Nova Scotia spending spree touted as indication of potential spring election

Government spending in March included $7.1 million over two years to put the electronic public health information system online; $4.45 million for a Transportation Department maintenance garage near Bridgewater; $2.25 million for a community centre for Jordantown, Acaciaville and Conway; and $13.6 million over three years for an action plan for seniors.

Millions more were also announced as part of a federal-provincial program for affordable housing. Among spending so far this month is $3.2 million for a project to convert the Holy Angels Convent in Sydney into a centre for the arts.

Although she drew no conclusions, Crandall said it generally helps to pay attention to where the announcements are being made in order to decipher the government’s intentions.

She said governments typically make announcements in ridings that are perceived to be competitive.

“It’s not about popular vote, it’s about winning enough ridings, so that means you can use spending announcements in a targeted way and in a strategic way.”

The Liberals have in fact made announcements in ridings that were hotly contested in 2013, including $1 million to help upgrade Lunenburg Academy, and $12,500 for a study of the economic benefits of smart grid technology by the Town of Amherst.

The academy is in the Lunenburg riding that was captured by Liberal Suzanne Lohnes-Croft in 2013, after it was held by the NDP in 2009 and the Progressive Conservatives in 2006. Amherst sits in the Cumberland North riding won by Liberal Terry Farrell in a close three-way race in 2013.

McNeil has sent mixed signals about his plans. The premier recently dismissed opposition talk that the spending is simply about electioneering, but he also refused to rule out going to the polls before the April 27 budget is passed.

Election speculation has only increased since the release of recent poll numbers that continue to place the Liberals in majority territory despite a 12 point drop in support.

Crandall thinks the trend line can’t be ignored.

“For this government there is not a lot of space to increase their numbers,” she said. “If they have taken a hit, then part of their calculation is: Are we better off going sooner rather than later?”

David Johnson, a political scientist at Cape Breton University, also thinks the poll numbers are behind what appears to be the kickoff of a de facto campaign.

“Already they have announced they’ll have a balanced budget … and to be then able to say that you have resources you can put into different programs like the ones they are announcing — it’s all adding up to an election call likely coming sooner rather than later.”

Spending aside, Johnson believes there is little to prevent the Liberals from going to the polls, including potential court action signalled this week by the Acadian Federation of Nova Scotia over the loss of three so-called protected ridings in an electoral boundary redrawing in 2012.

“I think the premier can mollify Acadian and minority opinions by saying we will have a redistribution after this election,” said Johnson. “It may cause a few hiccups along the way early on, but I don’t think the issue has great legs.”

Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Nova Scotia spending spree touted as indication of potential spring election

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