An exciting political night last night. It was neck and neck up until the end, but once the dust settled in yesterday's Quebec provincial election, the Parti Quebecois came out on top and will form the province's next government. Should we be alarmed by the fact a separtist government holds the reins of power again in Quebec? Not at all. The PQ victory is tempered by the fact it did not get its coveted majority government. The separtist party will have to learn how to operate within a minority situation. That's good news for the rest of Canada. It should mean an end, for now anyway, to the PQ's desire for a referendum on independence.
Details are still sketchy, but during PQ leader Pauline Marois's victory speech last night in Montreal, a 62 year old man shot another man dead and wounded a second person. Whether Marois was the target remains to be seen, but the suspect is now in police custody.
Nova Scotia's consumer advocate on power rates is suggesting Nova Scotia Power's customers should actually get some rate hike relief rather than the 6% increase its asking for over the next two years. John Merrick says NSP's fuel costs are expected to drop over $53 million next year mostly because of the closure of the Bowater mill in Queens County. Nova Scotia Power expects to spend about 11% less on fuel next year than it initially projected but don't hold your breath expecting lower rates. The power corp of course says the lower fuel costs do not change its application. All sides will duke it out before the Utility and Review Board next week.
You've got to feel for the contractors out over a million dollars after a judge okay'd receivership yesterday for the North End United Housing Co-operative. Take Joe McLeod of Reliable Rooter Plumbing and Heating. He says he's owed nearly $300,000 and has gone into debt awaiting a payment that might now never come. McLeod puts much of the blame on the province which holds the co-op's mortgages. It ended up paying the lawyers and accountants instead of the contractors. He and the other contractors owed money are worried they will never see their accounts settled.
The city's on pace for a record year for development permits. HRM has already issued $650 million worth so far this year and is on pace to issue $1 billion worth by year's end. Mayor Peter Kelly's office issued the release yesterday with the mayor stating it shows the confidence the private sector has in the city. It's less than a week now until the deadline to get your name on the ballot for next month's municipal election. Some are wondering if this news isn't another sign pointing to Kelly deciding to run afterall. Stay tuned.
Have a great day. Get involved. And if you're not outraged, you're not paying attention.
Rick Howe
