CBC - Nova Scotia Votes 2003

	Election promises Terra Tailleur \| CBC News Online \| Updated July 15 Cheaper insurance, new schools, more doctors: during election campaigns, politicians make a lot of promises. We're keeping track of them throughout the 2003 Nova Scotia election campaign.

	The Progressive Conservatives promise to . . . Guarantee the 10 per cent income tax cut takes effect Jan. 1, 2004 Increase the annual business limit under which the small business tax rate applies from $225,000 (2003-04) to $300,000 (2006-07), saving qualifying small business $11,000 a year Increase funding for provincial highways (resurfacing and reconstruction) by 10 per cent over four years Double the funding for rural road improvements from $10 million to $20 million by Year 4 Implement a five-year, $50-million, steel truss bridge replacement program Establish a new Nova Scotia book publishers tax credit Create a new program to assist farmers who develop three- to five-year business plans with technical and financial assistance. The program will allow for assessment and funding for a specified range of supports based on individual farm needs Add at least 350 nurses and 100 doctors to the current roster. Train an additional 88 medical laboratory technologists over the next four years Invest an extra $36.2 million over the next three years to cover the full medical costs of nursing home care and end all asset calculations for nursing home placement Introduce a new low income drug assistance plan for diabetics without drug coverage. As resources allow, extend the program to low income Nova Scotians with other chronic diseases Double the funding for the Office of Health Promotion Provide a tax benefit starting at $150 per child to help offset the cost of registering children in sport or recreational activities that offer health dividends Increase funding by an additional $1,000 per student by Year 4 Pilot a free preschool program for four-year-olds to prepare them for school. The first pilots will be targeted in areas where day-care access is limited and where school space is now available Beginning in 2005, combined Primary-Grade 1 classes would have a maximum of 20 students or an additional non-teaching adult in the classroom. In 2006, all Grade 3 classes will have a maximum of 25 students. In 2007, all Grade 4 classes will have a maximum of 25 students Provide at least one million more books, math tools, learn-ware packages and teaching resources by Year 4 Appoint Nova Scotia's first minister responsible for African-Nova Scotia Affairs Reduce auto insurance by an average of at least 20 per cent by capping payouts for minor injuries at $2,500 Allow for a trial period for Sunday shopping six weeks prior to Christmas, followed by a province-wide plebiscite in the fall of 2004 to determine if Nova Scotians want Sunday shopping year-round Deliver consecutive balanced budgets Institute a multi-year plan to pay down the debt

	The New Democrats promise to . . . Ensure the lowest and fairest car insurance rates by creating a government-owned, non-profit insurance plan Immediately cover health-care costs in nursing homes. Introduce new income-based fees for room and board before the next provincial budget. Also end the financial assessment of seniors' assets at once Introduce centralized wait lists to reduce waiting time for surgery and diagnostic tests Remove the Harmonized Sales Tax on essentials such as home heating and children's medicine. Restore monitoring and enforcement to tackle HST fraud Implement recommendations such as early assessment of learning needs, proper access to professional staff and resource teachers, the right class size for students' needs and a wide range of resource materials for teachers Cover the increased operating costs of universities so they can freeze tuition fees. Introduce a debt relief plan that includes a loan remission program and upfront, needs-based grants for students Balance the budget and reduce the economic burden of provincial government debt starting in Year 1. Cut the debt burden in half by 2020

	The Liberals promise to . . . Stop adding to the debt starting in Year 1 Freeze user fees and taxes. End tax bracket creep (when you're pushed into a higher tax bracket even though your income rises with inflation) in Year 1 Put a cap of 25 students in all classes from Primary to Grade 9, to be phased in over three years Add 500 new teachers and 100 resource teachers and educational assistants over three years to provide extra help in stressed classrooms Implement a program for toddlers and preschool children to provide additional support to "at-risk" families who need help preparing their children for school Reduce auto insurance rates by 15 per cent by introducing legislation to guarantee the cut. Also cap payouts for minor injuries Put all provincial gas tax revenues toward roads, rail, air and port facilities by the end of Year 4 Devote 10 per cent of lottery ticket revenues ($5 million) to support sport and recreation programs and facilities Allow Sunday shopping year-round starting right away. Ensure current employees will not be forced to work on Sundays and workers have adequate time off in a seven-day period Cover the health care costs of seniors in nursing homes Double the funding for the home heating fuel rebate to $2 million Add $2 million to the program that helps seniors repair or renovate their homes Set up a task force to review how the province assesses seniors' homes and property taxes

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