Election Budget

2009-05-05 06:15:18

What started out as a budget document is now a plank in the Conservative's election platform.    Premier Rodney MacDonald will pay a visit to the province's lieutenant-governor this morning.    That's when he is expected to ask Mayann Francis for an election on June 9th.    MacDonald's minority Conservative government was defeated last evening after losing a vote to amend the Provincial Finance Act.    Both opposition parties had repeatedly said they would not support the bill.    The defeat means this year's budget would have a 260-million dollar deficit.    Expect the political rhetoric to have both the Premier and the opposition blaming each other for forcing us to the polls this summer.

The ballots aren't quite set yet for the five ridings on the south shore. There are two more nomination meetings to come, and both of them involve the Progressive Conservatives.

Community Services minister at dissolution, Judy Streatch is running again in Chester St. Margaret's.  The Liberals will have JoAnn Grant and Denise Peterson-Rafuse is running for the NDP.
In Lunenburg, Rick Welsford is on the ballot for the Liberals and Pam Birdsall for the NDP.  The Conservatives will be chosing between Ron Allen and Peter Zwicker at their nomination meeting tomorrow in Mahone Bay.
Lunenburg West has Natural Resources minister Carolyn Bollivar Getson for the PC's running against Mark Furey for the Liberals and Gary Ramey for the NDP.
In Queens, incumbant New Democrat Vicki Conrad is on the ballot against Wayne Henley of the Liberals and a Conservative candidate who will be chosen next Monday.
And in Shelburne, Sterling Belliveau will be working to hold the seat for the NDP while running against Eddie Nickerson of the Conservatives and Darian Huskilson of the Liberals.

Health money

2009-05-05 06:13:05

South Shore residents are going to be seeing an enhancement of service at the South Shore Regional Hospital. MLA  Carolyn Bolivar-Getson, on behalf of Health Minister Karen Casey, says a multi-million dollar  investment in South Shore Regional Hospital will enhance emergency room service and accommodate a satellite dialysis unit.  Funding was also announced for design work on Queens General Hospital in Liverpool. The design work will enable the Queens project to move forward.  Christopher Clarke co-chair of the hospitals fundraising committee says they've been working towards the project for about 6 years. The 22 medical beds that were built in 1965 will be replaced with modern up to date facilities and there will be a new primary care centre meaning better medical delivery in Queens

Harbour Cash

2009-05-05 06:11:27

17 South Shore harbours will be receiving some money from the Federal Government.  South Shore- St. Margaret's MP Gerald Keddy says the funding will go towards harbour maintenance and dredging projects.  Bush Island, Fox Point, Indian Point, and Mill Cove are among the communities Keddy hopes will see a strengthened economy and new jobs in the commercial fishery as a result of the improvements.  The money is coming from Canada's Economic Action Plan. Nova Scotia will see about 40 million dollars of the 200 million the government set aside for similar projects across the country.

Chrysler Optimism

2009-05-05 06:09:32

A new month, a new agreement and a new sense of optimism at a Bridgewater area Chrysler dealership.  Co-owner Peter Saunders tells CKBW, it was a difficult few months with the uncertainty surrounding the Chrysler Corporation.  Saunders says the agreement with Fiat is an exciting development for the manufacturer.  Business as usual will continue, although Saunders says there may be some challenges with the supply of vehicles but overall he and his staff are relieved with the situation.