Kevin Deveaux  MLA Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage    

THE BEACON – OCTOBER, 2006

You have probably seen the signs around the community with regard to the need for a high school in Eastern Passage. I wanted to provide some background for those who may not know the history of our communities fight for a high school for our children.

I recall as a child that people would casually mention the need for a high school in the community. But it is important to note that in an urban area like HRM, high schools are built for at least 800 students. In rural areas, like Upper Musquodobit, the numbers are much lower.

The students of Eastern Passage have been attending high school in the Cole Harbour area for over forty years – first at Graham Creighton High School and now at Cole Harbour District High School. When these schools were built the suburban Dartmouth area had a student population that warranted one high school for all the communities. The schools were built in Cole Harbour as it was centrally located for all the communities – from Seaforth to North Preston to Eastern Passage.

In the early 1990s, when the student population warranted a second high school, the original plan was for a high school on Caldwell Road in Cole Harbour for the students of Colby Village and Eastern Passage. However, the final decision was to construct Auburn Drive High School one kilometre from Cole Harbour District High School – a decision that still defies logic.

Indeed, three of the four high schools in the greater Dartmouth area are located within a 1.5 km radius (Cole Harbour District High, Auburn Drive High and Prince Andrew High). Of course, the recent population growth in our community means our children are bussed a great distance to one of the schools located in the Cole Harbour area.

Having grown up in Eastern Passage, I graduated from Cole Harbour District High School in 1984. At that time there were approximately 200 high school students from Eastern Passage at the school. Though people discussed the need for our own high school, the student population did not warrant it.

Currently, there are 650 high school students from Eastern Passage at Cole Harbour District High School. Eleven busloads of students a day travel from our community to Cole Harbour. Over half the population of the school is from our community.

And the student population will only continue to increase. With over 700 new homes scheduled for construction in Eastern Passage in the next two years, the population of the community will exceed 15,000 by 2009, with over 700 students in Grades 10-12.

The first serious attempt to build a high school in the community was in 2001. Real estate agents and local residents may have discussed the option in the 1990s, but no serious effort was made until the provincial government requested a submission of construction priorities from the Halifax Regional School Board in 2001.

In 2001, the school board created a list of construction priorities and a high school for Eastern Passage was number 20 on the list. The provincial government approved the first four projects on the school board’s list of priorities.

In 2005, the Department of Education again requested a list of priorities from the Halifax Regional School Board and a high school for the Woodside-eastern Passage area was number three on the priority list.

Given the efforts of the school board to make a high school for the Eastern Passage-Woodside area a high priority, this is the first realistic chance our community has had to get a high school.

This month, the Provincial Cabinet will review a list of projects for approval. It is time for the community to do its part in sending a message to the government. Go online to www.easternpassagehighschool.com and sign the petition and send an e-mail to the Minister of Education. Or sign one of the hard copy petitions in local shops.

If approved, the proposal is for a fifth high school in the Dartmouth area to be located in the Eastern Passage-Woodside. In order to finish the job, there will be a site selection process in 2007-08 and our community will have to be diligent to ensure the site of the new school is located in our community.

As I have noted past articles, I wish the process was easier. If my Party had won government in either of the last two elections, we would have ensured that the high school would be built. I will continue to put political pressure on the Government, but the community must send a message to the Tory Government that this is an important issue.

This is a key moment in our quest for a high school of our own. Get involved!

THE OBSERVER – OCTOBER, 2006

Despite comments from some in my political party in recent weeks, I want to make it clear that I still support the effort of our troops in Afghanistan. Now is not the time to fold our tent and head home.

I respect those that have their opinion with regard to the counter-insurgency in Afghanistan. They have a right to speak their mind. Indeed, I think a debate on this issue is vital and a sign of how strong our democracy is.

And that is the precise reason we must continue to do our job in Afghanistan. Canada is the envy of the world. We have a thriving democracy in which the rights of all individuals are protected while ensuring the state can still accomplish much in support of the citizens – from public health care to minimum guaranteed incomes for seniors. We are a multi-cultural, bilingual society that respects diversity, not only in name, but in practice. And we have respect for the rule of law and the need for the rights of citizens to be protected.

Canada is truly unique amongst the nations of the world.

