South Shore-St. Margaret's election campaign heats up

“I’m not interested in a nice, quiet campaign. The issues need to be debated. I think this election will be a plebiscite on (MP) Gerald Keddy. I think he sold us out on the Atlantic Accord and he may have to answer for it. Gerald Keddy has been in office too long and we need a representative who will speak up for the South Shore and I will speak up for the South Shore. I think we have a lame duck MP right now.”

He says he is “disgusted by the Conservative Party in general, and by Gerald Keddy.”

For one, he says the Conservative Party’s portrayal of the Green Shift plan involves blatant lies.

“I’m calling him out on the lies. The Green Shift actually puts money back into the pockets of low and middle income Canadians.” The Liberal plan calls for per tonne carbon taxes of up to $40 (after four years) that would be balanced by reductions in traditional taxes as well as some targeted measures towards, for example, the fishing, farming and trucking industries. It also states efforts to reduce carbon emissions would result in numerous green collar jobs.

Dr. Smith says, “Gerald Keddy said this would be a tax on gasoline. If he doesn’t understand the Green Shift then I’d be happy to explain it to him. There’s no direct tax on gasoline. He’s being dishonest about it. This is one of the most profound legislative concepts in history and people are starting to get it.”

He adds both economists and environmentalists have praised the plan and regions like the European Union are considering taxing carbon from environmentally unfriendly countries.

That’s why, Dr. Smith says, he has asked Keddy to debate him one on one.

“If he’s not willing to stand up to us, it typifies the cowardice of this party. Both he and Ronald MacDonald are showing the true colours of the Conservative Party of Canada and Nova Scotia.”

He adds he will host town halls if need be.

He is also “disgusted” with how quickly the Conservatives have reduced the former Liberal government’s surpluses.

“Stephen Harper prides himself on being an economist but has brought us to the brink of a deficit in only two years. There’s going be a deficit this year. That’s why we’re in an election now. If Gerald Keddy wants to debate the Green Shift, it would also be a debate on the economy because the Conservative Party doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”

He says Keddy has been in power for 11 years, yet youth outmigration on the South Shore is in the double digits.

“As a member of parliament, you have to show leadership by working in conjunction with municipalities and the provincial government to keep young people here.”

He hopes economic development issues will be brought to the election.

For example, he says a discussion over the much-touted Atlantic Gateway that is designed to increase trade is focused on Halifax and Canso area improvements.

“Where’s the talk about places like Shelburne’s deep harbour? It’s not even on the radar and anything that’s good for Shelburne would be good for the South Shore. Gerald Keddy should be ashamed of himself.”

As part of this, and for safety reasons, he adds Highway 103 in this area needs vast improvements as well.

Gerald Keddy

Keddy unconcerned with attacks

For policy reasons, South Shore-St. Margarets Conservative candidate and sitting MP, Gerald Keddy is expecting more personal attacks from his Liberal counterpart.

“The Liberals have got some pretty shaky policies to support. It’s anyone’s guess where they’re going to take the economy. The reality is we are in campaign mode; his message is to convince the public the Liberals have the right message and I think he’s going to have a difficult job.”

He says it is “unfortunate” Dr. Bill Smith has called him a liar. “I was elected in 1997 and have taken some difficult stances. I’ve always taken the best position for the people regardless of political affiliations.”

He adds Dr. Smith’s timing when he demanded a debate demonstrates what he expects will unfold during the election.

“It was wrong to put out that press release when I was on my honeymoon. I expect more than that.”

He won’t debate Dr. Smith one on one because he doesn’t believe it is democratic to exclude the other parties. “He can put out all the press releases with their spelling mistakes that he wants.”

On the environment, he says the plans of the other parties are designed for urban areas and will hurt rural Nova Scotians.

“We can talk about urban transit but urban transit is not going to come to rural Canada. We do have a real responsibility to improve the environment and reduce green house gasses and more importantly cut pollution of all kinds.”

Keddy says he is proud to be part of a government that is helping Canada survive the current global economic downturn “better” than any G8 country. “We did that because we are very prudent and clear in our spending.”

