Premier, justify hiring process - QP

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, yesterday the Premier said that he's not interested in providing direct assistance to Nova Scotians during this once-in-a-lifetime inflationary crisis because it might not be sustainable. Meanwhile, the lives of thousands of everyday people across this province are not sustainable. Seniors can't afford groceries, parents can't afford to pack their children's lunches or fill prescriptions, and some can't even get to work because they can't afford to put gas in their car.

Of all of the Canadian premiers, this is the one who has provided the least help to regular people, and so I'd like to ask the Premier how he justifies appointing his friends to jobs where they make more in a day than many Nova Scotians make in a week?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, first off, I completely disagree with the Leader of the NDP's characterization. We have taken a number of steps on child care which will impact a number of Nova Scotian families. We have put a Seniors Care Grant out there, we have done many things to support Nova Scotians, so to say that we're not interested is completely unfair. I hope the member will correct her intentions on that statement when she gets her chance.

But, here's what I would say: Is there more work to be done? Yes, but this province will never move forward when, at the very first opportunity, when quality Nova Scotians step up, step up to help their province in health care, in economic development, the very first reaction of the Opposition is that they're terrible people. Before they can even spell their names, they're running down fellow Nova Scotians. That's wrong.

We will never move forward with that type of attitude. Come out of the negativity ditch and get in the positivity ditch because we're moving forward.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : The one thing that those three quality Nova Scotians to whom the Premier is referring have in common is that they are - by his admission and theirs - his friends, okay? So, to make a suggestion that we can't ask why the Premier is appointing his friends who have no particular resumé to suggest that they should be earning six-figure salaries in these positions is a problem. We've got to ask the question. Not to mention the fact that two of these friends happen to be men displacing two of the most senior women in our civil service.

Meanwhile, Mr. Speaker, the Premier described an assistance program like the ones that we have been proposing as "boutique."

THE SPEAKER « » : Is there a question?

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : People across this province need help. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Premier « » : He's pretty good at helping his friends - when is he going to help the rest of Nova Scotia?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, I understand the need of a new Opposition Leader to get attention in the media, but to run down fellow Nova Scotians and say they have no resumé, and to run them down just because I know them and they're my friends. I'll tell you what: I have a lot of friends in Nova Scotia, and I pick the very best people based on my surveillance of the landscape because I care more about this province than running down somebody because they put their name forward to step up.

I care more about this province than picking the wrong person because I'm worried that the Leader of the New Democratic Party will have something to say politically. I put politics to the side, and I focus on Nova Scotians every single day, Mr. Speaker. That's why Nova Scotians are so happy with where this province is going.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, yesterday when the Premier explained that he wasn't entertaining more assistance to Nova Scotians struggling with the cost of rent, mortgages, gas, groceries, and prescriptions, he said that everything in government is about priorities. This is the Premier of the province that has the third-highest cost of living increase in the country in the last month, at 9.3 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, the Premier likes to talk about swagger and I believe we've seen some of it in the Chamber today but lots of families across this province are just trying to find their footing. My question to the Premier is: When will it be his priority to help everyone, not just his friends?

THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, it's a little bit out of hand with the mischaracterization. We are always entertaining ideas to support Nova Scotians. We do it every day, all day, not just in this Chamber looking for political points. We do it constantly. We are always entertaining, so to say that we are not entertaining is completely inaccurate.

What I would say is that the work being done to support Nova Scotians is being seen and well-received by not only Nova Scotians but by those across the country. In fact, the Financial Post referred to ours as a provincial government that is well on its way on the housing issue and is a shining example for others to follow.

We are getting stuff done. The Opposition can be negative but Nova Scotians are positive and optimistic under this government.