I have had the opportunity to work extensively in countries that have recently come out of a conflict – Cambodia, Kosovo and Iraq, for example. What I have learned from my experience is that the citizens of these countries want what we have – a country in which the citizens have the freedom to achieve their goals and a state that provides support and restraint where appropriate.

So why are so many Canadians afraid to put our money where our mouth is? Why are some Canadians unwilling to make sacrifices, as a nation, in the name of ensuring any citizen of the world has the same opportunity a citizen of Canada has? I suspect every Canadian wants everyone in the world to have what we have, but I fear that many see this as George Bush’s war.

Let me be clear, the conflict is not George Bush’s war. The United States was attacked on September 11, 2001 by a group that was supported by the Taliban Government in Afghanistan. As a member of NATO, when the United States was attacked, NATO declared that all members were to do what was necessary to address the problem. Canada is a member of NATO and we have an obligation to do our part.

Maybe some Canadians do not like that we are a member of NATO or that we are actively peace-making in Afghanistan. But for a nation that is relies on foreign trade as a basis of our standard of living, we cannot be isolationist. We must do our part.

Yes, we must support out troops, but I believe that those that oppose this action also support our troops. Yes, we must do our part within NATO, but suspect the vast majority of Canadians understand that we are part of an alliance.

In the end, this comes down to one fundamental question: Should Canada use its military to build and maintain peaceful, democratic nations throughout the world? Not only in Afghanistan, but in Kosovo and Sudan and Lebanon.

I believe we must see our troops as part of a larger team of Canadians that will work anywhere in the world to build and maintain a peace. There will always be a price to pay for such actions (anyone who thinks Darfur would not be a deadly mission is fooling themselves) but everyone in the world should have the right to self-determination and to choose their own government. Neither of which can be accomplished without some form of military support.

THE OBSERVER: AUGUST, 2006

Every so often an issue will stir passion and anger beyond the norm. People on both sides of the issue become quite heated and an MLA will hear from a large number of constituents with regard to the issue.

Sunday shopping is one of those issues.

Everyone agrees that the plebiscite held in 2004 was a vote to not allow full, unregulated opening of all stores on Sundays. However, that is where the two sides end their agreement.

Those opposed to Sunday shopping believe the plebiscite was a vote to not allow large grocery stores to open. The vote entrenched the rules as they were at that time and Superstore and Sobey’s were not open at that time. Therefore, the large grocers should not be able to open on Sundays.

Those that want to have the choice to shop on Sundays believe the vote was a vote for the status quo – that the current legislated rules were fine and we should not expand the rules. If you follow this argument to its logical conclusion, large grocers could open on Sundays, as long as they met the current regulations. If Pete’s Frootique could find a way to open on Sundays then the same rules can be used by other grocers to do the same.

The Tories have dropped the ball with regard to Sunday shopping from the beginning. The plebiscite lost legitimacy in the eyes of many when the wording was manipulated to get the result the Tories wanted. Second, when the large grocers decided to open in June, the Tories set an arbitrary date to create one set of rules for them and another for their competition.

Finally, the Tories were forced by the NDP to pass legislation to protect the right of workers to choose if they wish to work on Sundays. Instead of ensuring all retail workers had the right to choose to work on Sundays the Tories are promising to gut their own legislation to protect only those workers who work for the grocers – no help for staff of a Tim Horton’s or the Casino or at a bookstore.

Government regulation is a fine tool that must be used appropriately. Regulation can “nudge” the public towards a direction that a large number of people support (if not a majority). But regulation only works if the public believes the rules have been set based on fairness. If the public does not respect those that make the laws or the process or motivation by which a law is made, then a regulation will be seen as unfair and there will be a growing disrespect for that law and the law generally.

That is what has happened to the Tories. By creating an unfair set of rules and trying to stop the inevitable march towards Sunday shopping, Nova Scotians have less respect for this fledgling government and the laws it creates.

No longer can the public be confident that the laws created by the Tories, whether one supports the law or not, are being created based on the public interest and not the interest of a few retrogrades in the Tory Cabinet.

Sunday shopping is inevitable –like it or not. We are the last jurisdiction in North America to place strict regulations on what can open on a Sunday. It is only a matter of time before Sunday shopping is more wide open.

