Premier Calls On MPs, Senators to Vote Against Federal Budget Legislation
Premier Rodney MacDonald is calling on Nova Scotia's members of Parliament to vote against federal budget legislation on third reading. He is also calling on senators to delay passage of the bill if comes before them. The 2007 federal budget effectively cancels the Atlantic accord.
The premier said this move is prompted by federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty’s disrespect for the professional approach that levels of government should use to resolve federal-provincial differences.
"As late as Friday, we, along with MP Peter MacKay, MP Gerald Keddy and MP Bill Casey were working hard to protect and restore the offshore accord," the premier said. "When I read Mr. Flaherty's letter in the Halifax Herald on Saturday, June 9, it became clear that he was determined to undermine these efforts and undermine our good faith discussions."
"Mr. Flaherty has turned his back on Nova Scotians, and our quiet talks are about to get a whole lot louder."
The premier is requesting a hearing before the Senate where the bill must go after third reading if it is passed.
"I will call for every senator to delay passage of that bill until they’ve had a chance to understand our position and fully understand the impact of the budget on the offshore accord and equalization," said Premier MacDonald. "The province of Nova Scotia will not accept anything less that the signed Atlantic accord."
The premier said he remains convinced that the right and responsible way to resolve disagreements between governments is through reasoned and reasonable discussions.
"Our relationship with the federal government goes well beyond the accord, and it was in Nova Scotians' best interests for us to pursue negotiations until now," he said. "Mr. Flaherty has slammed that door shut, and we must now do everything in our power to help everyone understand what he has done."
The offshore accord is a contract between Nova Scotia and Canada. It guarantees that Nova Scotia will be the principal beneficiary of petroleum developments off our shores, a principle agreed to by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia more than 20 years ago and culminated in the accord signed by former premier John Hamm in 2005.