September 26, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal
Leader
National Post
HERE'S YOUR DEPLOOMA
Many Canadians are scared of "two-tier" medicine. But what about
two-tier public education? On Tuesday, Nova Scotia's governing Conservatives
unveiled a plan under which high schools would issue two types of diplomas.
Regular graduates would get a regular diploma. But "graduates" who fail their
literacy tests would get an "adjusted diploma" that notes their deficiency.
Danny Graham, leader of Nova Scotia's Liberal Party, is correct when he
says the plan, which he calls "Grade 12 lite," is "a step backwards." Teaching
children to read is the most basic mission of our education system. When we
fail in that mission, the correct response is to keep the child in school until
he knows his letters -- not to paper over the failure with phony diplomas.
There is a lot of good in Nova Scotia's new educational plans. In
particular, the emphasis on standardized literacy tests -- students will take
them in Grades 6, 9 and 12 -- will help promote improved English skills. But
the province cannot have it both ways. If the government implements tests, it
must ensure that all students pass. Otherwise, the tests -- like the "adjusted
diplomas" awarded to those who fail them -- will be meaningless.
September 21, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal
Leader
For Immediate Release
GRAHAM TO RUN IN HALIFAX CITADEL
(Halifax, NS) Liberal Leader Danny Graham today announced
his intentions to seek the nomination in the riding of Halifax Citadel in the
upcoming general election.
“I have always said that I would run in a Halifax seat because that
is where I have lived for most of the last 20 years,” said Graham.
“My primary reasons for seeking the nomination in this riding are the same
as most prospective candidates. My wife and I live in this riding and our
children attend school in Halifax Citadel.”
Click here for more
Sepember 20, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal Leader
For Immediate Release
GRAHAM ANNOUNCES NEW CRITIC ROLES
(Halifax, NS) Liberal Leader Danny Graham announced
changes today to the critic responsibilities for the Liberal Caucus.
“The caucus has done a tremendous job representing the people of
Nova Scotia,” said Graham. “Today’s shuffle gives the caucus a
chance to expand on the vast experience and knowledge they have gained over the
last three years.” Click here
for more
August 30, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal Leader
For Immediate Release
PREMIER HAS SOME EXPLAINING TO DO
(Halifax, NS) Premier John Hamm must explain why he misled Nova Scotians
about his infrastructure priorities, says Liberal Leader Danny Graham.
“On August 12, the premier told reporters that the
harbour clean-up was on his priority list for federal infrastructure funding,
and made no distinction between its priority and that of road work,” said
Graham. “However at that time he had already sent his list to Ottawa and
it did not include the harbour clean-up as one of his priorities.”
As a result of Graham’s challenge to publicly
release his priority list for the Canada Strategic Infrastructure Fund (CSIF),
the Premier recently said that both highways and the Halifax Harbour clean-up
were on his list, and stated that he had not ranked the projects.
However, a letter dated July 31 from Premier Hamm to the
then federal minister of infrastructure was obtained by the Liberal Caucus
yesterday. In that letter the premier states that he had instructed his
officials to identify federal funding for the clean-up “outside of
CSIF.” In addition, despite the Premier’s claim that his priorities
were not ranked, the letter lists four highway proposals in order of
importance, with the top one beginning in the Premier’s riding.
“There is no doubt that Premier Hamm intended to
leave the impression that he was backing the clean-up project when it clearly
was not the case,” added Graham. “It is time for him to explain why
he sold out the harbour clean up and misled the people of Nova Scotia.”
In the past two days the premier appears to have offered
no public comment on this issue.
—30—
August 01, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal Leader
For Immediate Release
DECREASED BUDGET BAD NEWS FOR TOURISM
(Halifax, NS) Given the fact that tourism
has been steadily declining in Nova Scotia since the Conservative government
took office, Liberal Leader Danny Graham is questioning why the department is
spending almost $1.5 million less on its marketing budget than it did last
year.
“Tourism in Nova Scotia has been decreasing for
three years,” said Graham. “Does it make sense to reduce the
marketing budget of the department given that promotion is an essential
component in advertising our province to potential visitors?”
According to the Department of Tourism and Culture, so
far this year the number of visitors to the province is down six per cent from
the same time period last year. This follows visitor decreases of nine per cent
in 2001 and two per cent in 2000. In addition to the continued decline in
visitors, tourism revenues have also fallen. In 2000 revenues were recorded at
$1.25 billion while 2001 reported revenues of $1.22 billion.
“Every other province in Atlantic Canada has
increased their tourism marketing budgets for this year except Nova
Scotia,” said Graham. “Other provinces realize the importance of
marketing to a successful tourism season, it’s too bad Nova Scotia’s
minister of tourism doesn’t.”
PEI doubled its tourism marketing budget for this year
while New Brunswick increased its budget by about $2 million and Newfoundland
contributed an additional $1 million.
Graham is also concerned the Conservative government is
trying to hide the decline in the province’s tourism industry by only
revealing positive statistics.
