Green, Grit deal 'a gift' for the NDP

PLYMOUTH The deal struck between Green Party leader Elizabeth May and Liberal Leader Stephane Dion is a gift to the NDP, one Central Nova party member said Sunday.

As the party elected its candidate Louise Lorefice in Plymouth Sunday afternoon, the room was abuzz with the possibilities from Fridays agreement between the Liberals and the Greens.

In that agreement, Dions Liberals agreed not to run a candidate in Central Nova in an effort to ensure Mays election a move thats having ripple effects across the county.

The Liberals I know are very independent people, said Lorefice after her nomination. Theyre not sheep, theyre not going to take direction from Ottawa to vote Green. I suspect they feel very disengaged and I think theyll feel very attracted to our party.

Lorefice, a veteran NDP campaigner from Antigonish who has been approached many times in the past to run both provincially and federally, has been described by supporters as a capable and caring candidate.

The former teacher fears, however, that the buzz around the May-Dion agreement will take away from the important issues of the riding, including economic development, healthcare, rural initiatives and the environment.

But, she said, it also means theres further possibility to build on the momentum of Alexis MacDonald, who ran in the riding for the past two federal elections.

When you have that kind of momentum, it just doesnt go away, Lorefice said.

In the most recent election, the NDP came within 3,300 votes of veteran Central Nova MP Peter MacKay. The May-Dion agreement also leaves about 10,000 votes that went to the Liberal candidate in the 2006 election up for grabs.

This week has been a gift to the NDP all we need is 3,000 or 4,000 of those 10,000 Liberals that have been let loose, said Pictou East MLA Clarrie MacKinnon. People are really upset by this agreement and the Liberals in Central Nova are more upset than the ones in Ottawa. This is the best chance that weve ever had.

Guest speaker Peter Stouffer, NDP MP for Sackville-Eastern Shore, says that the Green Party and Liberals have decided that democracy no longer applies in Central Nova.

Those 10,000 Liberal votes are now spectators, Stouffer said. Those voters are disenfranchised, but a vote for Lorefice will be a successful one.

Talk in Ottawa seems to leave many MPs, Stouffer included, that an election will be called sooner rather than later. That could come as soon as Tuesday, he said, which means the New Democrats have to be ready just in case.

Alexa McDonough, MP for Halifax, is hoping the election wont come quite that soon. She says an election isnt something Canadians want or need.

Parliament seems to be hell-bent to try to find a reason to have an election as soon as (Stephen) Harper thinks he can win a majority, she said. God help Canadians if that is to come about, I dont think Canadians are prepared for that. I dont believe an election is coming in the short-term, but maybe Im overestimating Harper.

Lorefice says the Conservatives have lost sight of their primary responsibilities in their pursuit of a majority the people theyre supposed to serve. Its an oversight she promises to correct if elected.

We know we have been forgotten; the evidence is everywhere, she said. We can see it in cuts to literacy funding, daycare, the funding to status of women offices, arts funding and the court challenges program.

Kevin: - January 18th, 2010 at 13:20:55

these days you cannot beleive everything in the news. Things get so twisted around it aint funny, i had a interview with a newsreporter before but when it hit the paper it was completly changed, to the worse. So dont beleive everything you see. And quit the useless finger pointing, McKay is doing a fine job. he cant please everybody at this game

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Jeff: - January 18th, 2010 at 13:08:40

Much of the N.D.Ps success in the last two federal elections here in Central Nova, was not a vote for The N.D.P but a vote for Alexis MacDonald a very worthy candidate. Louise Lorefice is no Alexis MacDonald and with Alexis not running many people will be ditching the N.D.P. for ether the Green party of the Conservative party here in Central Nova.

Alexis Macdonald was also a student at St.FX during the last two elections, with that connection thousands of students came out to support one of their own. A 60 something year old retired teacher will not be able to attract that sort of buzz at St.FX, again taking votes away from the N.D.P

Parachute Candidate Elizabeth May is a dangerous person who will sign a deal with anyone to get elected. She has never lived here, never worked here, has no connections to this riding and is out of touch with the real concerns of the people here in Central Nova. The only way to stop this dangerous parachute politician is to Vote for Peter Mackay, a hard working local M.P that was born here, lives here and works here in this riding.

