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| Last updated at 10:32 AM on 21/10/09 |
Optimism abounds 
NDP candidate hopes provincial momentum translates into federal votes
DARRELL COLE
The Amherst Daily News
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| Marjorie Newman talks to NDP candidate Mark Austin during a campaign stop in Amherst on Monday. With three of five provincial ridings in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley going NDP last June, Austin feels people in the federal riding are ready for a change. Darrell Cole – Amherst Daily News |
AMHERST – If the results of last summer’s provincial election are any indication, New Democrats across Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley have reason to be optimistic.
“I’m very encouraged by what I’m hearing across the riding. People are telling me it’s time for change and now that Bill Casey is not running, they’re realizing their best bet would be to support someone on the other side,” Mark Austin said while campaigning in Amherst on Monday.
“The people want someone who will stand up for us and that’s the integrity I hope to bring to Ottawa."
Austin, a wild blueberry farmer and environmental and social policy consultant from Old Barns, said now, more than ever, there’s a strong feeling across northern Nova Scotia that someone other than the traditional Conservative needs to represent the region.
While he lives in Colchester County, Austin has strong ties to Cumberland County in that his father was from Collingwood, where he still runs a blueberry operation along with one in Mount Pleasant. His mother was from Springhill and his grandfather was a coal miner.
Last June, a number of longtime provincial Conservative strongholds shifted their allegiances to the New Democrats, including Cumberland North, Truro-Bible Hill and Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley.
“There’s no doubt there’s a traditional vote that’s still in place, but the fact of the matter is that three of the five (provincial) ridings in the federal riding went to the New Democrats. People are no longer afraid to vote for the New Democrats because they liked what they saw,” Austin said, adding it’s the New Democrats who are fiscally responsible and calling for cooler heads in the House of Commons.
“I think what the people are looking for is someone who will represent us in Ottawa and not vice versa," he said, adding fairness and co-operation in government, buying local agricultural products and community-based economic development are the key issues in this campaign.
He also feels tying more of the gas tax to infrastructure funding would make it easier for municipal units to fix streets and improve community morale.
While popular longtime MP Bill Casey is not in the mix this time, Austin feels his legacy will play out in the fact the voters will want someone who best represents what he did. The fact Casey was very active on the environmental front in calling for improvements to dyke and marshlands on the Bay of Fundy could help Austin, who has also been very active on the environment front.
"People are looking for someone who supports family values, community values and environmental values and causes. That's why I believe I was approached," Austin said. "We can get those votes if people look out and see there's someone who feels the same as we do on those issues - not just someone who is more interested in themselves, their career or their party."
dcole@amherstdaily.com
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21/10/09
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Moriarty from Amherst, NS writes: .....With Mark as our MP we'll have strong representation like the kind we're used to in parliament. Mark is the natural choice.
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 8:57 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Alex from Nova Scotia writes: Mark is certainly not the natural choice...nor the NDP for that matter.
He might be a nice fella, but I'm getting tired of the logic that just because the provincial seats went NDP, the federal seat will do the same.
The federal party and the their provincial counterparts are very different and I'd dare say the provincial NDP are just slightly more rational then their federal (nutty)cousins.
Jack Layton is busy supporting the Conservatives at present...he's the one keeping them in power this time.
In all fairness, there is only one real party that is truly a national alternative to Harper and that's the Liberal Party.
The NDP party has always been a party of protest and little more. I admire their spirit, but the reality is that Canadians have voted either Liberal or Conservative governments into power since Confederation....
I'd suggest people take a serious look at the Liberal candidates accomplishments as a farmer, businessmen and community leader, not to mention his website to learn more about him.
Look at all the candidates and their websites for that matter, and I think you'll find which one stands out as your next MP!
www.jimburrows.ca
www.electscottarmstrong.ca
www.markaustin.ca
www.greenparty.ca
www.electjim.ca
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 9:38 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Moriarty from Amherst, NS writes: ......Alex, as the Liberals continue their 4 year long leadership race, and face yet another problem with yet another leader, they are slowly being replaced by the NDP as the only viable alternative to the Conservatives.
Liberal popularity is at an historic low and will continue to decline. Voters of CCMV see the trend and will choose Mark Austin and the NDP to lead them into the future.
The Liberal party is a dinosaur of Canada's past.
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 10:29 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Harold from Tatamagouche, NS writes: You're both wrong. Austin should ride the coattails of the provincial NDP and run a respectable second. Burrows website is completely about him and not about the job, very shallow. Liberals picked the wrong candidate this time around. Armstrong will win and we'll see what happens in the spring.
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 10:47 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Alex from Nova Scotia writes: Over 90% of CCMV constituents voted for anyone but Stephen Harper last time.
I don't see how Scott is a viable choice this time??? After all he's the Conservative candidate, and is working for Harper....
A vote for Armstrong is a vote for Harper no matter which way you slice it!
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 11:09 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Harold from Tatamagouche, NS writes: Yes Alex, and over 90% voted for anyone but Dion, and nearly 90% voted for anyone but Layton, blah blah blah.
I didn't say Armstrong was viable, I said he's going to win.
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 11:41 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Vince Kennie from Northport, Nova Scotia writes: Well another election in a week or so, whether or not Scott Armstrong is the best candidate, I honestly do not know, however he is the only candidate that came to visit and his ideas bode well with me, no I am not voting for Mr Harper(if I vote for Mr Armstrong) Mr
Harper's riding is somewhere in Alberta.
I personnally believe that our reigning
tory government is bringing us slowly back into the recovery mode, the recession is not only in our country but is world wide.
Let's give Scott a go!!!!
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 11:43 AM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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Bob Hoskins from Amherst, Nova Scotia writes: I think the people who work for these parties or are aligned with them should identify themselves before making comments.
Self serving comments like these do very little as there is no discussion just my guy is better than your guy. Very helpful.
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| Posted 21/10/2009 at 12:39 PM | Alert an Editor | Link to comment |
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