Microsoft word - nslp agm 2006 resolutions.doc

NOVA SCOTIA LIBERAL PARTY
Sunday Shopping - The Standing Committee on Prov. Policy Development (withdrawn) ! Whereas an ever expanding variety of businesses have begun or continued to open on Sunday, often doing business outside of their traditional domains, ! Whereas Nova Scotia communities continue to lose business to communities in New ! Whereas means exist to protect workers who do not wish to work on Sunday, ! Whereas views on this subject differ in different parts of the province based on personal, ! BIRT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party pressure the Provincial Government to permit regional municipalities to make their own decisions on whether or not to allow Sunday shopping. ! Whereas an ever expanding variety of businesses have begun or continued to open on Sunday, often doing business outside of their traditional domains, leading to new regulations and possible inspections, ! Whereas Nova Scotia communities continue to lose business to communities in New ! Whereas means do currently exist to protect workers who do not wish to work on ! Whereas views on this subject differ in different parts of the province based on personal, ! Be it Resolved that the Government of Nova Scotia repeal the Retail Business Uniform ! BIFRT that the Government of Nova Scotia review and strengthen the Labour Standards Code to ensure that employees that are not currently required to work on Sundays in their present jobs have the right to refuse Sunday work in the future without threat of termination or intimidation. A 2nd BIRT clause on downloading responsibility to municipalities amended to remove Carried as amended and as written above. Education Funding - The Dalhousie Young Liberals and the Standing Committee ! WHEREAS Nova Scotia is the second largest net importing province of post secondary ! WHEREAS Nova Scotia has a declining domestic demographic of secondary students which will force Nova Scotia’s post secondary institutions to rely more on students from other provinces and other countries to maintain current enrolment levels, and ! WHEREAS the current federal social transfer to the provinces is computed based on the number of post secondary students that Nova Scotia produces and not how many post secondary students study in Nova Scotia, ! BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party aggressively pursues an alteration of the federal social transfer to reflect an equitable approach to federal funding that recognizes the number of post secondary students that study in each of the provinces as opposed to the per capita number of students each of the provinces produces. Child Care- The NSWLC and the Standing Committee ! Whereas child care and early learning are critical to ensuring all Nova Scotia children ! Whereas many families cannot afford child care and early learning opportunities, ! Whereas the new Federal Conservative Government has announced plans to scrap the Universal Child Care agreements signed by the previous Liberal Government and the Provinces, ! Whereas the proposed Conservative cash-based plan does nothing to ensure the creation of real child care spaces so that that children regardless of background will have guaranteed access to child care and early learning, ! BIRT that the Nova Scotia Liberal Party pressure the Provincial Government to resist the proposed new Federal Child Care proposal and fight to maintain and implement previous agreements guaranteeing truly Universal Child Care. Physician Shortages - West Nova and the Standing Committee ! Whereas communities across Nova Scotia continue to experience a significant shortage of general practice and specialist physicians ! Whereas this shortage is contributing to decreased health outcomes, long wait times, and backlogs throughout the health system, ! BIRT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party ask Liberal MLA’s to take the lead in formulating legislation to create an incentive based system of reduced tuition and post-graduation loan remission to encourage new physicians to locate/stay in Nova Scotia, particularly in underserviced rural areas. ! BIFRT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party ask Liberal MLA’s to take the lead in developing an aggressive program of physician recruitment and coordinating a responsible expansion of existing medical school capacity in Nova Scotia. Education- Needs Based Grants - The Nova Scotia Young Liberals/ Dalhousie Young Liberals ! WHEREAS Many young Nova Scotians are unable to pursue Post Secondary education because of the increasingly high cost of tuition, which in Nova Scotia is $2,000 above the national average; and ! WHEREAS the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Council (MPHEC) reported in 2004 that 54% of students whose parents received a Bachelor’s degree or higher, did not to borrow money to finance their post secondary education. MPHEC also reported in the same study that only 26% of students whose parents achieved a High School diploma or lower, did not borrow money to finance