NDP sweep to massive majority government in Nova Scotia
A continuation from this thread
http://rabble.ca/babble/atlantic-provinces/nova-scotia-election-results
Once again Liberals show us their high ethical standards
And in Truro-Bible Hill, a traditional Tory stronghold, actress Lenore Zann was elected for the NDP.
Zann received an apology before the campaign began when a Liberal campaign worker leaked to the media a topless photo of her.
The digitally blurred image featuring a bare-breasted Zann - which aired on a TV newscast - was taken from her appearance on the The L Word, an American-Canadian television melodrama about a circle of lesbian friends and lovers
Fage among prominents who go down to defeat in Nova Scotia election
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jjz8CkRygQN...
So farewell to Nova Scotia
Premier Rodney McDonald
May your future dark and dreary be
For when I first joined the party back in 1984
Never did I think the Premier would be NDP
seems like a lot of them will be looking for new employment opportunities, wonder what their chances are after pulling shit like this?
Maybe everybody in Canada has heard it. But if you haven't, Scott's words are a takeoff after the first line of the anthemic song.
Ontario NDP take note: this tremendous success came from presenting a centerist platform that spoke to "pocketbook" issues.
Most notably the fuel tax.
This is the key to engineering voter appeal. The people must be bought.
Elecrtoral success will not come from socialist sabre rattling. It scares educated propertied people. (i.e. the middle class)
Stick on the message of anti HST, talk down the rest of the wacko rhetoric, keep it simple, hire organizers that worked on the Nova Scotia campaign (and not inner circle flunkies who will only give you an half day labour for a full day wage) since they are no doubt pumped by their victory, bring in the new Nova Scotia premier for photo ops and show Ontarians that we can do it here too.
Good luck!
Don't agree that a centrist platform is required, or that it is a necessary adjunct of the other things you mention. There is plenty of territory between the cardboard cutouts of socialist sabre rattling and centrist.
And I vehemently disagree that people needed to be bought. In either polling questings or even probing focus groups I doubt you would find the little HST tax cuts had much impact on people.
They presumably did play a role in continuing the long term stream of the NDP differentiating... but even there its not at all clear that is a pure pocketbook pitch. Certainly not something as simple as 'buying'.
Looks like an olive branch - let's grab it, and work together for the environment.
Greens like NDP victory
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Election/9012110.html
I read it as just something for them to say.
This isn't the Green Party of Canada. It's a rinky dink tiny outfit with absolutely no base. There really isn't anything to work with except a name. And working with an empty brand to my mind is just a gesture withhout substantive or pragmatic purpose.
I posted this at the tail end of the predecessor thread.
Greens get 2% of vote
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Election/9012097.html
Actually, 2.3%
The leader ran in the riding with by far the largest student population, and got 4%
The party spent about $30,000 this time around, compared to about $10,000 in its first campaign in 2006.
So, with as much total revenue as the NSNDP had in the mid-Nineties, in the 3 years since public funding started the NSGP has gone backwards slightly in the vote share. In fact, barely maintaining the 2% required to keep that $11,000 per month coming in.
And the little attention they got during the campaign was a hundred times more than they get the rest of the time. Yet they spent only $30K of all that money on the election?
Certainly wonder where the money does go.
I'm going to abandon a duplicte thread I started at the same time as this one, and bring here the content from it:
Here's my cabinet speculation.
Definites:
Maureen MacDonald
Howard Epstein
John MacDonell
Graham Steele
Leonard Preyra
Percy Paris
Bill Estabrooks
Pretty Sure:
Michele Raymond
Marilyn More
Frank Corbett
either Stirling Beliveau or Vicki Conrad [probably latter]
Beyond that, way too many variables to juggle.
I think it would be really cool if 26 year old Matt Wynott is in Cabinet. Has a good shot because he is capable, confident, and has worked closely with Darell and caucus.
reply to apoint that most of those are from Metro:
3 of those 11 are Metro.
I just said who I think will be there. The veterans are predominately from Metro. There are none among the new/newer MLAs I would pick as particular ones going to be there.... but at least several will be there, and they are all from the rural mainland.
[John Mac is rural mainland. Conrad and/or Bellivieu, ditto. Corbett, Cape Breton.]
___________________________________________________________________
Lenore Zann by the way is not just a world travelling actress. She's also someone who clearly understands the culture industry, and has spent a lot of time since returning to her hometown lobbying hard to open a performing arts school there as part of the community college system.
Other than that, I know very little or nothing other than thier bios about most of the new MLAs. I don't remember hearing that any of them has any kind of political or comparable experience- Zann included.
I'm guessing that being new to actually running government, Darrel is going to be pretty cautious about adding many rookies to the mix; and probably none in the inner circle and/or higher profile ministries.
"This isn't the Green Party of Canada. It's a rinky dink tiny outfit with absolutely no base. There really isn't anything to work with except a name."
That sounds just like the Green Party of Canada to me!
We don't agree on that.
But using your standard of measurement, if the GPC is a rinky dink outfit, then the NSGP is a barely visible speck.
sounds about right to me.
BTW: I wonder what EMay and the Green party would have to say about the fact that despite her chewing up vast resources on trying to win Central Nova and supposedly building a base for the so-called Green Party there - it would appear from looking at the provincial numbers that any "roots" that the greens tried to establish in that area are DEAD. If you look at the five provincial ridings that are in the federal riding of Central Nova - it is notable that the NS Greens had almost no support at all - literally about 1% in each riding. How come May didn't unleash her "army" or volunteers to try to elect any of her provincial green compatriots in that area?