He adds, “I’m absolutely confident Canada will not go into a deficit position this year or the year after. At the same time, we have some real challenges in the global economy so now is not the time to bring in new taxes. Our challenge as a government is to work diligently on the environment, but keep the status quo and improve the economy and continue to provide good government.”

He says the Conservatives are going to penalize the polluters, not consumers.

He adds Denmark, a small country, is the only example he can see where a carbon tax has worked. “Canada is unique. It has a small population living in a large area.”

Keddy says he is willing to stand on his record on all issues.

For example, he says he is an “active advocate” in working towards improving this end of Highway 103. “There’s been no better promoter outside of the Highway 103 Committee than me. It may even be announced during this campaign.”

Keddy adds he is also an advocate for utilizing Shelburne Harbour for mid-sized shipping. He says the Conservatives are “playing catch up” to Liberal failures in the past to kick-start the Atlantic Gateway when business went to New York City and a port in Nicaragua. “Canada didn’t even bid on it.”

However, he says, “This file is very active and I’m fully engaged in it.”

Of the Atlantic Accord, he says Prime Minister Stephen Harper “gave his word” it would be corrected, and it was. “It was corrected because Peter MacKay and I risked our careers and stayed the course.”

He adds the Crown Share agreement will give Nova Scotia at least an addition $870-million.

“I think I did a good job as Member of Parliament and ask people to return me to Ottawa to continue that job.”

Michael Oddy

Looking at the big picture - Oddy



South Shore-St. Margarets Green Party candidate, Michael Oddy is concerned with Canada’s failure to address poverty.

He laughs. “We have a wide variety of policies but many people still expect to see us walking in Birkenstocks and wearing a headband while saying hug the trees, hug the trees.”

The high school teacher from Hubbards says, “We want to eliminate poverty by giving everybody a basic wage, a basic income. In 2008, we are one of the wealthier societies and still we have great poverty in this country.”

Much of this would be funded by utilizing funds in the maze of current programs, he says, which would also allow the Greens to save huge amounts of money through reducing bureaucracy.

“We would take all these programs and roll them into one.”

In addition, the Green Party wishes to re-distribute the tax system by bringing in an immediate $50 per tonne carbon tax. Measures such as income splitting and income tax reductions would result.

“Most of the money, especially at the low end of the spectrum would be rolled back into the economy.” Oddy says untold numbers of green collar jobs would result as well.

He adds, however, the environment is not just an economic issue, but a human rights issue as well.

He explains weather patterns are changing around the world, the lack of potable water is becoming a problem in many places, the ice caps are melting, the fisheries is in a state of collapse, the environment is deteriorating, which includes global warming and pollution, some areas of the world, like Bangladesh, could disappear as the ocean waters rise, and oil and gas resources are becoming depleted.

He adds 3,000 people die in southern Ontario each year because of air pollution.

He says government’s failure to look at the “big picture” becomes clear when he looks at his five year old child and the students he teaches.

Sadly, inaction is unnecessary because the environment situation can be improved while also improving the economy through green collar jobs, reducing poverty and sourcing other forms of energy.

For example, he says the technology – as demonstrated in Norway – exists to tap into the huge potential of the Bay of Fundy’s tidal waters. “And we’re still burning coal outside of Halifax.”

This economy would also result in many rural jobs that reduce the outflow of youth from rural areas. He adds he would like to see light rail again and that the school bus system demonstrates even rural areas can have an efficient public transport system.

He also says the Green Party wants fair trade, not free trade. “I tell my students to try and find a product made in China that’s not from a sweat shop.” In addition, he says Africa has gone from being a basket (food) to a basket case.”

Oddy says a vote for the Green Party is especially worthwhile today. “A Green vote is a vote for long term thinking, to try and create a sustainable model for long term civilization. Sometimes the argument is put forth you can’t have one without the other (a good economy and good environment practices). You can have one because humans are part of the eco-system."

Gordon Earle

Putting families and people first - Earle

Federal New Democratic Party candidate, Gordon Earle is entering his third campaign in South Shore-St. Margaret’s and his fifth campaign in total.

