: tax incentives for grads ; 250 new NSCC seats ; keep targeted community schools open ; 250 subsidized child-care spaces ; - Take the HST off home energy to make life more affordable: 8% tax decrease on home electricity ; 1000 home insulation grants ; retrofit schools, community organizations ; review auto insurance ¬- Fix rural roads and keep communities strong: 50% budget increase for secondary road resurfacing ; enhance bridge and truck inspection ; address suburban challenges ; increase immigration targets, immigration job strategy ; after-school program ; stabilize funding for women’s transition centres ; - Give seniors options to stay in their homes and communities longer: self-managed care allowances, personal alert assistance ; funds for home adaptation ; end security deposits for long-term senior care ; more restorative care ; more nurse practitioners - Live within our means: audit province’s finances; reduce Cabinet from 12 to 8 members ; seek 1% savings through Expenditure Review * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Liberal Party

Leader: Stephen McNeil

Annapolis Candidate: Stephen McNeil (Incumbent, first elected 2003)

Contact: 825-6632, 532-1571, info@annapolis.liberal.ns.ca, www.liberal.ns.ca

Campaign Slogan: New Leadership, A Real Plan

Platform summary: - Education: open-house resource for three year olds ; support grant to support local initiatives ; increase screening to identify developmental issues, and enhanced special needs ; website to assist parents seeking childcare spaces ; more support for classroom assistants, afterschool academic support programs, social resources ; appoint curriculum advisory committee ; develop personal finance curriculum to teach students to budget, save and plan finances ; $1000 credit to teachers for classroom supplies, tools ; support development of post-secondary research parks to attract business and retain talent ; reduce tuition to national average ; address educational infrastructure deficit ; - Less government, more prosperity: February holiday ; freeze user fees ; remove HST on funerals ; remove gas regulation, reduce fuel tax; reduce small business tax from to one per cent ; microcredit lending for small business ; place Industrial Expansion Fund under management by Nova Scotia Business Inc. ; invest in roads ; establish Nova Scotia Public Pension Plan, direct pension fund managers to seek Nova Scotia investments ; double arts and culture funding by 2010-11 ; promote tourism, target emerging markets ; - Primary industries: sustainable foresting plan ; infrastructure spending to support agricultural industry ; establish Industry Safety Association for Inshore fisherman ; - Health care when and where you need it: free medical tuition for 20 doctors per year who agree to serve five years in underserviced area ; recruit international doctors ; improve emergency room access with database to manage doctor availability across District Health Authorities ; reduce ER demand through same-day doctor’s scheduling techniques ; improve licensing and skills upgrade processes for international doctors ; expand caregiver allowance program ; reinstate seniors’ $30 co-pay cap ; create legal framework for drug recycling; develop palliative care strategy ; fund insulin pumps ; increase tobacco tax ; - Stronger, safer communities: fund for community-led recreational infrastructure, programming development ; more public prosecutors ; enhanced equipment, staffing at correctional facilities ; - Protecting our environment: double investment in transit and transit infrastructure ; ban non-recyclable plastic bags from stores, ban non-recyclable plastic from restaurants ; cover complete cost of energy audits ; put limit on annual logging from Crown lands ; - Renewed energy leadership: increase regional cooperation on energy production, export ; immediate investment in transmission infrastructure ; allow renewable energy producers to sell directly to consumers ; revocation of oil, gas discovery licenses if no development within five years of significant discovery ; require Utility and Review Board (URB) to consider social responsibility and public good during Nova Scotia Power (NSP) rate adjustment hearings ; require NSP to make quarterly updates on environmental, efficiency and long-term security goals ; monthly NSP reports to URB on outages, grid reliability ; - Social Justice: endorse recommendations of Poverty Reduction Working Group ; - A more diverse and inclusive Nova Scotia: rejuvenation of Seaview look-off, development of church and Africville Interpretive Centre ; make businesses more accessible, develop Accessibility for Nova Scotians with Disabiliteis Act ; fund Disability Navigator ; - Make government more accountable for management and expenditure of taxpayer money * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Green Party

Leader: Ryan Watson

Annapolis Candidate: Jamie Spinney

jamie.spinney@smu.ca, www.greenparty.ns.ca

Platform summary: - Natural Resources Utilization and Protection: effect a comprehensive natural resource strategy through meaningful citizen consultation ; use Genuine Progress Index ; attain air, water, food, energy security, and reduced exposure to hazardous chemicals and radiation ; protect areas, species at risk ; investigate opportunities to buy back Nova Scotia lands, retain Crown ownership of lands ; work with federal and municipal levels to increase manufacturer responsibility over product lifespan ; pressure federal on international trade agreements that limit control of how capital and resources are used ; ensure equitable treatment of rural communities’ social, economic needs ; develop process for citizens to call for ethical, social, environmental, and technical compliance ; new development within sound ethical, social framework in compliance with scientific, technical assessment. - Community Health and Prosperity: formulate comprehensive social strategy through meaningful citizen consultation ; meet basic health, education, economic needs within or near communities ; incorporate successful NGOs, grassroots organizations ; develop strategies for housing, poverty reduction, decentralized health care, modernized education ; invest in local innovation, agriculture, infrastructure ; develop intragovernmental network to reduce duplication of services ; collaborate with federal and municipal governments ; ensure secure access to affordable shelter, nutritious food, clean water, clean air, and fair wage ; respect local and imported cultures ; reduce male-female wage gap ; use internet to establish two-way communication so citizens can monitor and participate in political decision-making ; needs-assessment for every community in Nova Scotia ; cost-benefit analyses on existing mechanisms of social service delivery. - The Green platform also breaks out ideas for Aboriginal Affairs, Agriculture, Clean Air, Climate Change, Creativity, Electoral Reform, Energy Security, Food Security, Fisheries, Forestry, Health, Job Creation, Minerals, Poverty, Water Security * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more fulsome information on parties’ promises and priorities and how they plan to implement them, visit party websites or contact your local riding offices.

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