Campaign for Fairness Goes to Ottawa

Premier John Hamm is taking Nova Scotia's campaign for fairness to the nation's capital this week.

The premier is scheduled to be in Ottawa tonight (Feb. 6) to Thursday for a series of meetings with federal cabinet ministers, opposition MPs, senators, opinion leaders and members of the national media. He will also speak about the campaign to the National Press Club's newsmaker breakfast Wednesday morning.

"For Nova Scotia's campaign to be successful, we will first need to improve the understanding and awareness of our fellow Canadians about our province's long term plan to achieve economic independence," said the premier. "Nova Scotians don't want special treatment. We don't want more of the same old solutions from Ottawa. We do, however, need to secure the same tools used by other provinces to maximize their economic potential and become contributors to the Canadian confederation."

Launched in January by Premier Hamm, the campaign for fairness details the economic, social and historical arguments in favour of changes to offshore royalties, equalization, a national highways program and fairer funding arrangements for health care and post-secondary education. The premier has already briefed Nova Scotia's members of Parliament and hopes his meetings in Ottawa will further a constructive dialogue with the federal government and other provinces on Nova Scotia's priorities.

"I don't expect Ottawa to address the Nova Scotia agenda overnight," said the premier. "I am nonetheless using this trip to serve notice that Nova Scotia's government will continue to make our case heard until meaningful action is taken. Silence is not an option for Nova Scotia."

Premier Hamm will be making similar campaign visits later in February and March to Calgary and Toronto respectively.