

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06HALIFAX57, PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN ATLANTIC CANADA: WHO'S IN TROUBLE AND
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #06HALIFAX57.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06HALIFAX57 | 2006-03-21 17:47 | 2011-04-28 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Consulate Halifax |
VZCZCXRO6904
RR RUEHGA RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHHA #0057/01 0801747
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211747Z MAR 06
FM AMCONSUL HALIFAX
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0960
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0346
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEHHA/AMCONSUL HALIFAX 1023
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HALIFAX 000057
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR WHA/CAN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV CA
SUBJECT: PROVINCIAL POLITICS IN ATLANTIC CANADA: WHO'S IN TROUBLE AND
WHO ISN'T
HALIFAX 00000057 001.2 OF 003
¶1. SUMMARY: With spring legislative sessions due to start soon
in Atlantic Canada, we have taken a political snapshot at each
of the four provinces to see just where each of the four
governments (all currently Tory blue) stand. New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, with their minority governments, present the most
interesting cases, especially since the respective premiers are
weighting the merits of calling snap elections. As for
Newfoundland-Labrador and Prince Edward Island, both provinces
are in the solid grip of strong governments that undoubtedly
will have no trouble living out their mandates. Another aspect
to the current political situation in the region is the
influence of the federal Tories and how new national policies
might help or harm their provincial cousins. END SUMMARY
¶2. New Brunswick
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
--Lt. Governor: Hermenegilde Chiasson (Appointed for a five
year term on August 26, 2003)
--Premier: Bernard Lord - Progressive Conservatives Party of New
Brunswick
--Most Recent Election: June 9, 2003
--Current party standings in the House: (55 seats in total)
Progressive Conservatives: 27 seats (Leader: Bernard Lord
since 1997)
Liberals: 26 seats (Leader: Shawn Graham since 2002)
New Democratic Party: 0 seats (Leader: Allison Brewer
since 2005 - does not have a seat of her own yet)
Independents: 2 seats
--Election history: Bernard Lord and his Conservative party
have governed New Brunswick since they overturned the incumbent
Liberals in the June 1999 election.
--Current Environment: Election-watchers in New Brunswick are
divided in their predictions on the fate of Premier Lord and his
governing Tory party. The party recently lost its one seat
majority in the Legislature when a disgruntled backbencher left
the party to sit as an independent after a spat with the Premier
over a cabinet post. This defection has left the Tories in a
precarious situation with just weeks to go before they need to
get their annual budget passed in the Legislature. Without a
majority in the Legislature, the Premier is in danger of having
the Opposition Liberals defeat the budget, a move which would
trigger a provincial general election. Accordingly, Premier
Lord is left with having to decide on two scenarios: number
one, try to convince the former Tory to support the budget which
would keep the government in power, or number two, table the
budget and then call a snap election before the Legislature has
a chance to vote on it.
Opinions are varied on which of these scenarios the Premier will
chose, but in recent days, more cynical commentators are saying
the issue could be settled by money, specifically, legislative
pensions. It appears that 20 members of the House (including
the ex-Tory) need only one more legislative session in order to
quality for their pensions. The dilemma for these members is
that if they help prop up the Lord government so it makes it
through the next session, they would get their pensions.
However, if the government falls and there is an election they
would only get the pension if they were re-elected - an iffy
prospect for some of the members. With the budget vote
scheduled for April 7, the Premier's decision will not be long
coming.
¶3. Nova Scotia
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
--Lt. Governor: Myra Freeman (Appointed for a five-year term in
May 2000 which has been extended until a new LG is chosen.)
--Premier: Rodney MacDonald - Progressive Conservative
--Most Recent Election: August 5, 2003
--Current Party Standings in the House: (52 seats in total)
Progressive Conservatives: 25 (Leader: Rodney MacDonald
since Feb 11, 2006)
New Democratic Party: 15 (Leader: Darrell Dexter since June
4, 2001)
Liberal Party: 10 (Leader: Francis MacKenzie since Oct 23,
2004 - does not have a seat of his own yet)
Independent: 1
Vacant: 1
--Election History: The Progressive Conservatives have been
HALIFAX 00000057 002.2 OF 003
governing Nova Scotia since July 1999 when they defeated the
incumbent Liberal government by a wide majority.