KenS...
I have a feeling that either Clarrie MacKinnon or Charlie Parker (probably Parker) will also be in cabinet. Darrell will probably have to pick one of three Pictou MLA's to be in cabinet.
True.
[and same principle as me saying either Conrad or Bellivieau]
And in both Pictou and South Shore cases [3 and 5 MLAs]- at least one from each.
Predicting Cabinet members, are we?
I'll give it a shot!
Since Darrell has said it would be a 12-member cabinet, not including himself. Sounds like he might take on a portfolio himself.
Graham Steele will be finance minister. Of that I'm sure. (1)
John MacDonell as Agricultural Minister. ditto (2)
Both Cape Breton M.L.A.'s, Frank Corbett and Gordie Gosse, will be there. (3 & 4)
The 'Class of '98' members, Maureen MacDonald, Charlie Parker, & Bill Estabrooks will probably be there. (5, 6, & 7) Howard Epstein would most likely not get a cabinet post, but rather be given Government Whip, or possibly be nominated for Speaker.
Sterling Beliveau (Fisheries) and Vicki Conrad (Transportation?) would be likely, as Western N.S. representation (8 & 9)
For geographic reasons, Ramona Jennex (Kings South) and Lenore Zann (Truro-Bible Hill) would be looked at. (10 & 11)
Which leaves one cabinet post for another Metro M.L.A. (Percy Paris? Marilyn More? Michelle Raymond?) tough to choose!
Those are my guesses!
Stay tuned!
I hope that Dexter actually breaks his campaign pledge for just a 12 member caucus... though I doubt it. Wasn't the best idea especially now with 31 MLA's.
Welcome to Nova Scotialism!
My cabinet minister predictions (haven't predicted portfolios yet)
Cape Breton
1.Frank Corbett
2.Gordie Gosse
Mainland
1.John MacDonell
2.Charlie Parker
3.Vicki Conrad
4.Sterling Beliveau
5.Pam Birdsall (only newly elected MLA)
Metro
1.Michelle Raymond
2.Graham Steele
3.Maureen McDonald or Marilyn More
4.Bill Estabrooks
5.Percy Paris
I'm a complete outsider. The main thing about a small cabinet is that it allows the premier to pretty much limit his choices to like minded people. So, I doubt, from what I've heard about them, that either Epstein or Preyra will get in.
1.Premier and Municipal Affairs, Darrell Dexter
2.Finance, Graham Steele
3.Economic Development, Small Business and Trade, Percy Paris
4.Tourism, Sports and Arts, Michelle Raymond
5.Natural Reources/Aboriginal Affairs, Charlie Parker
6.Agriculture and Rural Affairs/Deputy Premier, John MacDonell
7.Energy and Environment, Frank Corbett
8.Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sterling Beliveau
9.Transportation and Government Services, Vicki Conrad
10.Education and Labour, Gordie Gosse
11.Health, Maureen MacDonald
12.Social Services, Pam Birdsall
13.Attorney General, Bill Estabrooks
My main concern about the cabinet is the likelihood he'll use the 'critic' assignments - i.e., if they were finance critic, they'd become finance mnister. If that's so, then it looks like he has seriously underused a number of the very qualified long standing MLA's,particularly some women. Not sure if this is concious or not. The main obvious one is Maureen MacDonald, a social worker with wonderful grass roots connection. For her to be public accounts and Worker's Comp critic doesn't make sense. Community Services or Health seem more likely. Trevor Zinck's bio doesn't add up to him having that critic role. My sense is that Daryl is keeping the most effective lobbyists from their natural portfolios so he and Graham can get hold of the finances initially.
That's fine for awhile, but my fear is that if this continues, Daryl will be able to maintain an iron grip on the purse, but lose any sense of vision of working towards a more just society. I was in Ontario during Rae time - I didn't like most of what he did, but he gave portfolios to skilled qualified people, who brought in policies that did NOT cost a lot, and improved the lives of vulnerable people to this day. - For example, making the Power of Attorney's act to cover personal care and finances, and the forms easily filled out by lay people. Gave seniors control of decision making - which here in N.S. is decades behind. A small example of being able to not open the 'tax and spend' fear, but give people a sense of real change.
Oh Gawd, Nova Scotialism, lol
I hesitate to engage in cabinet punditry. There can only be so many from Hfx and I see no one else from Dartmouth given that the Premier himself is from there - geography, gender, diversity, the three regions et al all must be considered. Cape Breton has to have a member so it's likely Frank Corbett because he is the veteran. He has served as House Leader and Energy Critic so that might be his place.
I do agree that Graham Steele absolutely will be in cabinet. He is not the only lawyer but a Rhodes' scholar who also worked for the party as Director of Research and counel to the Workers Compensation Board AND his role as finance critic gives him an advantage here. Howard Epstein is also a lawyer and really should be Min of the Environment because of his background with the Ecology Action Ctre which people tend to forget - maybe him, lol. Tho, Speaker could also be a possibility. I see energy and environment together in a small cabinet but then, when he made that "suggestion", Darrell was not thinking massive majority, lol
Maureen MacDonald is also definitely IN, either as Health or Social Services or a combined portfolio.That has been done before by various govts, ie Health and Community Services for ex in NB. She has served as critic for both, has a PhD in social work, knows the territory - I have seen her at hospital meetings AND social work ones so she can do it.
