NDP gears up for election

Had the MacDonald government let Nova Scotians know then, people now furiously working against a May 2 deadline might have had time to come up with solutions, he argues. “When we approached Irving and asked them to delay the May 2 closure date, they said they had already invested two years in the process. J.D. Irving told us that the province said early on, ‘We’re not interested in talking to you.’ “We all realize this is the worst possible time, but it doesn’t mean we can walk away from this opportunity. This is a piece of Nova Scotia that has a long history of providing benefits. What I would do it try to figure out how we can get as much land as possible.”

Dexter was in Digby April 6 and met local party officials and interviewed potential NDP candidates for the next election. “We have more than 40 out of 52 nominated and we hope to announce the nomination date here within a couple of weeks,” said Dexter.

In pre-election mode, Dexter took the opportunity to elaborate on the NDP’s proposed 10 per cent manufacturing and processing tax credit. The plan would mean that businesses spending $1 million would receive $100,000 back in their first year, said Dexter. The credit is designed to spur investment in key manufacturing and processing sectors. “We have to look at new start-up companies and be willing to take some risk. Many of them will succeed. They will ultimately generate more jobs, and prosperity. We have to be in the business of generating wealth,” said Dexter.

The NDP leader said he also wants to see the legislature sit more often. “By April 30, we will not have sat for five months. “The House should have spring sessions and fall sessions. People are supposed to be accountable in a democracy. The House should sit in order to meet the challenges that are before it. “When you have a global recession, surely the House should be in session.”