“I hope the Conservative government doesn’t
try to conceal what the statistics are saying,” added Graham. “The
fact is tourism is down and that is going to have an impact on Nova Scotians
involved in this industry; particularly small, local business owners who rely
on a strong tourism sector. Investing in marketing is one of the bests way to
ensure that tourism will thrive in Nova Scotia. ”
Click
here for background information
—30—
July 11, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal Leader
For Immediate Release
GRAHAM: CN COMMITTED TO PROVIDE RAIL SERVICE
(Sydney, NS) Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia
Railway’s plan to discontinue rail service means CN must provide the
uninterrupted service, Liberal Leader Danny Graham said yesterday before a
Utility and Review Board hearing in Sydney.
The CBCNS Railway took over the Truro-to-Sydney line
from CN Rail in 1993 based on an agreement by CN that it would continue to
operate the line in the event CBCNS Railway withdrew its freight rail services.
“In a 1993 agreement with the Province of Nova
Scotia, CN committed that there would be no break in service to the
Truro-to-Sydney line,” said Graham. “I urged the URB panel to request
that CN appear before it and delay any decision on CBCNS’s plans for the
Point Tupper-to-Sydney portion of the line until they have had a chance to hear
CN on its intentions.”
The URB, which has set aside two days to hear from
concerned parties, is considering CBCNS Railway’s application to abandon
the 161 kilometre Point Tupper-to-Sydney section of its Truro-to-Sydney
operation.
“Our over-riding concern in this matter is not
which company operates the line, but that rail service continue,” said
Graham.
The rail line is a key ingredient to helping industrial
Cape Breton become the self-sufficient economic leader it was, and could be
again, by attracting businesses to the area, added Graham.
—30—
June 27, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal Leader
For Immediate Release
GOVERNMENT MUST PROVIDE LEADERSHIP ON RAILWAY
(Halifax, NS) The Conservative government
should be taking a leadership role in the negotiations surrounding the future
of the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway between St. Peter’s
Junction and Sydney, says Liberal Leader Danny Graham.
The railway applied to the Utility and Review Board in
April to discontinue service on the 160 kms of rail line between the two
locations.
“The province has an important role to play in
bringing all of the stakeholders together and assisting with
negotiations,” said Graham. “The government has known since October
2001 that the railway was in jeopardy but chose not to act. Even today the
position of government on this issue is unknown.”
“This is another example of the government allowing
the economic future of Nova Scotia to be driven by external forces,” said
Graham. “Last month the premier sat back while New Brunswick called for
hearings on the future of Nova Scotia’s oil and gas. Now the government is
taking that same passive approach with vital infrastructure in Cape
Breton.”
The fact is this rail line is directly connected to the
future of economic development in Cape Breton, said Graham.
“Infrastructure is necessary for economic development in Cape Breton.
Without this line operating, that economic development will be hindered, and
businesses that provide employment and revenue to Cape Breton will be in
serious jeopardy.”
It is time that the government realizes the vital
importance of this rail line to Cape Breton and begins to facilitate meetings
that will bring all the partners together, added Graham.
—30—
May 24, 2002
Danny Graham
Liberal Leader
LIBERALS TO VOTE AGAINST SMOKING LEGISLATION
-Conservative crackdown, public
reaction, leads to 'right choice’ says Graham-
(Halifax, NS) Under the leadership of Liberal Leader Danny Graham, the
Liberal Caucus has come to the decision that it cannot support the Conservative
government’s Smoke-Free Places legislation, says Graham.
“We have told Nova Scotians and the government that we support a
100 per cent ban of smoking in public places and we remain committed to that
position,” says Graham. “But the actions of the Conservatives in the
last 24 hours demonstrate a government unwilling to bend even for one of their
own colleagues. Since the government will not improve this bill then the
Liberal Caucus will be voting against it.”
The Liberal Caucus has been calling for a 100 per cent ban of smoking in
public places even before the government introduced its legislation on April
26. Since that time, the government has brought forward amendments that further
weaken the legislation.
“The decision to vote against this bill was confirmed when the
government introduced amendments that, if adopted, could weaken the
legislation,” states Graham. “We hoped that the government would
provide an opportunity to debate this bill clause by clause, unfortunately we
are not being given that chance.”
“In the Law Amendments Committee we heard businesses say they want
a level playing field. We heard health groups tell us they want protection for
the health and wellness of all Nova Scotians. And we listened while
municipalities stated they want provincial leadership,” says Graham.
“We listened to those concerns and today we are responding to those
concerns.”
LIBERAL LEADER DANNY GRAHAM CALLS FOR SMOKE FREE
LEGISLATION
(Halifax, NS) The Liberal Caucus says that Nova Scotians need
legislation that will protect them from second-hand smoke in public places. The
Liberals are calling for a total ban on smoking in all public places and
restaurants, effective immediately.
"Second-hand smoke kills too many Nova Scotians each year," says Liberal
Leader Danny Graham. "Among our primary priorities is the promotion of improved
health and wellness for Nova Scotians."