Obviously, one of the new people from the amazing ridings either has to be in cabinet now or later. Gry Burrill, even though he has never served in the leg, could be in cabinet - he does possess a MDiv from Harvard and ran a progressive magazine so possibly Minister of Tourism or OMG, I don't know, lol (I m getting tired, lol) Then again, Vicki Conrad, who won Queens so valiantly in 2006, could also be Min of Tourism. She could rep that area of the province. We still need someone from the northern part of the province and it can be Gary or the retired civil servant who was a civil servant manager- if he was not so new, I might say Health but that is such a complex portfolio and there really is no nurse or doctor elected for the NDP. Closest is an Additions manager. Lots of people have prob served on health boards but not major ones that I can see at least - except for people who will be in cabinet anyway - Maureen, Darrell, etc. There HAS to be someone from Pictou and it will by virtue of paying one's dues I think, the veteran of the threesome- maybe Clairrie McKinnon. Since he is working on a PhD in a marine subject, he too might be good in energy/environment though there is also fisheries to think of.And agriculture.
NB made the huge mistake of putting those two together once and it was an unmitigated disaster. Maybe add it to forestry and Mr. Prest, who ran a family lumber biz or worked in it - I'd have to know more about that to speculate. Mechelle Raymond, a lawyer and investment specialist, also would be a good choice for cabinet and I think former SMU poli sci prof Leonard Preyra also should be considered for some portfolio. There is also the only African Nova Scotian, Percy Paris, who has lectured and worked at Dal and has served as education critic. He should be given an opportunity in Education. And Lenore Zann - heritage Minister????
Those are my initial thoughts even though I had not planned to do this, lol
Let's be magnanimous (showing or suggesting nobility of feeling and generosity of mind <too sincere for dissimulation, too magnanimous for resentment) in victory.
The Geens offered praise last nite - let's use it as a launching pad to let bygones be bygones, and work together to protect our precious environment, for our future generations, from now on.
Anyway, it doesn'y matter how others act, it's how we conduct ourselves that count. Let's make friends and influence people.
sounds about right to me.
BTW: I wonder what EMay and the Green party would have to say about the fact that despite her chewing up vast resources on trying to win Central Nova and supposedly building a base for the so-called Green Party there - it would appear from looking at the provincial numbers that any "roots" that the greens tried to establish in that area are DEAD. If you look at the five provincial ridings that are in the federal riding of Central Nova - it is notable that the NS Greens had almost no support at all - literally about 1% in each riding. How come May didn't unleash her "army" or volunteers to try to elect any of her provincial green compatriots in that area?
How long before they start cutting back services because "the bad economy forces tough choices".
Thanks Janey for your longer vision than mine -your thoughts sound sound... :) and here's hoping from your lips to Daryl's ear :)
How come nobody has suggested changing the thread title to: NDP sweep to massive phony majority government in Nova Scotia ?
First-past-the-post = NDP majority government in Nova Scotia
Proportional representation = two fascists elected in England
Cool CBC interactive map.
If there are to be 12 cabinet ministers plus Darrell, I vote for:
Graham Steele
Maureen MacDonald
Leonard Preyra
Vicki Conrad
Percy Paris
Michele Raymond
Frank Corbett
Marilyn More
Gordie Gosse
Lenore Zann
John MacDonell
Ramona Jennex
So, with as much total revenue as the NSNDP had in the mid-Nineties, in the 3 years since public funding started the NSGP has gone backwards slightly in the vote share. In fact, barely maintaining the 2% required to keep that $11,000 per month coming in.
From my reading of the legislation, the "Green Party bonus" ($0.90 per vote + $125,000 instead of $1.50 per vote) only existed for the first two full fiscal years of the legislation, which if it isn't up now will be at the end of this fiscal year in any event. That leaves the Greens with only 9851 votes getting just $14,776 per year. Contrast to the NDP at $279,000; Liberals at $168,000; PCs at $151,000. [Note that numbers are not adjusted to reflect the inflation provisions in the law.]
The legislation:
21A (1) Each fiscal year the Minister of Finance shall pay out of the Consolidated Fund to each recognized party
(a) in the first two full fiscal years in which this Section is in force,
(i) one dollar and fifty cents for each vote received by candidates representing that party in the most recent general election, or
(ii) where a recognized party elects, ninety cents for each vote received by candidates representing that party in the most recent general election plus, where the recognized party was registered pursuant to Section 177A of the Elections Act on January 1, 2007, one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars; and
(b) in subsequent fiscal years, one dollar and fifty cents for each vote received by candidates representing that party in the most recent general election.
Thx Penny - tho my goodness, I need to learn to be brief! One friend now asks for the Cole's Notes versions of my emails, lol
Janey, I enjoy reading your posts in their entirety.
I agree there are synergies (to use a business buzz word) that make health and social services a good fit to go together. This is especially true with some provinces emphasizing 'health teams' rather than just family physicians to treat medical problems, and preferably, to prevent medical problems. The United States has a Secretary of Health and Human Services as well.
