Politics

For every election for more than 40 years—federal, provincial, municipal, and even the occasional international contest—I have been part of a changing group of political junkies who gather to argue, prognosticate, and analyze. Eventually, as the results pour in, we celebrate or sink into the proverbial slough of despond. And, of course, we munch on food appropriate to the occasion and enjoy our favourite beverage.

Joe Clark is not going to vote in the national Conservative leadership race.

That is the word from his wife, Maureen McTeer, who spoke to The Macdonald Notebook after receiving an honorary degree recently from Acadia University in Wolfville.

Rob Smith has remained committed to his new political party, and is actively working the phones and canvassing for Bedford Liberal Kelly Regan.

Editor’s Note: This is my second part of my recent chat with former Canadian first lady Maureen McTeer.

Maureen McTeer believes Hilary Clinton lost the recent American election because of misogyny.

Denise Peterson-Rafuse, the NDP incumbent in Chester-St. Margaret’s, believes she is in a position to take the majority of the votes from those working in the film industry.

Just two years ago, there were 2,000 folk employed in the industry, and historically the bulk of them live in artisan communities doting the South Shore. Then the Liberal government of Stephen McNeil gutted the film tax credit, removing a fund of $24 million in what Peterson-Rafuse calls an ill-conceived move.

NDP boss Gary Burrill is pinning his election hopes on a millennial — 27-year-old Kaley Kennedy who is co-charing the NDP campaign effort.

If Jamie Baillie hopes to win the May 30 vote, he will have to win over vote-rich Metro Halifax.

Baillie has managed to attract two high profile Halifax Regional Municipality challengers for the Tories — HRM councilor Matt Whitman in Hammonds Plains, and Rob Batherson in Halifax Citadel.

Film industry aid an issue, says Batherson, but production is up

Tory leader Jamie Baillie this week promised to return the $24 million film tax credit that was slashed two years ago by the Liberal McNeil government.

In the Jamie Baillie war room in an office building in downtown Halifax, party strategists have taken to calling their campaign organization “the turn-around team.”

And occupying a pivotal role as campaign manager is Chad Bowie, a product of Monastery, Antigonish County.