j44

If that Is the case why would McKay accept the previous demotions?

I want McKay gone from cabinet. Period. But I can't see The Boss switching those 2. It would essentially be a demotion for Baird and despite my dislike of this government's foreign policy I think Baird is decent at FAIT And McKay moving there would be a promotion. And be a sign of weakness from The Boss. Possibly.

If that is your case I don't see a reason to go on.

You gave one example.

In my opinion, you only demonstrated that a free market western magazine disagrees with an anti-west socialist.

^Doesn't this just show that they are pro free-market and western?

I'd say they are more free market and pro-west than right wing.

I don't see that line as being controversial or sensational. It is just inaccurate.

I wouldn't say The Economist is a mostly right leaning publication. It is for free-market principles and pushes them hard but anyone who thinks it is right wing has never read past the first page.

On its face this seems like a 'here comes the axe' type appointment.

I'm not criticizing for criticisms sake. I just want to see some variety.

Pretty much anything else. It isn't like there is nothing but this or Senate attendance.

True. I get your point. But even with the mishandling a lot of the story is filler.

The Rescue was/is done poorly. But does this have to be on the news 24/7? No disrespect to the victims and their family and friends and the community. But how many times can they tell us what happened and how many locals can they interview to tell us how horrible it is? Is this just me? I know the networks are trying to fill time but there is other things going on.

I think the last show is tonight. Thank God. Unless they find something worse to replace it

I'm not surprised at the language but I'm a little surprised that they are stupid enough to put it in emails.

The 30-60 seconds that I have to endure of him when I turn on The National a little early is pure agony. No joke.

I'm more interested to see how the recent cabinet changes play out. Steele and Estabrooks both leaving are big blows in my mind. They were my two favorite NDPers in this gov. My immediate reaction to the news of the press conference (and after Steele said he was out) was 'they have no one to replace Steele.' Now, MacDonald has been one of the most capable minsters at Health and Wellness but her in Finance? It will be interesting. They had no one else even close to step into Steeleès shoes. I was a bit surprised with Wilson going into Health. I understand he was a paramedic and all and I am not sure if anyone else had any health etc related past but him going from Culture and Heritage to Health is a HUUUUUGE jump. I should say that by a bit surprised I mean a lot. Also, one of the pollsters said made a comment about the poll numbers reflecting the fact that we have 2 equally strong opposition parties here. I forget the exact quote and they both might be somewhat equal but they are terribly weak in my opinion. It is kind of disappointing. So McNeil is our alternative as PremierÉ Yikes. Also, Ièm sure the NS Power rate stuff is pushing down there numbers in my opinion. Not that there is not legitimate push back from Education cuts etc but I bet NSP is the #1 issue in most minds.

Bibi broadening his coalition means he doesn't have to think of the far-right/settlers every time he makes a decision. For someone who is notoriously risk averse maybe this will give him more incentive to make some tough decisions.

I agree. And I'm not convinced they sent their best the the World's this year. didnt they send and dress a prospect? As good as Murray is he isn't one of this country's best. Off the top of my head...Carey Price. I've got no problem with him between the pipes in Sochi.

I understand the nat. gas revenue not being there and the need to increases the HST (I think the projection was a 1.5 billion deficit for their first year in if they didn't raise taxes). I just worry that some of their policies are doing some harm to the economy. And I worry about the near and medium term outlook for the economy and I'm not 100% convinced the Ships are the save all it is being made out to be. You could be right though. I just have concerns. I think the Liberals don't know if they are for or against regulation. They came out swinging when accused of being against it but then criticized the NDP for paying for a study that came out in favor of it. Although it was done by a failed NDP candidate from NB. I didn't know the figures about out cost of power compared to other provinces. That is a fair point. The most recent rate hike news came a few days before the executives pay was released and it came out they held a party the day before the hike was announced. That doesn't help their PR and doesn't soothe public anger...obviously.

I understand the nat. gas revenue not being there and the need to increases the HST (I think the projection was a 1.5 billion deficit for their first year in if they didn't raise taxes). I just worry that some of their policies are doing some harm to the economy. And I worry about the near and medium term outlook for the economy and I'm not 100% convinced the Ships are the save all it is being made out to be. You could be right though. I just have concerns. I think the Liberals don't know if they are for or against regulation. They came out swinging when accused of being against it but then criticized the NDP for paying for a study that came out in favor of it. Although it was done by a failed NDP candidate from NB. I didn't know the figures about out cost of power compared to other provinces. That is a fair point. The most recent rate hike news came a few days before the executives pay was released and it came out they held a party the day before the hike was announced. That doesn't help their PR and doesn't soothe public anger...obviously.

They did sell it off. The issue is that they hike the rates fairly often. It seems every few months and in a province that isn't exactly booming people are understandably frustrated. The opposition doesn't really have a solution. The Liberals just talk about 'breaking Nova Scotia Power's monopoly' and the PC's yell about not knowing what the hydro costs will be and complaining about money being spent on green tech. Something should have been done about this issue like 10 years ago. The previous PC (under Rodney McDonald's minority) spent like hell to stay in power and the NDP came in and have basically had to keep that spending up (hence the taxes increases...HST, high end income rate etc). The NDP have been spending more on roads and I thought the tax increases and some cuts here and there was bringing down the province's debt but I've recently discovered the debt is projected to go up. I'm torn a bit with the NDP's performance. I liked the idea of debt coming down but that isn't happening. I was and still am against the labor bills they passed and the way they handled the possible health care strike (it will probably result in a 6% to 9% raise for the workers over I think 3 years. so that means all gov. workers will want and probably get that amount when their contracts start expiring) and their lack of a plan for economic growth but I'm not sure what the other options are and the other two parties don't seem to have any great ideas.

I agree (but I think the decline was 30,000). I would prefer they cut some school board admin. too but that might be a political no go or a battle the NDP don't want to have. In one instance a school board was told to cut 1.7% of their budget and they responded by cutting all 41 librarians in their district. This was obviously a tactic and didn't help the debate. When the opposition screamed murder the Education Minister put a stop to the 41 cuts and she was called undemocratic. Make sense? Nope. I agree with the cuts actually. I don't know the specifics but they seem pretty reasonable. When you get into cutting assistants for special needs kids I get a little confused and it is hard to cut through the political pandering and separate fact from fiction.

I just wanted to bump this thread and get some thoughts on the legislative session that just ended. I will post some thoughts soon but I just wanted to hear some thoughts on the stuff in the news and in QP lately. Nova Scotia Power raising rates AGAIN. Education cuts The gov. promising (and putting it into legislation so people will believe one of their promises on taxes) to lower the HST 2% to where it was when they came into office OR some thoughts on some 'scandals'....Talbot House fiasco etc. Also, watching QP I've come to the conclusion that Percy Parris (Min. of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism) is downright stupid. I generally think Ministers and even back benchers have some level of intelligence but I don't see an ounce of it in this man.