The problem is, a combined ministry of health and social services would probably be responsible for more than half the budget, which is probably giving too much to one minister. It likely makes more sense to have two ministers and have a cabinet committee and liason teams to synthesize the collective work of the two ministries.
To all the folks making cabinet predictions:
I thought it was pretty clear from Dexter's victory speech that he wants to reward Skabar. He mentioned Cumberland North twice and then Brian by name again when he did his earmuff headset interview (why do they make them wear those anayway?).
Unfortunately, if Darrell sticks to the 12 promise, someone from the incumbent caucus will have to be bumped to make room. The cabinet needs its political minister for Cumberland County.
Since Darrell will need a representative from Northern Nova Scotia, and there are two rookies to choose from, the pressure to appoint the female to cabinet will be strong.
Having 5 of 12 members of the cabinet women will show that the NDP doesn't follow the Liberal/Tory tradition of having a 'token' female in cabinet since they've had their histories of being male bastions.
Brian Skabar could become Government Whip, or perhaps Deputy Speaker.
I think Skabar as a former senior civil servant may look like he is not up to it but I have a feeling he knows more about running a govt than mot and would make a good cabinet Minister. Maybe not a major one but as I was trying to sleep last night (I still am in a OMG state of mind, lol), I thought, Good Grief, I forgot THE most two partisanly political portfolios- Transportation (ir roads, roads and construction and more roads, esp in rural areas so that has to be someone from outside metro - maybe a Frank Corbett or Clarrie?) and Supply and Service. Those two need someone familiar with how the leg works, the estimates and all of those fun things. So, a veteran. Supply and Services is even a good place for Epstein or Michelle Raymond. Then there is justice and while Graham Steele almost certainly will be Finance- if he wants it, both the two just mentioned are lawyers. Other lawyers incl Dexter himself and Landry, the new mbr from Pictou. So maybe Epstein will be Justice Min as much as his heart is in environment or Michelle will be Justice or the premier will take that on?
I have a feeling he can say with much justification that while he anticipated a victory and promised a cabinet of 12, the size of the majority means that maybe the cabinet needs to be a little larger?
I understand what you mean re Health and Social/Community Services but it has worked fairly well in other provinces but you need a good Minister and Maureen could handle that - as one who teaches social work , has a PhD in the subject and also was health critic. And a good one. She often came to meetings of the Dal Women's Health Group or IWK affairs when she did not need to and that always impressed me. And had great questions or comments!
Oh, the Speaker needs to be someone conversant with legislative practices and it would be great to have a woman speaker! Becky Kent or Vicki Conrad or if not a woman, Mr Estabrooks? If he is not Min of Education or the aforementioned Supply and Services?
I think Darrell will have to break his 12 cabinet pledge now that there are so many regions and a larger caucus than initially predicted (I read where Dan O'Connor said Darrell mispoke on being 12?). Even up to 15 would give him a lot more wiggle room to add geography/region, etc.
For example, someone mentioned Dartmouth won't get a cabinet seat because Darrell is from Cole Harbour. Well, Dartmouth is a little different than Cole Harbour (just ask residents there lol)... so I suspect Marilyn More will be in cabinet.
He would be wise to put someone in from Lunenburg. And then you have Shelburne and Queens. All down the South Shore, but more than one MLA from that area should be in cabinet. You then have newbies from Colchester and Cumberland. And then the 3 MLA's from the Pictou region. And then Parent or Jennex should be there as well being from the Valley. And of course Cape Breton.
Tough task.
Parent? Mark? That is the only Parent and while he may be a nice guy (do not really know him tho met him once I think, lol), he is a Tory who was defeated in the Valley. Do we want him in the cabinet now? (Kidding) I know it can be hard to keep tabs on all the nnames and we all make mistakes. I am just kidding! Do you mean Skabar? Since Cumberland clearly MUST have an MLA and I do think, with Darrell's moderate ways, he is likely to go with the experienced retiredcivil servant even if I do think Gary would really help shore up a certain base in the party - those who wonder where the anti-poverty plank was for ex?
Opps... LOL I meant Morton. Morton or Jennex from the Valley.
And Skabar should be somewhere too of course.
Parent? Mark? That is the only Parent and while he may be a nice guy (do not really know him tho met him once I think, lol), he is a Tory who was defeated in the Valley. Do we want him in the cabinet now? (Kidding) I know it can be hard to keep tabs on all the nnames and we all make mistakes. I am just kidding! Do you mean Skabar? Since Cumberland clearly MUST have an MLA and I do think, with Darrell's moderate ways, he is likely to go with the experienced retiredcivil servant even if I do think Gary would really help shore up a certain base in the party - those who wonder where the anti-poverty plank was for ex?
(I read where Dan O'Connor said Darrell mispoke on being 12?).
I think Dan was correcting Darrell who had said the cabinet would be made up of 12 plus himself. Dan said Darrell mis-spoke and meant to say the cabinet would be 12 -- including Darrell -- as promised during the campaign.
Even worse lol
My local newz rag's editor claims it's a Liberal paper, and they have zero coverage of the Nova Scotia election. Nothing next to nil and nada. They were all over the Liberal Party win in BC though. Frackin Liberals, I've had it up to here with them.
Skabar's INAC experience makes him a great candidate for Aboriginal Affairs, he's also a social worker, and of course he did manage a department worth over $100 million for Health Canada. There's also his gas tax harmonization near the NB border policy that would look great being fulfilled from an appropriate cabinet position.
