Content area
In an unusual 15-minute sitting of the legislature Monday, Nova Scotia's government finally changed hands from the Conservatives who had ruled since 1978 to the Liberals under neophyte provincial politician John Savage.
Under the Conservative administrations of John Buchanan and Don Cameron, the legislature sat only once a year. Savage has vowed to call politicians back to Province House for the twice-yearly sittings common to most other provincial governments.
Buchanan, another patronage beneficiary, was appointed to the Senate in 1990 when his government here was reeling under the weight of scandal. A staunch [Brian Mulroney] backer, Buchanan has been under fire in Nova Scotia for voting in favor of the $6,000 increase in expense money for senators. Since the public uproar, Buchanan now says he has reconsidered his position.
Today in copy is Tuesday.
HALIFAX -- In an unusual 15-minute sitting of the legislature Monday, Nova Scotia's government finally changed hands from the Conservatives who had ruled since 1978 to the Liberals under neophyte provincial politician John Savage.
The 52 members of the legislature were in their seats just long enough for new speaker Paul MacEwan to be sworn in and for the tabling of some delayed financial business, including the annual report of the auditor general.
But the main reason for the truncated session was a little more arcane -- since the legislature hadn't met in almost a year, politicians were legally obligated to gather at least once before Friday.
"It was constitutionally required," Savage explained to reporters after the quick visit to Province House. "All the advice we got was that it was necessary to do it and we did it."
Under the Conservative administrations of John Buchanan and Don Cameron, the legislature sat only once a year. Savage has vowed to call politicians back to Province House for the twice-yearly sittings common to most other provincial governments.
Politicians will return for a complete session in September when there will be a speech from the throne -- a tradition eschewed by former premier Cameron -- and when Liberals will hand down the first budget since the spring of 1992.
Monday, Savage defended his decision not to hold a lengthy summer session.
"I think it's unreasonable to expect that a government that has just taken office two weeks ago should have a whole pile of legislation ready to go to the legislature."
Since Savage's Liberals clobbered the governing Tories on May 25, the new premier has been cautious and considered in his first -time approach to governing.
He won general praise for his first cabinet, a careful mix of veterans and rookies, but met some public skepticism when he sent his 40-member caucus to a one-day ethics course. Given the political history here, some observers noted, one day seemed scarcely sufficient.
In the next few months, the Liberals will be taking a good, hard look at the new circumstances in which they find themselves before committing to any course of action.
In opposition, the party was highly suspicious of the Conservatives' math, doubting that the deficit was really the $192- million figure advanced by the Tories. The new government is seeking an independent financial auditor to inspect the province's books, but Savage and new finance minister, Bernie Boudreau, have hinted they expect grim news.
Several key government departments are also to undergo close scrutiny by outside auditors. Boudreau has assured public servants these audits won't lead to layoffs.
But the Liberals will move quickly on the most important plank of their election campaign. Today, the government is to unveil its first job creation initiative.
While the Liberals are slowly finding their way around government, the defeated Tories are clearly suffering.
Reduced to a rump of eight -- "two tables of bridge," according to one survivor -- those left in the caucus were stunned when Cameron quit not only as leader but as a member of the legislature.
Adding to the party's misery, Cameron -- the avowed political reformer and foe of patronage -- took an appointment as Canada's consul to Boston from Brian Mulroney on the former prime minister's last day in office.
Cameron has testily defended his appointment, saying he's qualified for the job and shouldn't be ruled out simply because he is a Conservative.
But on the weekend, another former Tory premier, John Buchanan, suggested Cameron should have considered the job more carefully.
"If you're opposed to having someone else do it, then I think you should think twice yourself."
Buchanan, another patronage beneficiary, was appointed to the Senate in 1990 when his government here was reeling under the weight of scandal. A staunch Mulroney backer, Buchanan has been under fire in Nova Scotia for voting in favor of the $6,000 increase in expense money for senators. Since the public uproar, Buchanan now says he has reconsidered his position.
Cameron's decision to go to Boston isn't likely to help the Conservatives when they try to hold on to his seat in an early August byelection. Some Nova Scotians believe that by the time the legislature returns in September, the Liberals will have one more member to join their substantial majority.
(Copyright Southam News 1993)