NEW GLASGOW: With three candidates now nominated in Strait area ridings and a two-term MLA expected to reoffer in the fourth, provincial Progressive Conservative (PC) Leader Jamie Baillie is confident about his party’s chances in an election that could be called within the coming weeks.
Baillie attended last Saturday’s nomination meeting for Cape Breton-Richmond, which saw entrepreneur Alana Paon officially confirmed as the riding’s PC candidate before a crowd of approximately 175 people, according to organizers. Baillie also attended the “Rock Ya Like a Hurricane” high school hockey tournament, a benefit for an Isle Madame resident, a Chase the Ace fundraiser at the D’Escousse Civic Improvement Hall, and a “Tory Talks” session in Louisdale.
With Paon carrying the Tory colours along with musician and businessman Ray Mattie in Antigonish, long-time teacher Bob Wolf in Guysborough-Eastern Shore-Tracadie, and incumbent MLA Allan MacMaster in Inverness, Baillie was upbeat about his party’s Strait area representation when he spoke to The Reporter Friday afternoon.
“We have excellent candidates – the best ever, and I’m very proud of them,” Baillie enthused, noting that his party presents a viable alternative to the approach of Liberal Premier Stephen McNeil.
“We have now seen the McNeil government in action for three-and-a-half years, and it seems like all they know how to do is cut things. Well, I didn’t get into politics to cut things… I want to build the economy, create jobs, build the tax base, and I know that’s what the next election is going to be about – their cuts versus our growth. And I know that we’re going to win when that election comes.”
While Baillie’s party has been out of power for the past eight years, he suggested that the Nova Scotia PCs are ready to offer the province a fresh start, in contrast to the ideas put forth by McNeil and New Democrat Leader Gary Burill.
“I know Mr. Burill means well, and I’m not going to criticize him too much, other than to say that he was a part of the Darrell Dexter government, and it’s fresh in their minds what that government did to the economy of our province,.” Baillie pointed out.
“I haven’t served in government. I left a good job at Credit Union [Atlantic] because I want to be a new kind of government that focuses on growth and opportunity, and not cuts. So when people are looking for an alternative, I’m asking them to give me a try, as well as candidates like Alana, and I think that’s where the support is headed, and I’m very excited about that.”
Asked for his key areas of focus with regards to the Strait region, Baillie cited his party’s desire to infuse more vocational training within the public school system and provide a stronger focus on mental health awareness and treatment.
Although he expressed enthusiasm about local economic development prospects such as the planned Bear Head LNG project, Baillie also insisted that primary industries such as the fishery and forestry sectors must be respected by government officials.
“There are people in Halifax that look down on our primary industries, but I reject that,” the PC Leader insisted. “They are an ongoing source of jobs and opportunities in rural Nova Scotia, and I want to lead a government that promotes those primary industries.”