However, I hope Brian considers that hanging on to Cumberland North means being a "constituency guy", I just hope he can balance that with a cabinet portfolio.
I think Darrell will have to break his 12 cabinet pledge now that there are so many regions and a larger caucus than initially predicted (I read where Dan O'Connor said Darrell mispoke on being 12?). Even up to 15 would give him a lot more wiggle room to add geography/region, etc.
Yes... Lets convince Dexter to break his promise of a small cabinet of 12!!! Let's convince Dexter to break all of his promises so that in 4 or 5 years we can put this unforunate error behind us and go back to one of the real governing parties:-)
My guess at cabinet, which of course will be wildly off.
Cabinet:
Darrell Dexter: Premier
Graham Steele: Finance
Frank Corbett: Energy/Envirnonment
Maureen MacDonald: Labour/Social Services
Clarrie MacKinnon: Fisheries
Brian Skabar: Health
Pam Birdsall: Econ/Rural Dev
Ramona Jennex: Transportation
Howard Epstein: Justice
Percy Paris: Education
John MacDonell: Agriculture
Lenore Zann: Tourism/Culture
Other Positions:
Leonard Preyra - Speaker
Marilyn More - Caucus Chair
Gordie Gosse - Whip
This was hard, so many great MLAs, so few cabinet positions.
Who is Dan O'Connell? His name draws strong reactions....
Dan O'Connor is Darrell's Chief of Staff
babbler 8: Skabar for Health? As a Cumberland Norther I can say that would be bittersweet. A great portfolio, fantastic in fact, but demanding. And we'd need Brian to be a good constiuent MLA to hang on to the seat.
Yes, it's a 12-person cabinet, including the Premier.
I have NO idea who will be in Cabinet, nor would I presume to speculate. This is going to be Darrell's most important decision, one that will set the tone and pace of this new government, and it's something that a great deal of care and thought is going to be devoted to.
However, I would suspect that, given that there are 19 seasoned MLAs who are already very familiar with a number of departments and issues, that Cabinet will be largely drawn from the veterans. Our Caucus has done a fabulous job in budget estimates, question period, bill debates (whenever the House actually sat, which was a rarity), and has dominated the Legislature's standing committees for years now. Regional issues notwithstanding, I think the first NDP Cabinet has to play on those strengths.
We have 12 new, keen, bright, committed members. Let them learn the ropes, get solidly entrenched in their constituencies, get a sense of the workings of government, before throwing them into the lions den of a Cabinet.
And now the claws come out...
Claws? Huh?
Simply referring to the thinly veiled staking of claim for incumbents.
Oh, sheesh, I hadn't realized there was a pro- and anti- incumbents' lobby going on here, and frankly, the "claws" remark is a tad offensive. I'm not trying to stake any claims for anyone -- and as a long-time NS NDP activist I have come to have absolute trust in Darrell's judgement, both political and practical. We have *31* remarkable people to choose from. They could probably all do a better job than most Cabinet ministers NS has ever seen; it's an embarrassment of riches.
That being said, IF I were in his shoes, which I would emphasize I am decidedly not, then experience in the House would count for something -- as would the need for my new people to lock down those seats. Note that 2 of the Tories who survived the sweep were the only 2 Tories who had not been in MacDonald's cabinets, but who had paid a huge amount of attention to their constituencies. Lots of Tories who had been Cabinet ministers since 03 or 06 were swept away.
Yah, I double thought the claws comment as well, but it seemed somehow appropriate. Regrets. I'll trust Darrell's judgement as well, however, if he goes with only his incumbents because of their experience in the house (which anyone can gain from paying attention and watching the legislature on tv--and as far as committee work experience, that can be gained anywhere) he'll have 10 new angry folks.
The reality of regional representation would, no doubt, be graciously accepted by any incumbents. Surely a key incumbent member would gladly step aside to have the first ever MLA from CN be represented in the cabinet.
Female representation in legislature inches upward
Maureen MacDonald calls it “making slow progress.”
“I wish it was a little bit more because I still think we’re considerably underrepresented,” MacDonald said yesterday. “But we’re making progress and heading in the right direction. We’ll just have to keep working at it.”
“I’ve learned some lessons in my time in politics, and I learned women don’t come to the political arena easily,” MacDonald said. “Generally speaking, women have a lot of uncertainty about whether or not they have the kind of skills that will not only give them success, but staying power. It is seen as a blood sport and you have to get the elbows up and there are many women who don’t want to participate in that way.”
She also said women can be timid in campaigning, which she found several times helping other female NDP candidates get elected.
“(Women) never think they know enough to be a candidate,” she said. “They think they have to have the answer for everything, where the male candidates are much more confident and are more prepared to wing it. Some people would say (they) B.S. their way through. That’s very interesting.”
I knew I should have been more specific. I know Dan O'Conner is Daryl's Chief of Staff - what is his background? How did he get there?
I think my local MPP bs'd his way into Queen's Park, for sure for sure. And I know when he's bs'ing, which is whenever his lips move.
I know Dan O'Conner is Daryl's Chief of Staff - what is his background? How did he get there?
Dan has been an NDP partisan since Moses parted the water. I believe he's been with the Nova Scotia party in one capacity or another for over 20 years.
