McNeil: Finance Minister’s Comments Mislead Nova Scotians
Liberal leader Stephen McNeil says the NDP finance minister’s comments in the media are out of touch with reality and the government has driven up the cost of living, slashed education and health funding, and have watched 7,900 full time jobs disappear in three years.
In response to an AllNovaScotia.com article questioning the government’s ability to balance its books and cut the HST, the minister wrote: “Restraining spending and transforming government is never easy, but this NDP government has done so while increasing investment in the things that matter to families such as job creation, front-line health care, and classroom education.”
McNeil says the NDP government of Darrell Dexter has handed record amounts of money to big business, but has a poor economic record despite the increased corporate welfare handouts.
“This government promised $468 million to five companies and then watched them lay off 1,068 Nova Scotians,” says McNeil. “We’ve had the worst performing economy in Canada under Darrell Dexter and his government has watched while we lost 7,900 full time jobs in the last three years.”
McNeil says the minister’s assertion the government invested in front-line health care and education is misleading.
“We’ve seen this government cut health care spending by $60 million and they have set records for ER closures,” says McNeil. “This government cut $65 million from primary to 12 education and $75 million from post-secondary education - our children’s classrooms are under resourced and overcrowded.”
“This government refuses to admit they have betrayed the trust of the people of Nova Scotia, but the people will remind them of this fact at the first opportunity.”
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