The former Halifax West MP says, “We’re really focusing this election on the economy, health care and the environment. We feel we’re the only real opposition to the Conservatives because the Liberals are in such a state of disarray; they didn’t really oppose the government. We’ve been pushing issues and trying to make government work. We really feel people are looking for change and we need to put families and people first instead of pushing the agendas of large corporations and large oil companies.”

He adds the gap between the rich and poor continues to grow, a trend that is especially large in the Atlantic Provinces.

He says manufacturing jobs need to be protected and the economy improved by stimulating the creation of green collar jobs, which involve the environment.

Earle says wind, solar, tidal, and geothermal energy as well as new technologies and the various trades needed to serve them are just some examples of creating jobs while also helping the environment.

He says rural areas would benefit from this focus to a great extent. In fact, he says youth outmigration in general concerns the party and him.

“Nationally, and particularly on the South Shore, there’s not an awful lot for our young people to do. We’re losing much of this valuable resource, this talent that is our young people.”

He says the NDP, which is aiming to form the government, will work to hire more health care workers and stop privatization.

“We’re slowly losing it as private interests take over.” In addition, he says, “It’s a sad day when seniors have to choose between medication and putting food on the table.”

The NDP would also restore the government’s commitment to arts and culture and is promising a national daycare program.

As for costing NDP promises, he says the Conservatives “tossed” billions of taxpayers’ dollars around in the lead-up to the election.

“We have the money. It’s just a matter of directing it at the right priorities.” He says the NDP have carefully priced their promises, like NDP governments in Saskatchewan and Manitoba have over the years.

He adds making large polluters pay through a cap and trade system will be used to reduce emissions and create green collar jobs.

He says “integrity” and “honesty” in politicians is central to his platform.

For example, Atlantic Canadians feel cynical about Harper’s Atlantic Accord changes, he says.

“People are tired of that kind of government, promising anything to get in power and when in power, forget it.”

His vision involves equal opportunities for all Canadians and basing decisions not only on economics and money but also on how they affect people and communities in general.

An example would be closing down a school when it is the “lifeblood” of a community without giving residents a chance to find a way to keep it open.

He adds poverty is becoming worse. He says the process of tackling such a huge issue should be consultative with communities where residents understand the issues locally. “It’s far too easy for people to sit in an office by one’s self and devise a program.”

He adds large scale businesses often do well under the present government but at the expense of small businesses, “which are the economic engines” of Canada.



Joseph Larkin

Scallop fishery main issue for candidate

By Kathy Johnson

TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA

NovaNewsNow.com

The Christian Heritage Party (CHP) of Canada candidate for the South Shore St. Margaret’s riding says the controversy over the Area 29 scallop fishery is the “main issue” in the upcoming federal election.

Shag Harbour retired fisherman Joseph Larkin said he started the ‘no scallop rakes’ campaign nine months ago, after lobster fishermen began finding an unusual number of shell damaged crustaceans in their catch.

While federal fisheries scientists blamed the damage on severe weather and storms, lobster fishermen are not buying it and have spent the summer protesting. They want the Area 29 scallop fishery stopped, particularly in prime lobster fishing grounds, because they feel both lobster stocks and habitat are being damaged.

Since the federal election call, the catchy little bumper stickers calling for ‘no scallop rakes’ now include the CHP logo.

Larkin said he is “passionate” about the lobster fishermen’s cause, and the stand of the CHP.

Some of the Christian Heritage Parties ideals, as taken from party literature include:

- Eliminate the income tax and implement a ‘Fair Tax’ that would boost the economy and put Canadians in charge of the tax they pay.

- Overhaul the health care system, because wait times are too long.

- Promote adoption, not abortion

- Introduce a Family-friendly Childcare Allowance of $1,000 a month for families where one parent stays home to raise the children

- Real protection for our air and water, solutions that encourage good, proactive stewardship practices

- Defend against Human Rights Commission attacks on free speech

- Defend marriage and the family by calling a Royal Commission to study the issue

- Eliminate the national debt, which is currently at $600-billion

- Protect conscience rights

- Affirm the right to protect home and family

With files from Nick Moase