their post secondary education; and ! WHEREAS the MPHEC study shows the financial importance of accessing and achieving some form of post secondary education and the importance of breaking the cycle in terms of parental education; and ! WHEREAS Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada that does not have a dedicated provincially funded needs-based-grants program; and ! WHEREAS no qualified Nova Scotian should be denied access to Post Secondary Education because of their economic circumstances. ! THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Nova Scotia Liberal Party encourage the Government of Nova Scotia to establish a provincially funded needs-based-grants program complementing the existing federal Millennium Scholarship program, so that Nova Scotians who seek a Post Secondary education have the necessary resources to do so. Enumeration- The Nova Scotia Young Liberals/ St. F.X. Young Liberals ! WHEREAS the Provincial Election of 2003 had the lowest voter turnout in recent ! WHEREAS it is a Canadian and a Nova Scotian’s Democratic Right to vote and many individuals were left off the voters list entirely (ex: 41% of voters were sworn in at poll #10 in the district of Antigonish). ! WHEREAS the Provincial Election of 2003 there were instances where members of the same households were instructed to vote at different polling stations, and some voters were left off the list all together, ! WHEREAS individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 have the lowest voter turnout of any demographic, and not being included on the voter list is further discouragement for this already electoral marginalized group ! WHEREAS the current system of using Permanent List of Electors is highly ineffective, ! WHEREAS the cost of performing a province wide enumeration is relatively inexpensive, $1.5 - $2.5 million every four years under normal circumstances, which translates into .03 - .05 percent of the net program expense of the Province of Nova Scotia, ! BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party encourages the Government of Nova Scotia to eliminate usage of the Permanent List of Electors and amend the Elections Act to return to the traditional practice of a province wide enumeration once the writ is dropped previous to a provincial election. Mandatory Voting and Pref. Ballots - The Acadia Young Liberals ! WHEREAS voter turnout has dropped significantly since the 1960 Nova Scotia Provincial General Election from 82.02% with 318, 900 of 388, 805 eligible voters casting a ballot to 65.79% in the 2003 Nova Scotia Provincial General Election 410,013 of 623,256 casting a ballot; ! WHEREAS mandatory voting produces a government which reflects the general electorate as a whole of a state, territory or province; ! WHEREAS mandatory voting is practiced in other democratic states in the such as ! THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Nova Scotia Liberal Party urge Liberal MLA’s to initiate legislation and/or pressure the Provincial Government would implement mandatory voting in Nova Scotia to ensure that a Nova Scotia Provincial Government reflects the will of the electorate as a whole; ! BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Nova Scotia Liberal Party urge Liberal MLA’s to initiate legislation and/or pressure the Provincial Government to offer an additional option on every ballot stating “none of the listed candidates” to ensure the true will of the electorate is represented in a mandatory voting system; ! LASTLY, BE IT RESOLVED THAT that Nova Scotia Liberal Party urge Liberal MLA’s to initiate legislation and/or pressure the Provincial Government to replace the “first past the post voting system” with a “preferential ballot system” to create a government which is more reflective of the will of the electorate in mandatory vote election. ) 3rd BIRT removed as amendment, the rest defeated. Property Assessments - South Shore- St. Margaret’s ! Whereas the current system of property assessment is severely flawed, ! Whereas assessors have tremendous discretionary authority to assign values and operate without clear and precise standard, ! Whereas many property owners, particularly persons owning coastal properties are in peril of having to sell their homes due to rapidly escalating assessments; ! Be it resolved that the Nova Scotia Liberal Party urge the Nova Scotia government to revamp the current property assessment regime, by using the base year 2001, to establish valuation of properties for Nova Scotia residents and annually use the CPI to increase value when there is a change in ownership. (Amended to remove “when a sale is made” to read “when there is change in ownership :) Community Health Centres - Halifax- Halifax Chebucto ! WHEREAS, health and wellness programs are most effectively delivered ! AND WHEREAS, a number of these community health and wellness Centers are now meeting the health and wellness needs of people in selected communities across the province; ! AND WHEREAS, these centers can bring together the resources to address primary health care needs in