Hear him Roar

It can’t hurt. Stephen McNeil’s election as leader of the provincial Liberal party should be good news to the people at this end of the province.

The last time one of “our people” was leader of a major political party was 50 years ago when Henry Hicks lead the Liberals to power.

It could be argued that McNeil will have less time to devote to the concerns of the area. As leader of the provincial party he will have to spread his attention and effort around the province.

But a leader from here means that the concerns of southwest Nova Scotia will not be ignored. In a minority government even the leader of the third place party has an important voice in Halifax.

McNeil has promised to be a loud voice.

“Every time the Tories turn their backs on the people of Nova Scotia, they will hear me roar,” he said during his acceptance speech.

The concerns and challenges of communities at this end of the province are different than the concerns and challenges in metro.

McNeil is in a position to explain those differences and to fight for a forgotten corner of the province.

We have no highway, no doctors, the wharf is collapsing and the ferry is only secure for another year and three-quarters.

McNeil has a lot of roaring to do.