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Personally I am thrilled that the election has finally been called. It will give us the opportunity to unseat this pathetic government that we currently are saddled with. They spend hundreds of millions on schools that just happen to be in Tory ridings and then try to bribe us with 155 of our own dollars. Hopefully everyone has seen through the complete lack of imagination that this government has shown over the course of its mandate. I am sure that Premier Hamm is a very nice man but he has shown that he is incapable of leading an effective government. Having said that it should be no surprise that my vote is going to be for the NDP. I think that they deserve a chance, if for no other reason than the fact that they can’t possibly be any worse than the other two parties have done here over the last couple decades. - Rob Wolfe
July 5, 6:01 p.m. - A time for the people to decide I was born in New Glasgow, a town in the heart of the premier's riding. It is interesting yet again to watch from the outside the way things are going back in the homeland. I have been in the past elections supporting the Nova Scotia Party. But it seems now that they lack any kind of direction. The Web site is grossly out of date and out of touch. I am dismayed with the spelling error on the front page (Nomonated Candidates). I have watched the spending spree on the news and the $155 taxpayer refund going out to people. It is in its own way, a cautious and legal attempt to buy a vote from every Nova Scotian. I know I sure could have used that money right now. There are issues all parties are failing to address at this point. I have not seen one word about the call centre jobs, which are in danger particularly in my hometown. If the American unions and bureaucrats have their way they could shut down ICT and Convergys in New Glasgow, in addition to closing every other call centre in the province. The government offers incentives for these companies to set up shop but where is the long-term guarantee to keep these badly needed jobs in place? None of the parties have even attempted to address the flow of people who had to leave the province for greener pastures. I also spent most of my childhood growing up in the Pictou East Riding. Nothing has been done to address the concerns and issues of compensation for the non-native residents of Pictou Landing, who have had to breathe in the chemicals from Kimberly-Clarke's paper mill and Boat Harbour. The Mi’kmaq First Nation received their deal a long time ago and it was very generous in the way of compensation as Boat Harbour was once native land and a beautiful place to swim. But there is the lingering problem of the land values declining and the air quality. I was an asthmatic until I moved to Alberta. I would not be surprised in the next few years if water and soil tests turned up toxic in the Pictou Landing land. It is sad when I can breathe so well out here because of quality air but have trouble breathing in my home province. There was a meeting the last time I was home in November in regards to the non-native concerns. A new deal had been signed to extend the pumping out of effluent into Boat Harbour for another few years. Pictou East MLA Jim Dewolfe lives in Pictou Landing and I am shocked and appalled that his lack of actions will allow the land values and living quality in the area to decline even further. A teacher from my high school is on the Liberal ballot in Pictou East. I ask John Fraser to please consider remaining a teacher instead. If he were to become MLA and did not follow through on his word, I would lose respect for one of Pictou County's best educators. I said in the New Glasgow Evening News in 1999 that John Hamm could address the problem of doctor's leaving the province. He could resign his seat and return to practising medicine in Pictou County. He makes a better doctor than a politician. I know this from having been looked at by Dr. Hamm in emergency some ten plus years ago. One more doctor can make the difference. If I still resided there, I could not in good conscience vote for any of the main parties. They all lack direction and focus on all the issues. I only hope that this campaign is not a single issue campaign like the N.B. election. PC - Lack direction, lack originality in platform, legally bought
votes, big fans of the useless federal PC party. - Dann Alexander; Calgary, Alberta
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