a coordinated fashion; ! THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia, pressure the government, or upon forming government, develop and implement a strategy that assures all Nova Scotians have access to a system of community health and wellness centers strategically located throughout the province. Alternative Sources of Energy - Sackville-Eastern Shore (with cooperation from West Nova, and Kings Hants (Kings North and Hants East) ! WHEREAS the costs of electricity in Nova Scotia generated from fossil fuel-fired plants ! WHEREAS Nova Scotia has the highest levels of airborne pollution of any province in Canada, a situation which results in higher instances of respiratory disease and increased costs to our health care system; ! WHEREAS wind and solar power technology generate electricity without greenhouse gas emissions. Wind power is a proven technology, is the fastest growing energy industry in North America, and can provide electricity more economically than more traditional energy generation methods; ! WHEREAS greenhouse gas emissions-free technologies will create carbon credits which will generate economic wealth in the near future; ! WHEREAS Nova Scotia exerts a punitive taxation situation on alternative energy generating operations which is eighteen times higher than that applied in Ontario and discourages investment; ! WHEREAS there are wind energy producing companies in Nova Scotia which are erecting wind turbines in Nova Scotia but will not be able to expand to realize the potential in Nova Scotia due to the lack of market for the electricity they generate; ! WHEREAS current Provincial legislation does not allow independent producers to sell electricity directly to the consumer, other than by contract with existing producers, and is causing proven Nova Scotia companies to transfer their capital and expertise to develop wind power potential in other provinces: ! WHEREAS a NS Government established committee (EMGC) provided recommendations to develop wind power in Nova Scotia, and 103 of these recommendations were accepted by the government and the legislation developed; a ! WHEREAS recommendation 51 allows for independent power producers to sell power ! THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia encourage the Government of Nova Scotia to enact the necessary legislation to facilitate the development of alternate electricity-generating sources in Nova Scotia, giving priority to enacting recommendation 51 from the EMGC; and ! BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia encourages the Government of Nova Scotia to review and adjust the Provincial taxation provisions to encourage alternate electricity-generating technologies to develop in Nova Scotia. Child and Youth Services - Halifax West-(Hammonds-Plains Upper Sackville) ! WHEREAS The Nova Scotia Liberal Party recognizes that our children and youth are the ! WHEREAS services for children and youth are currently provided by multiple ! WHEREAS there is duplication of services, lack of continuity, increased costs and decreased effectiveness due to lack of consultation between these departments and agencies, ! WHEREAS changes in one program often impact on others, ! WHEREAS early childhood, public education and child care continue to be underfunded, ! THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT The Nova Scotia Liberal Party encourage the Nova Scotia Provincial Government to establish a Ministry of Child & Youth Services with the purpose of guiding the policy agenda for children and youth; and developing an evidence-based strategy to provide a continuum of services for children and youth from birth to eighteen years of age, in partnership with other ministries such as Education, Health, Community Services, Culture, Tourism, and Recreation. The result will be increased efficiencies, elimination of duplication of services, consultation, increased effectiveness and the healthy growth and development of all Nova Scotia’s children and youth. Education Rebates - Dartmouth-Cole Harbour (with input from Halifax Atlantic, Hants East, NSWLC) ! WHEREAS the Liberal Party wants to encourage students in Nova Scotia to attend university or college and remain to live and work in this province when they graduate; and ! WHEREAS the present Nova Scotia government has not addressed the tuition crisis faced by post-secondary students in the province; and ! WHEREAS the majority of Nova Scotia post-secondary students are under great pressure to leave the province upon graduation in order to gain employment in their chosen field; and ! WHEREAS an overwhelming number of Nova Scotia post-secondary students are burdened by the enormous debts incurred for living expenses, tuition, and books; therefore ! BE IT RESOLVED that the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia bring forward legislation to rebate post-secondary graduates for tuition (a specified lifetime maximum to be determined) expenses through a tax credit program; and ! BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a Liberal Government rebate program would apply