We must ensure workers are protected. We require legislation that protects all workers in the retail trade who wish not to work on Sundays. Then we can walk away from this debate knowing those that choose not to work on Sundays have that right and we can wait for the inevitable to happen.

It is time to move. There are other important issues that Nova Scotians need to address.

…THE DARTMOUTH-COLE HARBOUR WEEKLY NEWS (May 2006)

It has been a few years in the making, but later this year a new overpass will be completed over the Circumferential Highway. The Mount Hope Interchange will have a significant impact on traffic on Portland Street and result in less congestion on one of the busiest roads in HRM.

The Mount Hope Interchange is located approximately one kilometre northeast of the end of Highway #111, where the highway meets Pleasant Street. The interchange has been discussed for a number of years. I recall asking the Minister of Transportation in the Legislature about this interchange in 2000.

The interchange will connect the Woodside Industrial Park to the Circumferential Highway, which will mean quicker access for large vehicles to the park.

But the interchange will also create a new road towards Morris Lake. That road will eventually connect to Caldwell Road between Cole Harbour and Eastern Passage. The road should intersect with Caldwell Road approximately where the current road to MacDonald’s Beach is located. It will eventually stop at the corner of Hines Road and Caldwell Road in Eastern Passage.

This new route will ensure much quicker access to the highway for residents of Cole Harbour, particularly those that live in the southern quarter of Cole Harbour (i.e. – Colby South, Morris Lake Estates, Cole Harbour Reserve, Atholea Drive, Astral Drive, etc.). These residents will be able to avoid the traffic on Portland Street and this, in turn, will mean fewer cars using Portland Street.

The new route will also open up new land for residential, commercial and industrial development.

All these developments from the construction of one interchange. This is a great example of a partnership between the Province of Nova Scotia and the Halifax Regional Municipality. By working together, the construction of the interchange the diversion of traffic from Portland Street and new residential and commercial development can occur.

THE OBSERVER – MARCH, 2006

“You can’t teach an old dog new trick.” It is an old saying, but it may be appropriate for the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party. Given the revelations of the past few weeks, it seems the only thing standing between the Tories acting like their natural “Buchanan at the trough” ways was John Hamm.

John Hamm decided to step down in October, 2005. I think it is generally accepted in this province that Dr. Hamm brought integrity to government. He expected his cabinet and MLAs to meet a standard that we have not seen in this province since the days of Robert Stanfield. He wanted to ensure the books were balanced and his government worked for the people of Nova Scotia and not for their own self-interest.

I can and have disagreed with many of the decision of the Tories under John Hamm, but I could not question his integrity or his ability to ensure his Ministers worked for the public good.

Once John Hamm announced he was retiring, the water changed on the beans. Rodney MacDonald was not elected by his Party until February 11, 2006, but for all intents and purposes John Hamm was a caretaker Premier since his retirement announcement in October, 2005.

If you understand that political fact you can see how things began to unravel before John Hamm’s official term ended.

One of the decisions made by the John Hamm Tories was to depoliticize the process by which loans and grants are given to businesses in our province. The creation of Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) in 2001 was a good idea (indeed, I suggested such an approach a year before the Tories announced the move).

NSBI ensured the process by which government funds were given to businesses was based on sound business practices, not politics. Provincial Cabinet was not directly involved in deciding which businesses received funds.

However, after John Hamm announced his retirement the Tory Cabinet approved funds for two companies – S&J Potato Farms Inc. and Magic Valley Family Fun Park (in Pictou County). The companies did not receive funds from NSBI but did receive funds directly from Cabinet.

The Tories also created a $50 million fund for further projects that is separate from any funds allocated by NSBI.

Ernie Fage was forced to resign on February 16, 2006 as a result of a conflict-of-interest. The millionaire farmer leases land to S&J Potato Farms Inc. – the same company that received funds from Cabinet.

It seems integrity was a John Hamm value, not a Tory value.

Without John Hamm at the helm, the Tories are back to their old ways. Self-interest trumps the public interest. Taxpayer dollars go to support questionable businesses that did not receive funding under the depoliticized process, but were able to get funds from Cabinet.

Nova Scotians have paid a price for the belt-tightening of the John Hamm Government. Our roads are in bad shape. Our schools are in need of improvement. Our surgery and emergency room wait times are some of the highest in Canada. Many have accepted these problems as a necessary short-term pain that will, in the long run, result in fiscal freedom to invest in our economy and our infrastructure.

