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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 03 April 2009 |
Lloyd Zwicker was a larger than life character. With a special emphasis on character.
A number of years ago he informed his wife, Annette that he was going to have the biggest funeral ever witnessed in Windsor. He then proceeded to reel off his wish list for that final day. Annette quickly let him know she wasn’t presenting any funeral director or minister with such demands and told him he would have to leave a written request.
And write it down he did. All 28 pages of instructions.
For years Lloyd was the heart and soul of the Valley Jets junior hockey team. Over the years he was involved with every level of minor hockey in Windsor and with baseball and softball in the summer months. Thousands of young men and women benefited from his generosity.
He passed away on March 22, 2009. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Thursday, 26 March 2009 |
Nova Scotians will soon learn whether the members of the Standing Committee on Economic Development are full of beans or bluster. When deputy minister of Finance Vicki Harnish chose to ape the Speak No Evil monkey during her subpoenaed appearance before the committee, she not only frustrated the members, she basically called their bluff.
New Democrat member Graham Steele believes she was instructed to remain mute.
Her display frustrated the committee to the point that they are seeking legal advice to determine if she was in contempt. When they receive and review the opinion we will then be able to determine if their bravado is for real. Or will they, as so many before them have done, let the deputy minister rule the day. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Wednesday, 18 March 2009 |
I have always tried to look at the entire puzzle instead of the puzzle pieces. For a single puzzle piece, as anyone who has worked on jigsaw puzzles knows, can sometimes be very difficult to fit into the master plan.
The anti-NDP attack ad campaign, recently launched by the provincial Conservatives is puzzling indeed. I don’t think I can fit this piece into the big puzzle- the big puzzle here being the Conservatives’ yet-to-be-seen comprehensive strategy for winning the next election. In fact, my guess is these ads will turn more voters off than on.
You will notice I have dropped the word “Progressive” from the ruling provincial party’s title - this lot is acting more like Neanderthals, certainly not progressive thinkers.
What’s next, “Darrell Dexter’s mother wears army boots?” The campaign is nothing short of childish, to put it mildly. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Thursday, 12 March 2009 |
On Thursday, two stories caught my attention. The first was a screaming headline in the Globe and Mail, “Chrysler threatens to pull out of Canada.” It told of the president of Chrysler LLC, Thomas LaSorda, putting a gun to the head of Canadians, saying “Cough up $2.3-billion or we will close down operations on the northern side of the 48th parallel.”
That would not be a stimulus package, to save 9,000 jobs, no it is nothing short of blackmail. Shame on Chrysler. Shame on Thomas LaSorda.
The other story, on CBC Radio One, was closer to home, Port Hawkesbury to be exact. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Saturday, 07 March 2009 |
“Because I could not stop for Death,
He kindly stopped for me.
The Carriage held but just ourselves
And Immortality”
The above quote, by Emily Dickinson, more or less sums up Michael Baker’s interval. He wasn’t stopping for Death, that’s for sure.
It has been said that there are two things we cannot control; or birth and our death, only the interval in between. When our former finance minister passed last Monday, I thought, “Wow, what an interval!” |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 27 February 2009 |
Steve Murphy always ends his six o’clock CTV News package with “something interesting for last.” Wednesday evening, the “interesting” part came early.
During an interview with Premier Rodney MacDonald, Murphy asked about Nova Scotia contributing $1.5 million to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. He then followed up by asking about the four VIP tickets that were delivered along with 200 other tickets to the games.
I sat in total disbelief when MacDonald said it was the first he knew about the VIP tickets. The first he knew!
Having worked (it began with a major brain cramp) in a Leader’s office for three years, I have a bit of insight into what goes on. Believe me, the Leader had to read every document that came across his desk, and was then debriefed on what he had taken in.
I have a friend who was a close confidant of John Buchanan, and he would call her at two in the morning to be brought up to speed. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 20 February 2009 |
The last thing Nova Scotia needs is four more years of Rodney MacDonald, a premier who has little or no regard for the system of governance. We have to assume this is because of the precious little time the 52 MLAs spend in the Legislature.
That is where governments are held accountable. John Buchanan, for all his warts, never shunned facing the Opposition. During his years in office, Buchanan’s sessions in the House of Assembly would last for two or three months. With Rodney MacDonald, three weeks seems to be the norm.
The fiddler from Mabou would rather play peek-a-boo, you see him there, you see him here, but never where he should be, at the Legislature. Didn’t he learn anything under Dr. John Hamm? The former premier, the epitome of statesmanlike, regularly faced the heat of accountability. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 13 February 2009 |
There was more than a touch of irony when Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil leveled both barrels at the president of Nova Scotia Power Inc, during an appearance by Rob Bennett before a Legislative Committee. Bennett, among other things, gave the committee members an update on NSP’s five-year $100 million plan to improve delivery and reliability.
McNeil, born twelfth into a family of seventeen children, knows a tad or two about the struggles of ordinary Nova Scotians. His dad, Bert, died suddenly and his mother was left to raise a large family. Ironically, Bert had been an employee of Nova Scotia Light and Power, first in Halifax and later moving to Bridgetown.
Given this background, when McNeil speaks of the struggles of the poor and working poor, I have one word of advice: listen! He is, as they say, talking the talk after having walked the walk. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 06 February 2009 |
What was Angus MacIsaac thinking when he stood in front of a wall of anti NDP jargon and tried to frighten the voters of Nova Scotia? Better still, what idiot created the scare tactic? What really galls me is that person is being supported by our hard earned tax dollars.
Quite frankly, he looked silly in the front page picture of Friday’s Chronicle-Herald.
And oh yes, where was Rodney MacDonald? He is the Premier, isn’t he? |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Thursday, 29 January 2009 |
When they begin the twinning of Highway 104 near Antigonish, the three levels of government involved with the infrastructure project should set aside a few pennies for the construction of a look-off. Nothing special; a bit of parking, a bench or two, and most importantly an unobstructed view of what many refer to as the Cathedral Town.
This would provide a place where Nova Scotians can stare at the spire of St. Ninian’s and, when leaving, pause and genuflect. Not because St. Ninian's Cathedral is the Episcopal Seat for the Catholic Diocese of Antigonish, which includes Antigonish, Pictou, and Guysborough Counties on the eastern Nova Scotia mainland, and the entire Island of Cape Breton. But rather, out of respect to the Antigonishers who rule over us. For the truth is that those who think our world revolves around the House of Assembly or One Government Place should think again.
Lest I be accused of pettifogging, let me explain. |
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Columnist - Al Hollingsworth
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Written by Al Hollingsworth
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Friday, 23 January 2009 |
Now that Fred McGillivary is about to become history at the World Trade Centre, the big question is who will take the helm, take over what is to become a much bigger centre and, maybe, an even bigger arena complex. I’m not sure we need the latter. Another debate for another time.
For the Fred fans who lament his departure, a quick reminder that our graveyards are full of people once thought to be indispensible. Predictably, not one of their departures from this earth caused the world to stop spinning.
Premier Rodney MacDonald often talks about the need to develop the downtown core. On that issue we agree. A much larger world trade centre would be a major step in that direction. That and bulldozing “Pizza Corner.” I digress. |
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