to all students educated in the Province of Nova Scotia who are employed and living in Nova Scotia beginning in the taxation year after graduation. ! BIFRT the Liberal Party of Nova Scotia urge the Government of Nova Scotia to review the federal taxation policy and encourage the Gov of Canada to increase the educational deduction for families from 5000 to 15000 maximum. Amendment defeated to prev. resolution ! Whereas waits for diagnostic and therapeutic services are significant for all Nova ! Whereas rural residents face the additional stress, time, and expense of traveling to ! Whereas patients recover from illness better in their own homes and communities with ! BIRT the NSLP encourage the Government to develop a “Medicine on Wheels” program which will facilitate the provision of diagnostic equipment (MRI, CAT scanning, dialysis and x-ray, etc.) services to rural communities in Nova Scotia. ! Whereas the average age of Nova Scotia’s population continues to increase ! Whereas the shortage of transitional and long term care beds for seniors continues to ! Whereas a minister responsible for seniors could deal with the co-ordination and delivery of services and programs pertinent to all seniors while also recognizing the value of their contribution to our society. ! BIRT that the NSLP support the funding and building of more alternative housing for our ! BIFRT the NSLP research the feasibility of creating a ministry specifically for senior Tourism - Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley ! Whereas the tourism industry has been a source of significant employment and past ! Whereas opportunities continue to exist for Nova Scotians to start up small businesses ! Whereas accessing funding for tourism development in Nova Scotia is a process associated with bureaucratic barriers and significant time delays, ! Whereas in recent years the documented numbers of tourist visits have been dropping, ! Whereas the Provincial Ministry of Tourism has consistently failed to respond both to a downturn in the industry and to the needs of tourists stranded by airport and airline difficulties, ! BIRT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party seek to initiate a comprehensive review of tourism administration and planning in Nova Scotia, ! BIFRT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party pressure the Department of Tourism to offer increased financial support and a streamlined process for small operators seeking startup and ongoing assistance, ! BIFRT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party pressure the Department of Tourism to develop a plan to assist tourists in difficulty to help maintain the reputation of Nova Scotia as a personable and fulfilling tourist destination. Plastic Bag Tax - Central Nova (St. F.X. Young Liberals) ! WHEREAS plastic bags are a product of petrochemical derivatives, which are products that Canada is currently committed to reducing under current environmental policy, ! WHEREAS other countries such as South Africa, Ireland, India, and the Netherlands have taken initiatives to cut down on plastic bag usage, which has resulted in reduction of waste (In Ireland a 90% decrease), ! WHEREAS plastic bags constitute a large portion of visible litter, ! WHEREAS disposable plastic bags are not actually necessary as reusable bags serve ! WHEREAS the money gained through a tax on plastic bags could be used for ! BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Government of Nova Scotia, in cooperation with municipalities; develop a comprehensive strategy to reduce waste, through the levy of a tax on the use of plastic bags in consumer outlets. School Fundraising (Replacement) - St. F.X. Young Liberals/ Central Nova ! WHEREAS the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is a strong advocate for the health and ! WHEREAS the Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Schools seriously hinders the ability of schools to effectively fundraise, ! WHEREAS the inability to utilize items listed as “Not Suitable to Serve/Sell” in fundraising efforts may result in significant financial challenges for student organizations across the province, particularly in rural communities. ! BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Nova Scotia Liberal Party encourages the Government of Nova Scotia to edit section B-V dealing with fundraising from the Food and Nutrition Policy for Nova Scotia Schools to allow the sale of items listed as “Not Suitable for Serve/Sell” outside of recognized school property. ! Whereas Members of the Legislative Assembly who cross the floor to join another political party undermine the will of the electorate they represent. ! Therefore, BIRT any MLA who leaves his or her party must sit as an independent MLA. ! BIFRT any MLA who leaves his or her party and wishes sit as a member of another provincial party must be re-elected in a by-election to be held no more than six months after his or her floor crossing. Carried.

Source: https://www.liberal.ns.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/2006_policy_resolutions.pdf