John Hamm worked hard to turn this province around. We cannot allow it to sink back into the old-style politics that kept us down for so long. We must ensure that whoever is in government is working for the public good and is prepared to invest our new-found fiscal freedom in appropriate projects and programs.

If the Tories are not able to carry on the legacy of John Hamm then they should step aside and let someone else carry on his legacy.

THE BEACON – MARCH, 2006

I noted last year that the Halifax Regional School Board had recognized a high school for “Woodside-Eastern Passage” as its third priority for new school construction projects. I wanted to update the community on the status of this project.

The process by which the government selects school construction projects is like a dialogue with the school boards. The Department of Education asks the school boards to produce a list of new construction projects and a separate list for alterations. Once the list is received from the school board the Department of Education may ask for more information or may come back with an alternative list. The school board can then agree with the list or make changes based on the opinions of the Department. The final word rests with the Provincial Government.

In December, 2004 the Department of Education requested from the Halifax Regional School Board a new priority list for new construction projects. The school board presented a list in January, 2005 that had as third on the list a new high school for “Woodside-Eastern Passage” by 2009.

That proposal was acceptable to me. I have always argued that with the new housing development in the Russell Lake area that there is sufficient current and future population to warrant a fifth high school in the Dartmouth area and that high school should be located in Eastern Passage. The high school could have as its feeder schools the Eastern Passage Education Centre and the new Prince Arthur Junior High School.

The Department of Education reviewed the priority list and told the Halifax Regional School Board that the high school proposal required more information. In September, 2005 the Halifax Regional School Board presented a more detailed explanation of how such a school would fit in to the broader Dartmouth area school system.

The new proposal is very different from the original proposal.

The Halifax Regional School Board is now recommending a Colby Village-Eastern Passage high school by 2011 (two years later then originally proposed). Cole Harbour District High School will become a junior high school servicing the students of Forest Hills, Lawrencetown and Bel Ayr. This would mean the closure of Sir Robert Borden Junior High School, Eric Graves Junior High School and Ross Road Junior High School.

Astral Drive Junior High School and Eastern Passage Education Centre students would attend a new high school for the area.

The proposal is now with the Minister of Education and the Minister will make recommendations to the Provincial Cabinet in May or June of 2006 on which proposals to accept.

I am concerned that the project has been delayed a further two years and that it now involves our community having to lobby for the high school to be located in our community against possible alternatives sites in Cole Harbour.

(Those that recall the debate over the location of Auburn Drive High School in the early 1990s will recall that Auburn Drive High School was originally to be located on Caldwell Road in Cole Harbour to service students in Colby Village and Eastern Passage, but the school was eventually located one kilometre from the other high school in Cole Harbour.)

Let me be clear, an NDP Government would have a high school in Eastern Passage as soon as possible, with 2009 as a reasonable goal. I still think with the housing development in our community and the Russell Lake area that there is an argument for a fifth high school in the Dartmouth area. Barring that alternative, I think an “Eastern Passage-Woodside” high school is the best alternative.

Having stated the position of my Party if we win the next election, I support any proposal that gets us closer to a high school in Eastern Passage. But if the Tories agree to the school board proposal our community will have more work to do with regard to a high school.

Stay tuned. I will keep you up-to-date.

THE BEACON – MARCH, 2006

As we start a new era in politics this month, it is important to reflect upon what might be a good time to invest not only in the Canadian military but in 12 Wing Shearwater.

The Liberals spent years refusing to invest in our Armed Forces and, as a result, our troops had to do their job with obsolete equipment. The Tories have always had a reputation as a Party that supports our troops – at least in the purchase of proper equipment. I hope that this government can continue the recent work of the Martin Liberals to purchase new ships and helicopters for our Navy.

12 Wing Shearwater has a long and illustrious history of naval air support – from the first sea planes of Lt. Byrd to the HMCS Bonaventure to the current maritime helicopter fleet, Shearwater has always been an integral part of Canada’s coastal defense system.

