HALIFAX, N.S. – At tonight’s Liberal leadership debate, candidates Amanda Mombourquette and Becky Druhan owe it to Nova Scotians to explain their support for the McNeil/Rankin government Bill 148, which the Nova Scotia Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional, and will cost the government millions.
Bill 148 restrained wages and benefits for public servants. Now that the courts have overturned it, the government will need to settle for the lost earnings, resulting in a massive cost to taxpayers.
“While our government is making investments to protect our future from Donald Trump’s trade war by building Nova Scotia, we’re saddled with the decade-old Liberal mistake of Bill 148, said Brad McGowan, PC MLA for Cole Harbour-Dartmouth.
“The two Liberal leadership candidates owe it to Nova Scotians to tell them whether they would have supported the former Liberal government’s Bill 148,” said McGowan.
Becky Druhan chose to join the Liberal Party, and sit in a caucus with two former cabinet ministers who voted in favour of the bill. One of her top campaign advisors includes the Liberal minister responsible for Labour when Bill 148 was passed.
Amanda Mombourquette has received the endorsement of former premier Stephen McNeil who was responsible for Bill 148’s passing. She has yet to take a position on the costly legislation.