Resurgent Liberals offer further political choice

Nova Scotians will have a clear political choice in the event of a possible general election next year.

It was obvious that the Nova Scotia Liberals are on the rise – just how much is the question.

In the political basement for years, fraught with division and leadership issues, splattered with fall-out from the federal scene, they now seem to have gotten a grip on things and are looking for a formula for winning not only at the polls when the time comes, but also at governing successfully.

Again, it’s obvious that the federal Liberals aren’t much of an example, right now. But there is a good example of successful electioneering and governing nearby – New Brunswick.

Nova Scotians often overlook New Brunswick and its political lessons, despite the relatively recent political greats that province has produced – the late Louis Robichaud and Richard Hatfield, and Frank McKenna and Bernard Lord. Those provincial leaders provided strong leadership in government and development, and received solid national profiles in their respective times.

New Brunswick Premier Shawn Graham was the guest speaker at the Nova Scotia Liberal dinner in the Valley last week. And he had some tips for new Nova Scotia Liberal leader Stephen McNeil, his caucus and party. Making election promises you are able to fulfill, promoting economic development, tax reform and the will to act on them were among the ingredients in Graham’s recipe.

There was a strong Hants County representation at the dinner – which drew a capacity crowd. Hants West Liberal candidate Paula Lunn co-chaired the event with John Pierce of Kings West. Kings-Hants MP Scott Brison was on hand to thank the guest speaker. And young vocalist Emily Rafuse sang ‘O Canada.’

John MacDonell of the NDP and Tory Chuck Porter currently represent Hants County -- and from indications, quite well and with high profiles. MacDonell is a solid veteran, with Porter inheriting his mantel from longtime Tory MLA and cabinet minister Ron Russell.

But the days of two-way races are obviously gone.

Lunn’s surprising second in the last election was a sign that there is a solid Liberal base in Hants West.

A recent Corporate Research Associates quarterly poll showed that Premier Rodney MacDonald’s Tories are in third place with 27 percent, a decline from 32 per cent. McNeil’s slowly resurgent Liberals are second with 30 percent, up two percentage points. And the still first-place Opposition NDP increased a percentage to 38 per cent.

Leadership is also a factor. The popular Opposition leader Darrell Dexter leads the pack at an unchanged 30 percent, with McNeil’s popularity increasing to 23 percent from 20, leaving Premier MacDonald in the cellar with 22 per cent, down from 27.

Things can change quickly in politics, and it will be a year before a general election is likely to take place, but Hants County voters and other Nova Scotians will be in a position to be more choosy in casting their ballots next time. And candidates from all three major parties will have to put out greater efforts on the hustings as well as in governing.

Maybe all parties can take heed of Graham’s successes.