Two months after voters swept Premier John Hamm's Conservatives into power, Mr. LeBlanc announced his assessment of just how bad the fiscal situation is in Nova Scotia. The numbers are sobering. For example, far from the $22-million surplus claimed by the previous government for the last fiscal year, the province ran a deficit of $370.5-million. Far worse are the debt numbers.
Labour Day, 1999 and millions of former welfare recipients will celebrate, many for the first time, their own work and the opportunity that brings. Welfare reform's astonishing success has startled even its most optimistic proponents. In many places, welfare "as we know it" is coming to end. Fred McMahon in the National Post
Publications:MTT, HDN August 29, 1999. By Fred McMahon
Publications:HDN August 22, 1999. By Fred McMahon
Publications:MTT, HDN August 22, 1999. By Fred McMahon
Atlantic Liberals, it appears, believe three things. First, they think the region's economy is still centred on traditional, largely seasonal natural-resource industries such as the fishery, mining and forestry. Second, they believe that the region's already weak economy has been devastated by cuts to unemployment insurance and other transfers. Finally, they see the solution to these problems as being -- surprise, surprise -- a big influx of Ottawa dollars under their control.
Publications:MTT, HDN August 15, 1999. By Fred McMahon
Publications:NP August 11, 1999. By Fred McMahon
What does it take to be a good premier? And does John Hamm, the Premier-elect of Nova Scotia, have it? Those are the two questions that everyone is asking as the newly elected Tory government prepares to take the reins of power.
Publications:MTT, HDN August 8, 1999. By Fred McMahon