Watch for my Political Speak column in the Bedford Sackville Weekly News

U.S. Will Still Buy our Goods
(appearing in the February 18, 2010 issue)

As I sit down to write this column, the headline on the newspaper to my right reads “Buy-American provisions won’t apply to Canada.”

“Buy American” was a clause in the $787-billion U.S. economic stimulus package. It specified that all public works projects funded by the stimulus plan could only use materials produced in the U.S. Currently the U.S. accounts for 80 per cent of Canadian exports and this protectionist measure would have been harmful to our national economy. Fortunately Canada has been granted an exemption, meaning all goods produced here in Nova Scotia and across the country will continue to have open access to the U.S. market as outlined in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

One of the main groups pushing for this exemption was The Council of State Government — Eastern Regional Conference (CSG/ERC). This not-for-profit and non-partisan organization is comprised of legislative, executive and judicial branch officials from Maine to Maryland, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and six Eastern Canadian provinces including Nova Scotia. The purpose of the CSG/ERC is to promote region-wide cooperation, advocate for East Coast issues, and educate policymakers and the public on regional priorities and trends.

Recently I was appointed co-chair of the CSG/ERC Canada-U.S. Relations Committee, alongside Sen. William Doyle of Vermont and Assemblyman Robin Schimminger of New York. I’m excited about this opportunity and I'm looking forward to working with other leaders to develop strategies for growth and development for communities on both sides of the border.

On my local front, I’ve long been an advocate of providing the people of Sackville and surrounding communities with greater access to government services. This fall I was happy to see this issue finally addressed with the opening of an Access Nova Scotia location at 486 Sackville Dr. At this facility you can do everything from registering your vehicle, applying for your home-heating rebate, or receiving a business permit. Access Nova Scotia is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and for your convenience Registry of Motor Vehicle Services remain open until 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays. For more information, call 1-800-670-4357 or visit www.gov.ns.ca/snsmr/access.

I started with a headline and so it’s only fair that I end with what’s been in the headlines. Obviously the findings in the Auditor General’s report have people talking. The Auditor General’s office did not contact me or my office about my expenses during his investigation or reporting period. Having said that it is important my fellow MLAs and I all work together to clarify the rules that outline spending so the claims we have recently heard about do not happen again. Clearly the system needs to be fixed and our government is committed to fixing it.

This fall we took drastic steps to eliminate MLA expense practices we believed were inappropriate. We removed the $45,000 special payment defeated or departing MLAs received, and we stopped the practice of MLAs selling their office furniture and keeping the profits. Clearly more work needs to be done, but I assure you we are just getting started. 

To discuss any issue with me just call 864-0396.