According to a September 2001 GPIAtlantic study, commissioned by the
Nova Scotia Department of Health:
- environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or
second-hand smoke, causes approximately 200 deaths per year in Nova Scotia;
- ETS is the leading cause of workplace death;
- second-hand smoke levels
in restaurants are twice as high as in other workplaces that do not have
smoking restrictions, and in bars and casinos the levels are three to six times
as high;
- food service workers have a 50% higher rate of lung cancer than
the general population.
"Reducing smoking rates is a key part of the Liberal agenda," stated
Graham. "Legislation protecting Nova Scotians from environmental tobacco smoke
would reduce both illness and death, as well as the associated costs to our
health care system."
Health Minister Jamie Muir recently indicated that smoke-free spaces
legislation would be introduced soon, but gave little indication of its
contents or when his government would pursue the bill's passage.
Graham added the time is right for the Conservatives to introduce
legislation. "The Conservatives should introduce legislation that would be
passed in this legislative session and be effective immediately."
Appointments are patronage, no mistake about it
(Hamm can rationalize himself into 2002, but a dime is a
dime.)
Opposition parties are making a mockery of appointments to provincial
boards announced by the Hamm government and well they should. What began under
the administration of former Liberal premier John Savage as a strict policy to
put an end to blatant patronage in Nova Scotia - a commitment reinforced by his
successor Premier John Hamm - unravelled to the core this week with a number of
the most outlandish political plums handed out in memory. ...
The premier said there certainly are Tories who receive political
appointments from the party, because there are a great number of Conservatives
in the province. That's why Hamm's party is in power. This is an attempt to
make the issue murky. What is clear is that the premier is sending the signal
of a return to flagrant political patronage in Nova Scotia, an element that in
the past has made this province the laughing stock of the rest of Canada. Let
the giggles return.
Truro Daily News, December 20, 2001
Chronicle Herald on the review of the Liberal record on ambulance
care
Rick Keller, a partner with Fitch and Associates based in Missouri and a
participant in the study, graded the province's ambulance service as being
among the top 10 per cent on the continent.
That's pretty high praise for a provincewide system so completely
overhauled in so short a timeframe. The Hamm Tories commissioned the review
after promising it in their 1999 election campaign. In opposition, the party
had strongly criticized the decision of the then ruling Savage Liberals to
acquire about 50 independent ambulance operators, and roll them into one
service now operated under contract by Emergency Medical Care Inc. (EMC serves
all but two areas of the province.)
But the changes in the delivery of ambulance service the Tories once so
harshly criticized are now being warmly praised by an expert they hired after
coming to government.
Hopefully, they will now be big enough to admit they were wrong, and to
embrace a system they, indeed all Nova Scotians, should view with pride.
Chronicle Herald, December 10, 2001
AS GOOD AS YOU GET
Health Minister Jamie Muir wouldn't commit bo buying 10 more ambulances.
He said he's pleased with the $100,000 evaluation, even though when in
opposition, the Tories criticized the Liberal government for amalgamating
ambulance service. . .
John Savage's Liberal government restructured the service beginning in
1995, consolidating 50 areas under one ambulance company, Emergency Medical
Care Inc.
In winning the contract, EMC had to deliver faster response times, a
consistent, high level of care, professional paramedics and increased
reliability.
(Report author) Keller said the $50 million new service is delivering
good basic value.
The Daily News, December 7, 2001
MIXED MESSAGES NOTHING TO LAUGH ABOUT
Opinion - Truro Daily News, Monday October 15,
2001
Nova Scotia Premier John Hamm is laughing off allegations that his party
is misleading people when they sent out solicitations to thousands of Nova
Scotians 12 days ago, but it's no laughing matter. Somehow the Tories got hold
of a subscription list, attached it to a form letter, and asked for donations
to the provincial party. Unfortunately for the ruling party, the former
governing Liberals were on that list as well. -more-
Do as you say
Bluenose Grits say their Tory counterparts broke a compaign pledge
recently as they bragged about keeping others. Liberal MLA David Wilson says
the Tories, on page 30 of their Blue Book of promises, vowed not to use
taxpayers' money on politically motivated advertising. -more-
Glory-seeking Tories co-opting neutral PR office . . . by David
Rodenhiser
At first it seemed innocuous when backbench Tory MLAs started showing up
in official government press releases paid for by hard-working Nova Scotia
taxpayers. But now I'm convinced the Opposition is on to something. -more-
Another consultant. More money wasted.
Once again the Tory government has decided to look elsewhere for help to
sell a bill of goods to Nova Scotians. The most recent addition to the Health
Department expense sheet is a communications consultant from Toronto, who is
being padi $100,000 to develop a communications plan for joint projects with
other government departments.-more-
To the Editor by Dr. Jim Smith
I take exception to the Premier's recent comments in the New Glasgow
Evening News saying that, "A lot of people are quick off the mark to criticize,
but don't have any solution of their own" when it comes to health care. -more-
Scooter Safety
Dr. Jim Smith has it absolutely right in his call for the province to
make helmets mandatory for children driving scooters.
This is primarily a matter of making sure our laws keep up with our
consumer trends, which lately have seen a rebirth in popularity for
scooters.-more-
Nova Scotians are now seeing John Hamm's priorities.
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