The Progressive Conservative leader and Cumberland South candidate held the official opening of his campaign office in Springhill Monday evening with a barbecue and informal meet and greet.
“I’m so excited, we are winning this thing,” said Baillie. “We have Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin in Cumberland North, a great candidate, I feel very good about Cumberland South, and we have great candidates right across the province.”
People are looking at the Conservatives because they are not happy with Premier Stephen McNeil and they want change, according to Baillie, who added he is very optimistic about his platform.
“The bottom line is we want to put people to work rebuilding the province’s infrastructure,” he said. “That’s twinning our highways, that’s rural internet for all Nova Scotians, connecting everyone to the world, that is doubling the budget for rural roads for 10 years to get them back in shape.”
It only takes a drive around Cumberland County to see how rural roads have been neglected in Nova Scotia, according to Baillie.
“I think those rural roads represent jobs, they represent hope for growth in our communities, and we’re going to invest in them,” he said.
Another difference in this election is that the Liberals have a record to defend, a record that Baillie said includes chaos in the schools due to the recent labour blowup with the province’s teachers.
He also pointed out the thousands of Nova Scotians without a family doctor, four years after McNeil promised a doctor for everyone, and said issues like these are on the minds of all Cumberland County residents.
“In Cumberland South, people know in me they have someone who fights for roads, fights for more doctors,” said Baillie. “I am running for premier, but the most important job I’ll ever have is to be MLA for Cumberland South, and that always comes first. If you can be premier and get more things done, that’s a plus.”
The May 30 ballot in Cumberland South will be a rematch between Baillie, Liberal candidate Kenny John Jackson, and NDP candidate Larry Duchesne.
