NDP’s free fall
The NDP government is in free fall in public support according to a new CRA poll. The numbers show the Liberals and Stephen McNeil the biggest winner up nine points.
The NDP are down nine points. It’s pretty clear the NDP have lost their first time voters – and more — in this survey snap shot.
The big question for Darrell Dexter is, will public support continue to erode or will the NDP be able to regain lost ground.
Yesterday’s lead editorial in the Chronicle Herald doesn’t help.
Responding to the AG’s unparalleled and unprecedented cancellation of his audit of government agencies (the first time ever in Canada) due to the Dexter government’s unwillingness to turn over files, the newspaper slammed Dexter and co. saying they have “no openness and no credibility”.
But the latest flap with the AG, who himself slammed the government saying they have a pervasive policy of secrecy, didn’t even make the latest survey by CRA. If the survey were held today, my bet is there would even be more public support erosion for Dexter.
According to many in Nova Scotia, the AG is the last man standing when it comes to moral authority and trustworthiness. Auditor General Jacques Lapointe’s handling of the MLA expense scandal has forever changed the public’ s expectations for openness and transparency, something the Dexter government, despite everything that has happened still doesn’t get. And it shows in the new poll.
Now, Dexter wants to change the law in the fall session before he hands over the files. Darrell Dexter has stated that he needs to change the law to “protect the government”.
Others in his cabinet say it is there to protect businesses who invest in Nova Scotia. Either way, whatever the motivation, expect the new law to be anything but a promotion of transparency. It will be the exact opposite.
Now ask yourself this: if Darrell Dexter could have passed a law to avoid the MLA Expense scandal and tie the hands of the AG, would he have done so?
You betcha.
And just wait until the next poll.
4 Responses to “ NDP’s free fall ”
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June 4th, 2010 at 4:18 pm
It would be worth writing about if the newspaper actually wrote something in support of the NDP government.
The NDP could cure cancer, create world peace, and eliminate crime, and the newspaper – and you, apparently – would still be griping.
June 5th, 2010 at 10:01 am
i will never vote NDP again!!!!!
June 5th, 2010 at 6:33 pm
Jacques be nimble jack be quick!
June 10th, 2010 at 10:14 am
Andrew:
I cannot help but be amused, if not amazed, at the reaction of the NS public regarding the NDP approach to the actions of the Auditor General regarding expense accounts.
What did they expect? Did they really believe that the NDP, whose squeaky clean self description while spewting scating admonitions of the Tory government, were any different than other politicians who have helped themselves to public funds? I am always amazed that people can be so naive. Politions always preach honesty and transparency while harbouring an insatiable desire to do the contrary.
Unless the public is serious about changing the mind set of politicians regarding the stewardship of public funds, whether it be in NS, NB or anywhere else, things will never change.
You mentioned on your show one day that you were going to pursue this issue and never let it go until things changed in NS. I listen to your show every day but you seem to have dropped the ball on this issue. Your show is the ideal venue where this matter should be constantly kept in the light. Unfortunately your light has dimmed of late. I guess its not newsworthy enough anymore.