|
Rodney MacDonald Can't Buy A Break |
|
|
|
Written by Blogging Editor
|
|
Tuesday, 16 May 2006 |
Who would have thought that PC leader Rodney MacDonald would have ran into some problems during two staged campaign stops?
On Tuesday, MacDonald visited the Dartmouth home of Gordon Stanfield, the nephew of former Tory premier, Robert Stanfield. That's called name association - or as they say in Cape Breton, "Rub some of that off on me, won't ya."
MacDonald visited Mr. Stanfield to repeat, repeat, repeat, his pledge to remove the eight per cent provincial portion of the HST from home heating energy costs. It's now a promise, but last week, it was actually a part of MacDonald's budget. But Premier MacDonald called a provincial election before his budget was voted on, which resulted in the death of the rebate on heating fuel.
Back on the green lawn in Dartmouth, where MacDonald was looking for some Stanfield name association, there was a surprise awaiting the premier in the grass. Gordon Stanfield suggested MacDonald's home heating fuel rebate really wasn't that much of a break.
Stanfield told reporters a tax rebate for heating fuel was probably a good idea, but it would create headaches for businesses.
"It's just a small exemption, you know. The business crowd will have to put a great deal of time into accommodating that change."
Stanfield also pointed out taxes are necessary to pay for services.
"I come from a fiscally responsible crowd, at least that's what I tell myself, and the bills have to be paid. And those bills can only be met by the taxpayers."
Despite a well oiled saddle, and lots of "Preparation H" on hand, the rough ride continued for MacDonald in horse country.
During a Alberta style stop in Windsor, MacDonald arrived on the scene of another scheduled campaign stop to find a calf on the loose.
Sue Lahey a longtime Tory supporter, took the premier to task for calling an election before adopting the budget, which died when the legislature was dissolved May 11 and the election campaign started.
"I'd have found it easier to judge you if you had passed that budget because now after this is over you can go and you can write a new budget," she told MacDonald.
MacDonald attempted to corner the baby calf by promising to go back to Province House with the same budget if the Tories win the election.
Lahey wasn't impressed with MacDonald's cattle rustling techniques, and let him know it.
"That's what you say, but I've heard things before that didn't happen."
COMMENT HERE
|
