The federal election looms and Nova Scotians still wait for something to spark their interest. The unravelling of the SNC-Lavalin issue has provided only intermittent flurries in an otherwise dull lead-in to what should be a no-holds-barred fight to the finish.
For Canada’s East Coast generally and Nova Scotia in particular, the pre- election scuffles have been small and quickly doused. (This includes the annouced defection of New Brunswick New Democratic Party candidates who were said to have pledged allegiance to the Green Party.) Nova Scotia, like much of the country, saw red during the previous federal election, backing Justin Trudeau and electing only Liberals. That scenario is unlikely to be repeated.
Still, there is no blistering debate over the ethics of the current prime minister, and the mudslinging that clings to Conservative leader Andrew Scheer apparently hasn’t created more than sporadic outrage or endorsement.
We are a practical province, and while we love a little political gossip with our morning cup of tea, ultimately the issues for us are closer to home. Quite frankly, we want to know: what’s in it for us?
To date, there has been primarily resounding silence in answer to this question. Admittedly, there is not much gift-giving elsewhere in the country, but, disappointingly, there has not been even a whiff of political largesse for Canada’s ocean playground.
Our hopes were buoyed when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau held a press conference here this summer. CTV News even sent a camera crew, presumably in anticipation of something meaty. Instead, we were told a new advisory committee would be created to help promote apprenticeships and skilled trades across Canada. Important? Certainly. But not voteworthy.
Nova Scotia has a history of politicians who disappoint, retreat and land themselves in legal hot water. This includes the MLA who purchased a generator for the community from funds in his political expense account, then kept it in his basement – and another MLA who was charged with five counts of “uttering forged documents,” but still refused to resign his seat in the provincial legislature. We are used to politicians who colour outside the lines. Indeed, we expect nothing less.
So, ethics issues tend to bore us. We’re less interested in a politician’s self- interest and more in our own. Some of the bigger debate items – carbon pricing and immigration – are important to us, and we will voice our opinions (in favour of both, generally).
But they will not make or break our vote. That will depend on what is promised to the province post-election.
The Halifax Chamber of Commerce put together a list of its top issues and phrased them in the form of questions for members of the business community to ask candidates – from the rousing “What current [Student] Work-Integrated Learning programs will your party support?” to “Why does your party believe a predictable investment climate is important for the business climate?” But these are not even Nova Scotia questions per se; they are aligned with national issues spotlighted by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
And so we wait. For the scandal that will spur us to gather for heated conversations over the morning cup of Morse’s (a popular tea sold only in the Maritimes). For the promise we know is waiting somewhere in the electoral wings.
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