There is now an opportunity to expand Shearwater further. The Liberals had announced a new rapid deployment force of 800 personnel that can be shipped out in a matter of days to any “hot spot” (natural disaster, conflict, etc.). Shearwater has ocean, land and air access capability. The military has recognized these natural benefits to Shearwater and has suggested in the last year that the base is the best location for the rapid deployment force.

The shut down of the main runway a few years ago was a concern and still is. The Tories must make the investment to recommission the runway to ensure there is a suitable landing space for the large or medium size transport aircraft.

The Federal Tories have suggested that such a force should be based in Quebec (Bagotville, to be exact). But this makes no sense. Shearwater has the jetty, the rail line and, with a few improvements, the runway once again.

For too many years we have seen the Liberals play politics with our Armed Forces (who can forget the decision to cancel the EH-101 contract that cost the government over $500 million in 1993). We need to make military decisions based on sound military analysis and not politics. I hope the Tories have learned from the Liberal mistakes and work with the people of Eastern Passage to ensure Shearwater is the future home of the new rapid deployment force.

THE DARTMOUTH LAKER - Feb. 2006

Halifax recently was recognized as the most violent city in Canada. According to a Statistics Canada report in November, 2005 HRM had the highest rate of violent crime (assaults, homicides, sexual assaults, robberies) per capita in the country.

This is a dubious honour for our city. And if the statistics were not enough, recent crimes in the city and, in particular, the Cole Harbour area, are proof that we have a problem with community safety.

The first reaction of the Tory Government is to blame the Federal Government for lax laws relating to crime and punishment. While it is true the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) is even more lenient towards youth then the Young Offenders Act, the Province must take responsibility for this problem.

The YCJA was passed in 2002 as a result of complaints with regard to the Young Offenders Act. Many saw that Act as too forgiving towards youth who commit crimes. The law was amended to make it easier to sentence some violent offenders as adults, but it also lessened the consequences for breaking most other laws. As a result, youth now have less to fear from the YCJA then they did under the Young Offenders Act.

But the YCJA applies the same to Halifax as it does to Red Deer or Timmins. We cannot blame that law for the increase in violent crime in our city. The Provincial Government must recognize that it has a major role to play in reducing crime and addressing the causes of crime.

The NDP has done its part. We have introduced legislation to shut down facilities and homes in communities that become chronic centres for criminal activity (drug houses, chop shops, illegal gaming venues). The Tories have agreed to pass the legislation in the Spring of this year.

But more must be done. Our Crown Attorneys must seek no bail for defendants who use a gun in the commission of a crime. Weapon prohibition orders must be sought by prosecutors where guns are involved. These measures can be accomplished by the Provincial Government without any assistance from the Federal Government.

We must also look at the causes of crime. Halifax has seen a significant increase in homelessness in the past number of years. This has happened, in part, because of the Tory cutbacks in assistance and, more recently, changes to how we release mental health patients into the community.

Our education system is so poorly funded that we are unable to address the needs of those students with behavioural problems that are most likely to be at risk of committing crimes. We do not have the resources to assess and identify these children and youth, let alone the resources to support them once they are diagnosed.

And the lack of any concrete childcare plan for the province is another example of how the Tories have ignored factors that result in higher crime rates. The more daycare spaces we create and the better we pay our daycare workers, the better off our children will be. Such early education support will go along way towards helping parents who have children who are at-risk of committing crimes in the years to come.

Ignoring the need for regulated daycare spaces will result in more youth who are not identified as having behavioural problems and, therefore, are not provided with the support they need and, in turn, become more likely to offend.

It is time the government took seriously community safety. The label of “Most Violent City in Canada” is not something to be proud of – and neither is a government that is soft on crime and soft on the causes of crime.

THE OBSERVER – JANUARY, 2006

I recently had an opportunity to attend the funeral of Private Braun Woodfield of the 2nd Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR) based out of CFB Gagetown. His death in the line of duty in Afghanistan has focused attention on our role in that country. I, for one, support the role of our troops in Afghanistan and I think it is important that Canadians understand how valuable the role of our military is in central Asia.

Private Woodfield was from Cow Bay. He wanted to join the military because he wanted to contribute and make the world a better place. He comes from a family where military service was common and well respected. He had only been in the Army for two and one-half years, having joined in April of 2003. But he had already been deployed to Haiti as part of Operation HALO.

