Bill …good review of a rather confusing budget. I too was surprised at the lack of attention to energy exploration and mining. We seem pre-occupied with over harvesting an extremely small forest inventory at the expense of other opportunities. I also noticed there was no mention of farming which is an obvious replacement for the rural jobs destined to disappear in forest products manufacturing industry. I like what Doer did in Manitoba when he declared Health, Education and Justice as sacred cows and made them the only departments permitted to even ask for budget increases. All other areas were told to start looking for 2-5% savings annually. It seems like a good high level mandate that the public could get behind.
Mr. McNeil’s scheme is a little hard to follow. I think it works something like this: You are in bed and your feet are cold because your blanket is too short to cover them. If you can make your mind believe that if you chop off the top third of the blanket and sew it on the bottom you will make the blanket longer and that solves your cold feet problem.
Funny how politicians try to look like they are fulfilling election promises. McNeil ignores the fact that the ratepayer and the taxpayer are usually the same person. Instead of a levy on the power bill labelled Efficiency Nova Scotia, a charge to the cost of generation or to the tax payer through infusions of cash to the Efficiency NS account will be made. So, instead of the money coming out of our back left hand pocket, it will come out of our right hand pocket. What was needed was for the Finance Minister to disband Efficiency Nova Scotia and get rid of a $67-million cost item.
You hit the nail on the head. This province needs some courageous decision makers to change our course. I do not see it in this budget. It is a missed opportunity to do the right thing. I hope they are listening and heed your advice.
Bill …good review of a rather confusing budget. I too was surprised at the lack of attention to energy exploration and mining. We seem pre-occupied with over harvesting an extremely small forest inventory at the expense of other opportunities. I also noticed there was no mention of farming which is an obvious replacement for the rural jobs destined to disappear in forest products manufacturing industry. I like what Doer did in Manitoba when he declared Health, Education and Justice as sacred cows and made them the only departments permitted to even ask for budget increases. All other areas were told to start looking for 2-5% savings annually. It seems like a good high level mandate that the public could get behind.
Barry Cox | April 23, 2014 |
Mr. McNeil’s scheme is a little hard to follow. I think it works something like this: You are in bed and your feet are cold because your blanket is too short to cover them. If you can make your mind believe that if you chop off the top third of the blanket and sew it on the bottom you will make the blanket longer and that solves your cold feet problem.
Funny how politicians try to look like they are fulfilling election promises. McNeil ignores the fact that the ratepayer and the taxpayer are usually the same person. Instead of a levy on the power bill labelled Efficiency Nova Scotia, a charge to the cost of generation or to the tax payer through infusions of cash to the Efficiency NS account will be made. So, instead of the money coming out of our back left hand pocket, it will come out of our right hand pocket. What was needed was for the Finance Minister to disband Efficiency Nova Scotia and get rid of a $67-million cost item.
Jon Coates | April 11, 2014 |
Expectations were very modest and she ALMOST met them!
bob mackenzie | April 11, 2014 |
You hit the nail on the head. This province needs some courageous decision makers to change our course. I do not see it in this budget. It is a missed opportunity to do the right thing. I hope they are listening and heed your advice.
Bert Lewis | April 11, 2014 |