A Dan O'Connor bio from the CBC Nova Scotia Votes 2003 site.
You still bitter that Trevor Zinck beat Jim Smith by 24 points?
A Dan O'Connor bio from the CBC Nova Scotia Votes 2003 site.
Though strategically speaking, I can see where Smith can be a threat to Zinck next time, should Dexter turn out to be a one-term wonder, at least as a majority proposition. Especially with the official-opposition ball now in the Liberal court.
But, it's no thanks to Jaihu.
Here's how the voting results break down according to the 11 federal ridings in Nova Scotia:
CAPE BRETON-CANSO (Cape Breton West, Glace Bay, Inverness, Richmond, Victoria-The Lakes, 50% Guysborough-Sheet Harbour)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 13456 17447
PC 14571 8524
NDP 12588 7660
GREEN 790 2641
CENTRAL NOVA (Antigonish, Pictou Centre, Pictou East, Pictou West, 50% Guysborough-Sheet Harbour)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 5844 -
PC 11457 18240
NDP 17919 7659
GREEN 686 12620
CUMBERLAND-COLCHESTER-MUSQUODOBOIT VALLEY (Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley, Colchester North, Cumberland North, Cumberland South, Truro-Bible Hill)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 5821 3344
PC 14254 3493
NDP 14880 4874
GREEN 714 550
IND. 2164 27303
DARTMOUTH-COLE HARBOUR (Cole Harbour, Dartmouth East, Dartmouth North, Dartmouth South-Portland Valley)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 10859 16016
PC 3760 9109
NDP 19387 12793
GREEN 898 2417
HALIFAX (Halifax-Atlantic, Halifax-Chebucto, Halifax-Citadel-Sable Island, Halifax-Fairview, Halifax-Needham)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 10300 12458
PC 3866 9295
NDP 23476 19252
GREEN 1656 3931
HALIFAX WEST (Bedford-Birch Cove, Halifax-Clayton Park, Hammonds Plains-Upper Sackville, Timberlea-Prospect)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 13868 17129
PC 6334 8708
NDP 24799 12201
GREEN 1137 2920
KINGS-HANTS (Hants East, Hants West, Kings North, Kings South)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 8743 16641
PC 10727 9846
NDP 16026 8291
GREEN 1173 2353
SACKVILLE-EASTERN SHORE (Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage, Eastern Shore, Preston, Sackville-Cobequid, Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank)
2008 2009 (FEDERAL)
LIB 10427 5018
PC 7503 8198
NDP 19472 24279
GREEN 865 2034
SOUTH SHORE-ST. MARGARET'S (Chester-St. Margaret's, Lunenburg, Lunenburg West, Queens, Shelburne)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 7639 9536
PC 11419 14388
NDP 19935 13456
GREEN 793 2090
SOUTHWEST NOVA (Annapolis, Argyle, Clare, Digby-Annapolis, Kings West, Yarmouth)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 20331 15185
PC 11298 16779
NDP 7380 7097
GREEN 689 2114
SYDNEY-VICTORIA (Cape Breton Centre, Cape Breton North, Cape Breton Nova, Cape Breton South, Victoria-The Lakes)
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 9432 17353
PC 8064 7224
NDP 18316 8563
GREEN 611 1941
It's interesting to see the radical change in voting patterns in just 9 months.
Will they effect the results of the next Federal Election?
Stay tuned!
YOu have Victoria-the Lakes listed in Cape Breton-Canso and Sydney-Victoria and I think it is entirely in the latter.
Whoops!
I guess I was a little distracted watching Pittsburgh (Cole Harbour must have the magic touch this week!) defeat Detroit for the Stanley Cup, and I added Victoria-The Lakes twice!
Here's the amended figures for CAPE BRETON-CANSO:
2009 2008 (FEDERAL)
LIB 11544 17447
PC 12154 8524
NDP 10908 7660
GREEN 647 2641
Thanks for spotting my goof, Stockholm!
Stay tuned!
If those results were reproduced on the federal level, the NDP would win 9 seats in NS. The Libs and Cons would win one each, but interestingly it wouldn't be the same ones they hold now, the Libs would win West Nova (currently a Con seat) and the Cons would win Cape Breton Canso (currently Lib). I'd certainly take it if we could get it! On another note, there may be a federal byelection even sooner where we could put this experiment to the test, see this thread: Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley Federal Byelection.
My point in putting these stats here is to point out that there may have been a fundamental change in Nova Scotia voting patterns thanks to the June 9th Provincial Election.
Stay tuned!
It's a "false" majority government, not "massive". Implications of false majority government for NS electoral reform discussed over in
http://rabble.ca/babble/atlantic-provinces/another-false-majority-govern...
The results were surprising, everyone including me expected minority NDP win but the majority seems to have been caused by:
- exceptionally low turnout - NDP semling victory were far more able to turn out their machine and supporters than anyone else
- PCs foolishly sticking to their attack-ad campaign to the end, and not actually campaigning on their record on energy conservation, expanding rural broadband, etc. - sadly for Rodney most of these will not become obvious to the public until the fall; when also the Halifax sewage plant might be working
- surprise collapse of the PCs on the South Shore, notably Vickie Conrad's 2-to-1 win over Cary Morash which no one had expected
- strong personal campaigning by South Shore NDPers including Pam Birdsall who returned every single phone call that she ever got
- older people who were lifetime PCs voting NDP, possibly because Dexter was the most known quantity, longest-sitting leader, etc.