His death on November 24, 2005 was hard to accept, not only for his family, but for his extended military family and his fiends and community. But there are risks to peacekeeping and peacemaking in the world – from Kosovo to East Timor to Afghanistan. Our troops understand the risks involved and are willing to represent their country with pride to ensure our interests and freedoms are preserved.

We have undervalued our military for too many years in Canada. I have seen the impact our troops can have when we give them the equipment and support they need to be part of an action that ensures a safer world. I have worked in Kosovo a number of times and I have heard first hand how the people of that country have such respect for our troops as they helped liberate the country.

If we believe that our political system is a shining example to the world, we must be prepared to invest in a military that is able to secure the peace anywhere in the world as a first step towards promoting a more democratic world.

If we believe we are a civilized, pluralistic society that promotes multiculturalism, we need to ensure our troops are capable of peacekeeping where required as a means of promoting such values around the world.

Our troops are not just soldiers when they are deployed to Bosnia or Afghanistan. They are social workers, police officers and diplomats for our country. They are the first Canadian faces many in the world meet. They must have the training, support and equipment to be effective peacekeepers and peacemakers. We owe that to them and we owe that to the world. If we have a system that is worth promoting we have an obligation to do what we can to promote that system.

Afghanistan is our current destination. In the past it was Europe, the Suez Canal, Cyprus and the Balkans. In the future there will be new conflicts in countries and regions most of us will not have heard of. But our military men and women will continue to represent us with pride. We must do our part at home to ensure they have what it takes to do the dangerous work they do and to represent our country with distinction.

THE DARTMOUTH LAKER – OCTOBER, 2005

What Will The Tories Do About Oil Prices?

When will the price of gasoline stop increasing? What will be the price for home heating oil this winter? Why is Nova Scotia Power Inc. asking for a rate increase?

All good questions and ones that all relate to the price of crude oil. Let me be clear. No government can control the price of crude oil. Indeed, it has become a bit of a mugs game to figure out where the price will go in the coming months. But suffice it to say that oil production has peaked in the world and all future reserves will not be easily accessible. Therefore, the price is bound to stay high and, in the long-term, continue to increase.

I have heard from many constituents with regard to the price at the pumps. With winter only a few months away, people with oil furnaces will fill up their oil tanks soon. And for people with electric heat, the recent request by NSPI for a rate increase is likely to have an impact on their pocket books.

People are wondering what can be done with regard to oil and gasoline prices and electricity rates.

To start with, the Tories need to look at reducing the tax on gasoline. It was John Hamm who levied a two cent/litre tax on gasoline in 2000. Now that we have eliminated our deficit and have significantly reduced our debt, it is time to remove that gas tax.

Second, the HST equals a 15% tax on home heating oil, gasoline and electricity rates. The NDP has been asking the government to eliminate the HST on family essentials for some time now. The Tories have refused and that is a shame.

Third, the House of Assembly gave the Tories the power to regulate gasoline prices in the last sitting of the legislature. Now John Hamm is balking at the idea of regulating prices. Regulation would eliminate the constant fluctuations in the price and bring some stability to our gas purchases.

Fourth, Nova Scotia Power Inc. should not be able to increase its rates until it has a concrete plan for reducing its dependence on non-renewable resources (oil and coal) and starts to develop alternative sources of production (i.e.- wind).

Fifth, the Tories must help families who are struggling with price increases. Grants and rebates must be provided for those that are willing and able to renovate their homes to increase energy efficiency. Also, people should be rewarded for purchasing cars that have a higher fuel economy.

Sixth, Nova Scotia needs a transportation strategy. In HRM, the Tories must significantly increase their investment in public transportation. We need to set up the commuter rail service from Truro and Windsor. We need to provide rapid ferry service for all parts of the harbour.

Finally, the Tories must provide better information to Nova Scotians so we are able to have the information we need to improve our own energy efficiency. Whether it is the vehicles we drive, the replacement of windows and doors or the need to use alternative transportation sources, Nova Scotians do not have the information they require to make informed decisions.

The Tories are the government in Nova Scotia and the Tories must tell Nova Scotians what they are prepared to do to ensure we are best able to cope with the rapidly increasing price of oil. We should not settle for half-measures. The increase in fuel prices will have an impact on our economy in the coming months. We need to act now to limit that impact.