This House Would Recognize That The NDP Should Lose the 2009 Nova Scotia Election

As this is my final argument, I wish to put some of my opponent's odd ideas to rest. First of all, my honorable opponent does not seem to understand that correlation does not equal causation. The NDP did well as the Liberals did worse not because the two parties are interchangeable but rather because the NDP had the strongest ideas, the strongest platforms and the strongest opposition to Rodney MacDonald and John Hamm. Perhaps I do not understand party politics, but I am so inclined to be blissfully unaware, with the rest of my NDP colleges, if 'party politics' is simply a euphemism for 'only the old boys club can stay in power.' I believe all Nova Scotians have become fed up with this self-serving system and desire real, honest change. Perhaps it is not part of his intended platform, but Stephen McNeil has come out in support of the federal carbon tax. He is quoted as saying; "All parties are coming in with a form of carbon tax, I would encourage all Nova Scotians to look very carefully at all the federal plans." Meanwhile, perhaps in his only genuine move as premier, Rodney MacDonald came out firmly against the federal plan because it would take money out of homeowner's pockets. I will concede that it is not an intended part of his platform and therefore will leave this point. However, my opponent holds no real argument against cap and trade systems. He says that they are only 'part of the solution', when in fact they can be the solution if they are implemented by a strong, decisive leader instead of one who must check with heads of industry before they pass any bill. He has further suggested, incorrectly, that the cap and trade system will cost us just as much as a carbon tax and that there are no offsets. This is blatantly false, as the cap and trade system -will- marginally increase the price of some things that are being produced inefficiently, yet they will soon be replaced by green products that will be cheaper than the original product. This is a perfect way of ensuring market efficiency without having the government step in and collect money. As for the Liberal's platform on justice; it's a lot of talk. The NDP have shown real leadership on introducing bills that would seriously tackle crime in Nova Scotia and would do more once election. However the Liberals, by my count, have introduced ONE bill justice-related bill since 2006. ONE. How can we deal with the issues of crime in Nova Scotia if our government isn't even paying attention to it? I would like to suggest to my opponent to perhaps take a visit to the hospital, as his hearing (er...eyesight) seems to have failed him. That is, if the emergency room is open. The fact of the matter is that we DON'T have time to around and wait for the Conservative plan to fix the healthcare system. When will it come into effect? Next year? The year after that? A decade from now? How long must we be blackmailed into the PC's promise of 'just a little while longer...' Furthermore my opponent has continued to question me on the NDP's books. What he hasn't realized is that the NDP plan should cost us LESS than Liberal and Conservative ones. Dexter's plan to hire a healtcare 'czar' and look to where the bureaucracy can be cut to ensure cost effectiveness and ensure an optimization of care. What would the Conservatives and Liberals do? Add to this bureaucracy, add to the top-heavy regulation, make it harder for doctors to do their jobs and continue to allow ERs to close. Is this real leadership? Is this what the people of Nova Scotia want from their government? If a senior suffers a heart attack in his home in New Waterford, should he have to drive an hour to the nearest hospital while one sits, closed two minutes away? My opponent may not like reality, but he sure has to live in it. The NDP have promised to introduce their programs in a cost-effective way that will not create a deficit. If you do not believe them, fine, but I would assert that their word is as good as, and in most cases better than, that of the Liberals and the PC. While we're playing the guessing game; what if Liberal numbers are off? What if their drastic business tax cut means they can pay to for their healthcare plan? What if their (non-existent) justice platform comes to be a bit more pricey than their imagined? I would rather vote for an innovative leader who can balance the budget than one who relies too heavily on squeezing as many programs as possible in, only to find that he cannot afford them later. My opponent's 'historical precedent' falls on its face. He has mentioned one instance of a Nova Scotian Liberal balancing the budget. Forgive me if I'm not impressed, as they have had many instances to do so. My opponent keeps willfully ignoring the facts while trying to use the number-less NDP plan as his crutch. What he doesn't seem to understand is that it is a balanced, fiscally responsible plan that has likely already been costed. Perhaps they will release it before the election and perhaps they won't, but I would prefer Darrell Dexter's rough outline to the Liberal's or Conservative's faulty promises and tired tricks any day. So what has this debate come down to? It comes down to a decision between the same and the new, between the failed and innovative, between the fringe party and the next government of Nova Scotia. The people of this province have been saying for a long time that they are fed up with Rodney's countless mistakes and slip-ups, with his ineffective plans and his political meandering and they will demonstrate their anger on June 9th. The people of this province have furthermore shown that they do not wish to have the Liberal party in government or even in opposition. In the last election, the leader of the Liberal party failed to win his own seat. What's more, when the Liberal party tried to make a grab at power by suggesting that a coalition be formed by the NDP and Liberals, Darrell Dexter said no, thereby respecting the wishes of the people of Nova Scotia. This was also demonstrated in 1998 when the NDP tied the Liberals for seats, yet the Liberal party formed government with the Conservatives. Is this not a blatant slap in the face to voters? Come election day, the NDP should, will and must win the 2009 Nova Scotia election for the good of our hospitals, our schools, our roads and our families. Thank you.