To the editor,
Johnny Smoke, your online comments are right on and funny. Keep them coming. Loyd Murray, your comments are right on as well. You are wondering where “here” is, as in “the jobs start here” sing-song. It’s wherever Peter MacKay can get a camera focused on himself. Truth told, there’s no jobs anywhere, but that is MacKay’s lullaby.
Remember the announcement for the $25 billion shipbuilding deal? He was in Halifax and made the announcement with such poise and dignity one could almost see the fleet of new ships sailing out of Halifax Harbour proudly flying the Canadian flag with throngs of people lining the shore singing O Canada. However it’s looking more like we’ll be left with Theodore Tugboat chugging around the harbour, flying the flag at half-mast with onlookers singing “Who’s sorry now.” Sorry for what? For electing Stephen Harper, Peter MacKay and Darrell Dexter. Also, let’s not forget that Dexter dropped $300 million on Irving to help refit the shipyard. It has already been announced that both the helicopter and ship deals will be reviewed.
People are leaving every day for Alberta, and who can blame them? The new EI rules have made it more difficult for laid-off workers to get benefits, and let’s not forget MacKay voted for that deal and tried to sell us the idea that it was a good one and he represents one of the most seasonal work areas in the east. I worked most of my working years in Pictou County and the jobs were all seasonal.
Some weeks ago I watched an interview on CBC that Peter Mansbridge did with Peter MacKay. Mansbridge asked him some tough questions and while MacKay did a lot of talking he in fact said nothing. Mansbridge asked if the government had ordered him to stop spending and he just shrugged his shoulders and answered, “not really.” So we don’t know where “here” is, nor what he meant by “not really.” So we’re very well informed, aren’t we?
Mr. Murray touched on the long lines at the food bank. I was driving in that area a few weeks ago on food bank day and the parking lot was full. I was surprised at the quality of the vehicles. There were no beaters among them and I was a little embarrassed driving by in my 1999 Honda. I also noticed a large number of people standing in the parking lot smoking. At the price of cigarettes and tobacco I would think if one could afford to smoke there should be little need of help from the food bank. I don’t smoke but hear people complain that they cost $11.50 to $13.50 a pack.
If the exodus to the West continues there will be only middle-aged and seniors left here. What a shame our young and not-so-young have to leave to be able to pay for their homes and put food on the table when Nova Scotia has so much to offer.
Irene MacDonald
RR1 Merigomish
i have been around this old planet for nearly eighty years and ive seen it all from mac kenzie king to stephen harper if saint peter has put billions of dollars into this neck of the woods i wonder why theres no jobs to be had and speaking of hot meat loaf and apple pie many of the men who are in the west would gladly come home to that right here in nova scotia and unless the liberal party elect some one other than justin trudeau things wont get better any time soon so bring on the hot meat loaf and apple pie and some jobs