JUNE 01, 2012
MINISTER MUST STAND UP FOR NOVA SCOTIA
Peter MacKay silent as feds continue attacks on Atlantic Canada
OTTAWA – New Democrat MP and Fisheries and Oceans Critic, Robert Chisholm (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour) is challenging Minister Peter MacKay to stand up for Nova Scotia in the wake of severe cuts hidden in the Government’s sweeping Trojan Horse budget bill.
“This Conservative Government just keeps cutting away at some of the institutions and services most important to Nova Scotia,” said Chisholm. “Minister MacKay seems to have nothing to say as his party slashes the institutions and services most important to our province.”
Recent weeks have seen deep cuts to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), the elimination of regional development funding for ACOA and attacks on seasonal workers in the proposed changes to EI.
“This bill is bad for all of Canada,” said Chisholm. “But Stephen Harper seems particularly intent on keeping Nova Scotia on the chopping block. Certainly Minister MacKay and the rest of our province’s Conservative MPs aren’t standing in his way.”
Chisholm, who rose in Question Period today to ask about cuts to DFO and ACOA, has repeatedly challenged the government in the House of Commons and also recently hosted a hearing in Halifax on the proposed changes hidden in the omnibus budget bill.
“The government was hoping that people in Nova Scotia wouldn’t notice the disregard that they’re showing for our province,” said Chisholm. “People have noticed though, and they’re angry. They feel abandoned by this Government. I think Minister MacKay should have to explain the actions of his party to Nova Scotians.”