--Current Environment: Nova Scotians appear to be quite happy
with their newly minted Premier, 34-year old Rodney MacDonald,
who took over from the now-retired former Premier John Hamm in
February. Despite the change in leadership, the face of the new
government is unlikely to change significantly. Premier
MacDonald has kept most of the Hamm cabinet members and has done
nothing as yet to shake the fragile coalition with the
Opposition parties that has kept his minority government in
power. However, a recent public opinion poll shows the new
MacDonald government with significant support over the
opposition, a fact which may tempt the new Premier to call a
snap election in an attempt to get his own mandate. As with the
situation in New Brunswick, the answer to the question of
whether Nova Scotians will be going to the polls should be known
before too long as the spring session of the legislature is due
to start shortly.
¶4. Newfoundland and Labrador
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
--Lt. Governor: Edward M. Roberts (Appointed for a five year
term on November 1, 2002)
--Premier: Danny Williams (Party: Progressive Conservative)
--Most recent election: October 21, 2003
--Current Party Standings in the House (48 seats in total)
Conservatives 35 (Leader: Danny Williams since April 7,
2001)
Liberals: 11 (Leader: Jim Bennett since February 6, 2006.
Has no seat.)
New Democratic Party: 2 (Leader: Jack Harris since
November, 1992; retiring in May 2006)
--Election History: With their win in the October 2003
provincial election, Premier Williams and his Tories upset a
12-year old Liberal government.
--Current Environment: Premier Williams and his Progressive
Conservative party are enjoying a very comfortable majority.
With an approval rating of approximately 70 percent, the Tories
have a solid grip on the province leaving the Opposition
liberals and NDP floundering. For the most part, the Premier,
with a reputation as a staunch fighter for his province, is the
principal reason behind this support. In particular Williams'
recent defense of Canada's annual seal hunt in the face of harsh
criticism by rock superstar Paul McCartney even swayed over some
of the Premier's harshest critics. However, it is Williams'
tough resource policy which consistently garners him the most
favor. The Premier has been unwavering in his threat that
Newfoundland-Labrador's significant petroleum and hydro
electricity resources will go undeveloped unless the province
gets better royalty deals than those for existing energy
projects. Expect smooth sailing for the Williams government
with no clouds on the horizon as yet.
¶5. Prince Edward Island
= = = = = = = = = = = = =
--Lt. Governor: J. Leonce Bernard (Appointed for a five year
term on May 28, 2001)
--Premier: Patrick Binns (Party: Progressive Conservatives)
--Most Recent Election: September 29, 2003
--Current Party Standings in the House (27 seats in total)
Conservatives: 23 (Leader: Patrick Binns since May 4, 1996)
Liberals: 4 (Leader: Robert Ghiz since April 5, 2003)
New Democratic Party: 0 (Leadership convention April 22,
2006)
--Election History: Pat Binns and the Progressive Conservatives
have been governing Prince Edward Island since 1996 when they
overturned a 10-year incumbent Liberal government.
--Current Environment: Premier Binns and his ruling Conservative
party have a solid hold on the Island electorate, consistently
earning high scores in public opinion polls. This situation has
made it difficult for the Opposition Liberals to make any
inroads and they continue to suffer from only a token
representation in the Legislature. Just this week, the Liberals
were further demoralized by their loss in a provincial
by-election which, had they won, would have given them a much
HALIFAX 00000057 003.2 OF 003
needed new seat and a significant psychological boost.
¶6. COMMENT: An interesting sidebar to this snapshot is the
influence of the new Harper government in Ottawa. As one
political commentator remarked recently the issue here is money
- money for health care, money for childcare, money for tax cuts
and rebates and the list goes on. At the moment, Atlantic
Canadians are looking for some action from Ottawa on these
issues and the regional pollsters point out that the voters'
perception is that they are more likely to see results if the
federal government and the four provincial governments are all
of the same political stripe. Whether that federal influence
continues to have a positive impact or not remains to be seen,
but at least for now, the voters are hopeful that their
respective governments can and will work with Ottawa to come up
with some new solutions to some old problems. END COMMENT
HILL