Four seats is not "massive", that's no more than the South Shore has. NDP losing this region in 2013/14 would lose their majority. But that's another thread on fortress South Shore? http://rabble.ca/babble/atlantic-provinces/ndp-ns-south-shore-sweep-why-...
Also because there are now far too many "election" and "election results" threads discussing all the post-election issues together in a tangle, I created some other more topical threads - please repost the relevant observations above in those rather than spreading it into many badly-named threads, for the benefit of anyone who is just coming into this discussion now, and doesn't read all threads
first NDP-NS cabinet http://rabble.ca/babble/atlantic-provinces/first-ndp-ns-cabinet-whos-who...
whither Gerald Keddy http://rabble.ca/babble/atlantic-provinces/gerald-keddy-watch-what-will-...
wiither Greg Kerr http://rabble.ca/babble/atlantic-provinces/greg-kerr-watch-what-will-har...
Too many election threads you say? You just started 4 or 5 today yourself ffs, that will end up being devoid of content because the content already exists in discussions in other threads, like this, one already open.
And what in the hell are you talking about 4 seats? Are you suffering from memory loss, or delusion, there is a 10 seat spread.
Too many election threads you say? You just started 4 or 5 today yourself ffs, that will end up being devoid of content because the content already exists in discussions in other threads, like this, one already open.
Look up the word "refactor". What will kill the substantive topics (rewarding noise-makers like yourself with nothing to add to any of them) is having posts about the Nova Scotia cabinet, say, in half a dozen different places, rather than all concentrated in one thread.
And what in the hell are you talking about 4 seats? Are you suffering from memory loss, or delusion, there is a 10 seat spread.
A majority government in a 52-seat legislature is 26 seats, 27 if you want a friendly Speaker and full control of the legislature and invulnerability to a single rogue MLA crossing the floor. NDP-NS have 31. 31 minus 27 is 4. My math stands.
Your feeble attempts at personal invective are becoming offensive. Cease to post, please, unless you are either from Nova Scotia or have something substantive to say.
Reporting you, again
Let the moderators make a decision about who is doing their best to actually get some viable threads going that would interest real Nova Scotians, and who is just making noise or trying to control things. If they make the wrong decision, you're welcome to the mess that will result.
Imperious twit.
Not your call bud.
Asking politely to cease to make noise and stick to the topic is a completely fair request.
You'd do it yourself in a town hall meeting where those who wanted to discuss the topics at hand, perhaps each in their own quiet circle (thread) were being drowned out by noise-making children who seem to have nothing whatsoever to add to any of the topics at hand.
We know whose call it is, and an honest assessment of the substance vs. noise in each thread should result in a similar request to mine going to remind, not to post unless he has something substantive to say or is somehow affected by the Nova Scotia situation.
As for the refactoring, there are now many threads all with names that give no indication at all of where one might find the cabinet discussion, implications for specific federal MP races (there aren't too many to discuss individually, that's what election prediction projects do, isn't it?), or regions that have recently undergone significant political shifts. I created a few that would actually guide a new reader to the right discussion and not fill up with noise too fast as this and the other threads all seem to.
Babble could use a wiki, something like http://dkosopedia.com, for more persistent dossiers to be built up on specific topics, so useful facts and positions don't just die with the thread.
Marritimarr, please take note of my response in the other thread.
Just wanted to point out that although McNeil and the Liberals are the offical opposition, that really doesn't say a lot.
In 2006, it was widely regarded as a disasterous election for the Liberals. This time, they got 2 more seats and less than 4% increase in popular vote. This under a change election and a very unpopular Tory government.
The Liberals are ONE seat ahead of the Tories. And the Liberals edged out the Tories in popular vote but not even 3%.
The Tories pick a half decent leader to replace MacDonald and they're very much still in the game considering their history in this province. I would venture to guess that if Dexter does well, you'll see the opposition coalesce around the Tories and not the Liberals.
The Tories pick a half decent leader to replace MacDonald and they're very much still in the game considering their history in this province. I would venture to guess that if Dexter does well, you'll see the opposition coalesce around the Tories and not the Liberals.
Something else just occured to me about the election of this NDP government.
If memory serves, there will be a census in 2011. After the 2001 census, one Cape Breton seat (Cape Breton-The Lakes) was eliminated (mostly absorbed into Victoria-The Lakes) and an additional seat was added to the Halifax Metro Area. If population trends continue (rural decreases - urban increases), it stands to reason that either Cape Breton or mainland Nova Scotia (or both!) could lose ridings, so new suburban ridings could be created either west of Halifax or east of Dartmouth (or both!).
Would the 3 Kings ridings have to be merged into 2? It happened in 1993 when 3 Cumberland seats were reconfigured into 2, giving Halifax another riding that time. Would Cape Breton South be divided amongst the four surrounded ridings?
More Halifax Metro seats gives the NDP an increased chance at hanging onto government next time, if this happens.
Stay tuned.
Kings, Hants and Colchester counties grow a bit. Less than HRM, but enough that seats lost come out of the rest of the province with declining poulation. Some of the Hants and Kings ridings are already among the very largest in population.
And I don't think Cape Breton lost a whole seat in 2001.
