Nova Scotians, Not Ottawa, Should Benefit from Offshore

PREMIER'S OFFICE--Nova Scotians, Not Ottawa, Should Benefit from Offshore

Premier John Hamm today encouraged all Nova Scotians to send a message to Ottawa in support of the Campaign for Fairness.

In a speech to the Strait Area Chamber of Commerce, the premier reiterated the purpose of the campaign: convincing the federal government to honour the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Accord, which states that Nova Scotia is to be the principal beneficiary of the province's offshore.

"We need our offshore dollars directed to such areas as our province's infrastructure and training, instead of filling Ottawa's coffers," added the premier, noting that 81 cents out of every Nova Scotia offshore dollar currently goes into the federal government's general revenues.

"To that end, I would ask that you help me send this message to Ottawa. Send this message to your members of Parliament. Because the people of Nova Scotia, the people here in Strait Area -- not the federal government -- should benefit from Nova Scotia offshore resources."

Postcards with this message were circulated at the breakfast and will be distributed throughout the province. Anybody can send the postcard of support postage free to members of Parliament or senators. Since the launch of the campaign in January, many Canadians from across the country have expressed their support, including Alberta Premier Ralph Klein and former premier Peter Lougheed.

Premier Hamm will also take advantage of next week's annual premiers' conference in Victoria to discuss a joint strategy with Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Roger Grimes. Both premiers have rejected the federal government's contention that a renegotiation of the equalization program would be needed to accommodate the requests of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland related to resource revenues.