Premier Receives All-party Support in Call for Prime Minister to Honour Accord

Premier Rodney MacDonald received support from all parties in the legislature today, March 21, in his call for the prime minister to honour the true intent of the Atlantic Accord -- a stand-alone economic tool that supports Nova Scotia's goal of self-sufficiency.

"The federal government has laid down a discriminatory budgetary hammer on the people of Nova Scotia," said Premier MacDonald. "They have forced us to choose between receiving our share of equalization to support the fundamental needs of the people of this province, and using our accord money to bolster our future economic potential.

"It is blatantly unfair. We believe it is money that properly belongs to the people of Nova Scotia."

The premier's resolution comes after the federal government budget, unveiled earlier this week, tied the accord to equalization, which is contrary to the spirit of the agreement.

"The commitment to restore the country's fiscal balance included a promise to ensure that no province would be adversely affected from changes to the equalization formula," said Premier MacDonald. "We're fighting tooth and nail to restore our place in this country as a strong financial partner.

"In altering the formula and treating our accord money as equalization, the federal government has done exactly what it said it would not do, and pushed us backward."