Roger Langille: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:59:26

Parachute me back, As for MacKays work I have seen MacKays work. A fine Lawyer I would say. But find me a lawyer worth anything. Mr. MacKay is not to conserned with the Trenton Works he states he feels that the plant is in the wrong place. This plant was the first steel works and was here befor Canada. It was in the right place all along up untill now aah Peter ! Maybe it is our Lawyer friend Peter who is in the wrong place. I am most pleased to say May is for moderizing and expanding the Trenton Works. If that is what you get with May please send her to Vancouver if you good folks down there don't want her!

Roger: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:58:40

You are right I did not sit in on any meeting, I am speaking from my own personal experiance and the News Clip.
I have peronaly spent hundreds of thousands of dollars arranging finacing of over 220 million to invest in Nova Scotia. I have heard ministers state that time was all that was needed. I have seen the governments both federal and province lie to me and everyone else as well. I have seen Mr. MacKay in action alright, my quetion is when was he lieing was it to the Steel Workers or was it to the News Reporters ? I learned one thing from these past experiences that is unless you hold their feet to the fire they will do the same thing agian. Take a look in Plymouth, take a look at North Sydney, Stellarton and Sydney. All in the end lied to all of you ask the back room boys what the truth is. I dought that they will want to talk ! I have traveled around the world and studied and toured plants that compete with our Steel Indutries and how they do. What have they done any of them including the MacKay gang? Westray could be running today, Devco could be running today, and Sysco and the Trenton Works could be running today, are they?

bob: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:47:11

With the strong NDP showing in Central Nova in the last 2 federal elections,Pictou East and Pictou West and Center should be putting all cannons at full charge in this upcoming Federal election,without total support from them to boost the prior tally's they may never see another NDP MLA in either of the ridings.
Jack Layton take heed,They (Torys & Greens) can be beaten,just don't be so gebtle on them this time.
Good luck to the new NDP Candiate,
Liberals-don't be taken in by a 2 teired Green Candidate who after the next election will be wearing Red colors when She crosses the floor at Dion's request

Dave: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:25:48

Every time there's a political stunt to be pulled, candidates always look to Central Nova. Why is that, I wonder? Are we the most gullible riding in the country?

Maybe we should all look at ourselves in this riding. Something is not right if we're always 'chosen' for these circuses...

If only no one would turn out to vote - maybe that's what's needed to divert attention away from here, because all of the political attention has netted us what exactly???

Nothing - zip - nada.

Jeff: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:13:07

The local elected union leadership at Trenton Works sent out a public letter thanking Peter Mackay for all his hard work on this file, a file that he is still working extermly hard on. I doubt very much that you Rodger have sat in on the meetings that have taken place , or the conference calls and other behind the scence things Peter has done on this file. So I am going to take my advice from the elected Union leadership who saw what Peter Mackay was doing , over a guy who lives 4000kms away and has nothing to do with what is being done at this time for Trenton Works.

Roger: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:09:52

Jeff perhaps you should watch the News clip from outside of his office where staed that perhaps it was the wrong place. I can tell you all sit back like they did in other places that steel works have been closed and redeveloped you will find some new rich and a lot more out of work. Look at Algoma they also said in the past that it was in the wrong place.
That wrong place sold yesderday for 1.85 billion. Some of the People at Sysco got pensions the same people scraped that plant that said it and Algoma where in the wrong place. They where wrong then and Trenton was here befor Canada and should be after we are gone. Maybe MacKay is in the wrong place !

Jeff: - January 18th, 2010 at 12:08:33

Mr Mackay has never said that Trenton Works is in the wrong place. Ask the union leadership at Trenton Works what they think of the work Peter Mackay is doing on the Trenton Works file. They have sent out a public letter praising Mr Mackay for the leadership and direction he has shown on the file. Go ahead we would love for you to take Ms. May to Vancouver, she might be able to trick the people of Vancouver to vote for her , but shes not going to trick the people in Central Nova.