SPRINGHILL – Two years down, and maybe there’s an election around the corner.
Cumberland South MLA and leader of Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives Jamie Baillie was the spotlight of the PC’s annual AGM banquet here Friday, where party faithful and supporters celebrated Baillie second year at the helm of the riding.
The experience, Baillie says, has been rewarding and humbling. Baillie admits he’s a “come-from-away’er” but the reception and trust the riding gave him to be their elected representative, Baillie says, is something he will never forget.
“The greatest honour I will ever have I to be your elected member of the legislature,” Baillie said. “I intend to return that favour over and over again.”
Baillie championed the success stories of the riding since elected, including the paving of the lower Road; upgrades and call for tenders for revamping schools; the provincial-federal partnership to repair the Advocate Harbour sea wall; the major expansion to the Age of Sail museum; the new roof and flooring for the Diligent River community centre; Department of transportations commitment to fixing the aboiteau in Parrsboro; and the ongoing push to have the Lynn Mountain Bridge replaced sooner-than-later than the NDP government has prioritized it.
And soon, Baillie says, he will introduce a motion in the legislature to exempt the non-commercial portion of the Anne Murray Centre to be exempt from taxes, securing its future for years to come, he says.
“These are important things for Cumberland South,” Baillie said. “None are accidental. They don’t happen on their own. We have to work non-stop on these things.”
Dignitaries from throughout Cumberland County, including elected officials and officials-in-waiting since the municipal elections on Oct. 20, were given a guest address by Federal Defense Peter MacKay, who championed veterans, the work of provincial Progressive Conservatives under Baillie’s leadership, and a swipe at the NDP for taking credit when it isn’t due, specifically the provincial government’s Ships Start Here campaign, which McKay says had nothing to do with Nova Scotia winning the $25 billion shipbuilding contract.
“We had a fair, transparent competition to award it,” MacKay said. “The NDP in Halifax didn’t have anything to do with it.”
While the NDP have been in power for three years now, here in Nova Scotia, it’s probable al election could be called in 2013. Legislature will expire June 14, 2014, at which point the Lieutenant Governor is not required to call an election.
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