LIBERALS: AMHERST GAS TAX HEARING NOTHING BUT AN NDP CHARADE
Date: Wednesday January 6, 2010

(Halifax, NS) Opposition leader Stephen McNeil believes the NDP government has its mind made up on cutting the gas tax near the New Brunswick border and holding the only public meeting on the issue in Amherst is a blatant attempt to undermine the consultative process.

“It’s nothing more than a charade by the NDP government,” says McNeil. “By holding the lone meeting in the community that stands to benefit the most, the NDP are paying lip service to a decision that is going to impact people and businesses right across this province.”

The Utility and Review Board has scheduled a public consultation on January 27 in Amherst to discuss the NDP’s plan to stagger gas taxes across the province. Under the scheme, Nova Scotians farther away from the border would pay more for fuel than those neighboring New Brunswick.

“What the NDP are doing is creating an artificial border within our province - that is fundamentally unfair,” McNeil says. “Moving the border simply moves the problem. Slicing up our province is never the answer.”

McNeil believes that if the NDP wanted true consultation, it would’ve held public meetings throughout Nova Scotia.

“The people of this province, from Yarmouth to Halifax to Sydney and everywhere in between, deserve a fair opportunity to provide real feedback on this flawed piece of public policy,” contends McNeil. “Clearly, the NDP isn’t interested in real feedback.”

“Gas regulation has caused this problem - adding even more regulation isn’t the answer. Two wrongs will not make a right.”

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