I think the PCs are so wounded that they will have a hard time getting good candidates for the leadership. Because of that and a majortiy government, they are going to take their time.
I think the jockeying between the two opposition parties will be pretty low key for a couple years. The Liberals just don't have the organizational depth to dominate the other opposition party like the NDP did to them from about 2001. I think they'll get the lions share of attention, but not dominate... at least for that first couple years.
There is nothing, absolutely nothing, worse in politics than a sore loser.
There is now a reasonable chance with they way the PCs screwed up the province, that the PCs may never ever take power again in Nova Scotia. Fuck, can you believe it, they did not even make it to official opposition. The pathetic Liberals even beat them out. The PCs are toast, if not forever in Nova Scotia, for a very long time to come.
And not only are you a disgruntled loser, but the party your support is obviously a huge loser. You can attempt to twist around the Nova Scotia election results, or for that matter, any other election results, any which way you want, but the results speak for themselves,
On June 9, 2009, Nova Scotians elected the New Democratic Party government and Darrell Dexter their premier. The NDP win had historical significance. Not only did it bring to an end ten years of rule by the Progressive Conservative Party, but was also the first time an NDP premier had been elected in Atlantic Canada. The 2009 election campaign was dominated by economic and financial issues as the province attempts to deal with the global economic slowdown, rising unemployment, and possible government deficits.
Is it not fucking obvious by now, right wingers are hopeless at managing the economy, and that the only reason whingers are involved in politics at all, is about one thing, and about one thing only, and that is who gets the next government contract.
Nova Scotia 2009 election results
NDP - 31 seats, up an incredible 11 seats, or a phenominal 55% increase in seats
Libs - 11 seats (20, read every those lips, 20 seats behind the NDP, up a pathetic 2 seats)
Cons - 10 seats (21, again read those lips, 21 seats behind the NDP, down 13 seats, or down a disasterous 57% in number of seats)
What part of this massive change in Nova Scotia do you not get!
NDP
Too many election threads you say? You just started 4 or 5 today yourself ffs, that will end up being devoid of content because the content already exists in discussions in other threads, like this, one already open.
Look up the word "refactor". What will kill the substantive topics (rewarding noise-makers like yourself with nothing to add to any of them) is having posts about the Nova Scotia cabinet, say, in half a dozen different places, rather than all concentrated in one thread.
And what in the hell are you talking about 4 seats? Are you suffering from memory loss, or delusion, there is a 10 seat spread.
A majority government in a 52-seat legislature is 26 seats, 27 if you want a friendly Speaker and full control of the legislature and invulnerability to a single rogue MLA crossing the floor. NDP-NS have 31. 31 minus 27 is 4. My math stands.
Your feeble attempts at personal invective are becoming offensive. Cease to post, please, unless you are either from Nova Scotia or have something substantive to say.
There is now a reasonable chance with they way the PCs screwed up the province, that the PCs may never ever take power again in Nova Scotia. Fuck, can you believe it, they did not even make it to official opposition. The pathetic Liberals even beat them out. The PCs are toast, if not forever in Nova Scotia, for a very long time to come.
I hope you're not talking about me... I assume you're talking to Marritimarr. I've been a New Democrat for 19 years lol. But I am able to step back a bit and look at the big picture.
North Report... the Tories actually won less seats in 1993 than they did in 2009. Also, they were in third place in the 1998 election... before going from third place to a majority government in 1999.
My point stands. The Tories are still a force in Nova Scotia and will continue to be.
One of the reasons I always find Nova Scotia politics so interesting to watch is because it's the only jurisdiction in Canada that has a true three-party system.
But not for the next four years.
There is now a reasonable chance with they way the PCs screwed up the province, that the PCs may never ever take power again in Nova Scotia. Fuck, can you believe it, they did not even make it to official opposition. The pathetic Liberals even beat them out. The PCs are toast, if not forever in Nova Scotia, for a very long time to come.
I hope you're not talking about me... I assume you're talking to Marritimarr. I've been a New Democrat for 19 years lol. But I am able to step back a bit and look at the big picture.
North Report... the Tories actually won less seats in 1993 than they did in 2009. Also, they were in third place in the 1998 election... before going from third place to a majority government in 1999.
My point stands. The Tories are still a force in Nova Scotia and will continue to be.
Depends. I can certainly see them bounce into offical opposition. And if we screw up, then all bets are off.
How do you figure? The Tories still got 25% of the vote and basically tied with the Liberals - that's nothing to sneeze at. A few more votes the other way in a couple of seats and they would be the Official Opposition and the Grits would be in third. The PCs are basically in the same place Hamm was after the 1998 election - and then went on to form a majority government a year later.
My point was that any of the three parties could legitimately contend for government next time and Nova Scotia is really the only province where that is the case.
There is now a reasonable chance with they way the PCs screwed up the province, that the PCs may never ever take power again in Nova Scotia. Fuck, can you believe it, they did not even make it to official opposition. The pathetic Liberals even beat them out. The PCs are toast, if not forever in Nova Scotia, for a very long time to come.
I hope you're not talking about me... I assume you're talking to Marritimarr.
Either that, or Jaihu.
Fage faces second lawsuit
Mr. Fage, driving a taxpayer-owned car, left the scene without leaving contact information. He was convicted in December 2007 of leaving the scene of an accident with intent to escape civil or criminal liability.
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9014265.html