What we need is transparency . The government and our universities should have the data to tell us what industries are growing and what industries are not, both in terms of sales and employees . We need just a few charts to start to help people in NS understand what is growing and what isn’t . Then we need to see where the government is spending the money . Look, we take in over $200 million in tourism, yet we spend only $20 million on tourism and don’t have money to help a ferry or help improve our accommodations but have money to create a tourism crown corporation ? We spend millions on marketing but do not spend anything on our product or resorts . There is not one rest stop along the whole trans canada for a tourist to use . We fund 900 seats at universities to graduate teachers and we haven’t got jobs for half of them and our need is reducing . We let rural NS suffer and suffer and then wonder why we have no young families to take over the farm and then we get upset when a big company moves their food processing plant because of supply and labour problems .
We need to find out just who is making these decisions. It’s far too easy to point to a Minister but we should be pointing to his/her advisors and management teams . Who in the “industry” agreed that we need a whole new tourism crown corporation agency? Was it that little motel owner in rural NS who is struggling to stay in business? Gosh no, because he was never even asked if this was even needed. Did his municipality agree? Gosh no, they were not asked either. So much for a business process and a good use of taxpayers money . Paris is good at Transportation. Don’t subsidize a ferry that brings in people from the USA , yet brag about having more visitors from NB and PEI . Brilliant . Subsidize a railway that is shrinking and only moves stuff , not people. Don’t have a bus system from your airport that connects to a rail line that is 2 miles let alone 20 miles away. Don’t try to reduce the cost of government with either a move out of the downtown or a commuter rail that might serve that same airport and the same downtown and convention center and sports stadium . Take your waterfront prime land and build offices and schools there , and hide your convention center back as far away from the water as you can .
A major problem with resource development in NS or elsewhere is governmental failure to be proactive.
They knew “fracking” was on the horizon,but instead of dealing with it on it’s merits chose instead to permit the NIMBY syndrom take the lead.Properly dealt with,a Board should have been struck by government.in conjunction with all stakeholders, composed of persons learned,knowledgable and experienced in the practice All political parties would have imput into the nominees.Objection to a nominee would require valid evidence of existing bias.
This Board would be open to all for submissions subject to strict criteria-that is all evidence must be founded on scientific facts.
Upon the conclusion of such hearing–similar to a full environmental hearing-the Board would make a binding ruling based on the evidence.subject to an appeal to a Court only on a question of law.
This procedure would give clarity to industry,a forum for environmental concerns, and a basis in fact to citizens.
This procedure could and should be applied to aquaculture,quarries,mining,wind farms and such other undertakings as are deemed necesary for economic development and certitude.
Unfortunately governments tend to react after much misinformation has circulated.
This is a manifestation of lack of leadership
What we need is transparency . The government and our universities should have the data to tell us what industries are growing and what industries are not, both in terms of sales and employees . We need just a few charts to start to help people in NS understand what is growing and what isn’t . Then we need to see where the government is spending the money . Look, we take in over $200 million in tourism, yet we spend only $20 million on tourism and don’t have money to help a ferry or help improve our accommodations but have money to create a tourism crown corporation ? We spend millions on marketing but do not spend anything on our product or resorts . There is not one rest stop along the whole trans canada for a tourist to use . We fund 900 seats at universities to graduate teachers and we haven’t got jobs for half of them and our need is reducing . We let rural NS suffer and suffer and then wonder why we have no young families to take over the farm and then we get upset when a big company moves their food processing plant because of supply and labour problems .
We need to find out just who is making these decisions. It’s far too easy to point to a Minister but we should be pointing to his/her advisors and management teams . Who in the “industry” agreed that we need a whole new tourism crown corporation agency? Was it that little motel owner in rural NS who is struggling to stay in business? Gosh no, because he was never even asked if this was even needed. Did his municipality agree? Gosh no, they were not asked either. So much for a business process and a good use of taxpayers money . Paris is good at Transportation. Don’t subsidize a ferry that brings in people from the USA , yet brag about having more visitors from NB and PEI . Brilliant . Subsidize a railway that is shrinking and only moves stuff , not people. Don’t have a bus system from your airport that connects to a rail line that is 2 miles let alone 20 miles away. Don’t try to reduce the cost of government with either a move out of the downtown or a commuter rail that might serve that same airport and the same downtown and convention center and sports stadium . Take your waterfront prime land and build offices and schools there , and hide your convention center back as far away from the water as you can .
PS | November 22, 2011 |
Please tell me you will run for something in this province… anything at all.
Todd | November 1, 2011 |
One of the good things about not being an active candidate for political office is that you can say exactly what you are thinking.
Bill
Bill | November 1, 2011 |
A major problem with resource development in NS or elsewhere is governmental failure to be proactive.
They knew “fracking” was on the horizon,but instead of dealing with it on it’s merits chose instead to permit the NIMBY syndrom take the lead.Properly dealt with,a Board should have been struck by government.in conjunction with all stakeholders, composed of persons learned,knowledgable and experienced in the practice All political parties would have imput into the nominees.Objection to a nominee would require valid evidence of existing bias.
This Board would be open to all for submissions subject to strict criteria-that is all evidence must be founded on scientific facts.
Upon the conclusion of such hearing–similar to a full environmental hearing-the Board would make a binding ruling based on the evidence.subject to an appeal to a Court only on a question of law.
This procedure would give clarity to industry,a forum for environmental concerns, and a basis in fact to citizens.
This procedure could and should be applied to aquaculture,quarries,mining,wind farms and such other undertakings as are deemed necesary for economic development and certitude.
Unfortunately governments tend to react after much misinformation has circulated.
This is a manifestation of lack of leadership
Bill Fenton | October 31, 2011 |