HALIFAX – Progressive Conservative leader Jamie Baillie agrees with the Premie Darrell Dexter’s objective to have Bowater land available for future generations but adds that, once again, the NDP chose the most expensive deal.
“There are still so many unanswered questions about this deal, including what is the total debt and why government ownership is better than buying some of the land to protect it and regulating the use of the rest?” said Baillie in a news release. “Encouraging local investment and ownership would help create more stable forestry jobs for the future. Instead the Premier made the most expensive deal and taxpayers’ are on the hook for everything.”
Baillie, a Truro native, wants to see the business case that shows adding hundreds of millions of dollars in new debt for our children to pay was the best option.
“We need a real plan for sustainable forestry jobs that is clear about how the land can be used,” said Baillie. “Thousands of people rely on those lands to provide for their families and they need access.”
Baillie says protecting the workers’ pension is a worthy goal but the same objective could be achieved without a taxpayer subsidy. He also believes the Premier should require, as part of this deal, that the Oakhill Sawmill be sold as a going concern.
“The NDP lost the confidence of Nova Scotians to negotiate good deals months ago,” said Baillie. “The Premier has not given any reason to believe this deal is any better.”
