Strait Talk Episode 2

On October 15, three members of the Nova Scotia Liberal caucus visited the Telile studio for interviews on topics and issues of local and provincial significance.

The first interview was with Fred Tilley, Northside-Westmount MLA and critic of Economic Development, Tourism, and Public Works.

The first question centred on the state of roads and bridges across Nova Scotia and what the current government should be doing to improve their condition.

The next question was about the current government’s concentration on healthcare resources and funding which seem to come at the expense of other priorities like road infrastructure, the education system, and provincial parks.

Tilley was then asked about the state of the tourism industry and what the government of Tim Houston can and should be doing for that important economic sector.

In terms of economic development, Tilley was asked how the current government can help create an environment to encourage investment, employment, and growth.

Ronnie Leblanc, Clare MLA and Liberal critic for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Acadian Affairs and Francophonie, and Forestry was the next person interviewed.

He was first asked about his advocacy for increasing penalties for those convicted of illegal fishing practices and whether higher fines are the answer to curb this activity.

Next, LeBlanc was asked what the provincial government can do to promote and attract investment and jobs in aquaculture and whether there is hesitancy from the province to get too involved in aquaculture given the opposition it generates on occasion.

As Forestry critic, the Clare MLA was then asked for his assessment of the current state of forestry in Nova Scotia and what help or role can the provincial government play in its continued significance or improvements to the sector.

LeBlanc then did an interview in French with Jacqueline Gerroir, specifically about the provincial government’s handling of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie matters and what should be done to continue to advocate for this important cultural sector.

The final person interviewed was Annapolis MLA and Liberal agriculture critic Carman Kerr.

The first question surrounded Kerr’s efforts to help stop the commercial wine support program and support local farm wineries. He was asked whether this lobby helped the industry.

Kerr was then asked if the current government in Halifax has done enough to prepare the agriculture industry against the impacts of climate change.

The next question surrounded the steps needed to shore up food security in Nova Scotia.

As with his fellow members of the Official Opposition, Kerr was also asked to evaluate the current government which is approaching its third year in office.