Kevin Deveaux  MLA Cole Harbour-Eastern Passage    

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.

THE BEACON – OCTOBER, 2005

Oil Prices + Katrina = One Tough Winter

In my article last month I noted the high price of gas and oil and said this would cause some serious problems for Nova Scotians in the coming months. Well, that was before Hurricane Katrina and its devastating impact on the Gulf Coast of the United States.

I never thought I would see people lined up for hours to purchase gasoline at $1.12/litre, but that is what I saw on August 31 of this year. The same day, the Minister of Finance announced that the Provincial Government would have a $70 million surplus this year.

So, as the Tories continue to make a windfall profit from higher gasoline prices, the people of Nova Scotia will be hard-pressed to makes ends meet this winter.

The Tories need to recognize that the people of this province want some relief from skyrocketing fuel prices. No one expects miracles, but at a time when the Province is making more and more from HST off of the fuel, it is time some of that windfall was given back to the people of Nova Scotia.

Let me clear, we voted in the Spring session of the House of Assembly to give the Tories the power to regulate gas prices. Indeed, the Minister of Service Nova Scotia practically bullied the opposition into passing a blank cheque to the Tories to deal with the regulation of gasoline prices. Since then, the Premier has announced that he does not support the regulation of gas prices – so much for that option to help Nova Scotians.

The NDP has been consistently calling for the removal of HST on essentials like heating oil and electricity. The NDP also wants to stop taxing the tax on gasoline. The HST must be calculated on the actual cost of the fuel, not the cost of the fuel and any excise taxes attached to it.

The removal of the HST on heating sources would make a significant difference to Nova Scotians. Anyone with an electricity bill or an oil bill can tell you how they would save if the HST was eliminated.

It never made sense why the HST was placed on essentials and now, more then ever, is the time to remove this regressive tax to ensure all Nova Scotians can benefit from a tax break equally.

But many of our seniors and others are on fixed income and they need more help then the removal of the HST can bring. The Province must also provide some relief for the cost of heating fuel through one-time grants.

I have also heard recently that some oil and propane companies charge an extra fee if a customer requests a delivery of fuel not part of an automatic fuel delivery service. Many on fixed incomes cannot afford to be on an automatic delivery schedule and they should not be punished for that reason.

One month ago, I wrote about eight things the Tories could do to address rising fuel prices. It is one month later and we still have no plan from the Tories. They may hope that this issue goes away and Nova Scotians “get use” to higher fuel prices, but I think Nova Scotians will only get more angry at a government that is unwilling to take action when its citizens are demanded help.

School Absence Policy Changed

The Tories tried to impose a new policy at the beginning of the school year that resulted in no student being absent more then three days per year (not including sick days). After much complaining, the Tories backed off on September 16.

The policy would have a dramatic impact on those students that are involved in sports and extracurricular activity. Indeed, many argued that it penalized those students who are eager to get involved in school activities. When you also consider the fact that active students are healthier and, on average, get better marks, the policy clearly was not well thought out.

I am glad to see the Tories changed their position on this policy. But it is one more example of a government that is rapidly becoming disconnected with the needs of Nova Scotians.

Charlie Oakey

In the past year Charlie Oakey has been active in getting signatures on some very important petitions. I wanted to personally thank him for his efforts on behalf of the community.

Earlier this year, Charlie obtained over 1,300 signatures on a petition asking the Tory Government to regulate gasoline prices. He also got a similar number of signatures for a petition asking HRM to improve transit services in Eastern Passage. Finally, in August and September, Charlie obtained over 1,600 signatures on a petition created by the NDP to request no electricity rate increases until programs are in place to help customers conserve electricity.

Thanks, Charlie, for your hard work on behalf of the community.

By NDP News Release
Sep 21, 2005, 17:54

Halifax - NDP Immigration Critic, Kevin Deveaux, is calling on the Minister responsible for Immigration, Rodney MacDonald, to direct the province’s private sector immigration administrator to waive the $5,500 fee the company charges to handle applicants to the province’s nominee program.

“It is time to honour our historic ties,” says Deveaux. “When the Acadians were expelled they found refuge in Louisiana.”

“Now that disaster has hit that area and so many are left with no where to go, we should remember who we are and open our doors.”

“I have been waiting for this Minister to react, to reach out to the people of New Orleans and area, and quite frankly I am surprised and a little embarrassed that we have heard nothing from him on this.”

Under Nova Scotia’s Nominee Program immigrants that fall outside the category of the economic investor, refugee, or family settlement, are required to pay Cornwallis, the private contractor that administers the Nominee Program, a $5,500 fee as part of their application to settle in the province. It is this $5,500 fee that Deveaux would like to see waived for immigrants from the hurricane area.

Deveaux notes that PEI Premier Pat Binns offered two weeks ago to coordinate a Maritime-wide program to offer shelter to the disaster victims. Deveaux says he admires Binns’ initiative, and suggests that Minister MacDonald could show the same leadership by removing one practical barrier for immigrants from the area.

“I think we would all feel proud of this Immigration Minister if he stepped forward and met this challenge,” say Deveaux. “After all, aren’t Nova Scotians supposed to be famous for their compassion and hospitality?”

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