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Sustainable Maritimes (sust-mar)
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____________________________________________________________________________
July 25, 2003
I would like to respond to Paul Falvo's assertions that the NDP should be part of the transportation solution, and start advocating for better public transportation instead of advocating for cheaper car insurance.
While there is no doubt that much better public transportation is necessary, there is also no doubt that sky-rocketing auto insurance rates are making it incredibly difficult for many Nova Scotians to get by. The people who are being hit the hardest are seniors, young people, those on fixed incomes, and those who live in rural areas. This is not fair.
Nova Scotia families need a better deal. Part of that deal is providing Nova Scotians with cheaper and fairer car insurance rates. Our goal is to help more families get by. We will do that by making better choices, and living within our means.
Our plan makes the most sense. Driver owned auto insurance plans already provide the cheapest rates in the country, they can be set up quickly and they don't cost taxpayers one cent. Provinces like Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia have been benefiting from driver owned plans for more than 125 years all together. Those provinces have the cheapest rates in the country.
It's true that improving public transportation is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. More work needs to be done, and we will continue our efforts. The NDP are committed to making reliable public transit part of a comprehensive provincial transportation program developed in the context of a responsible energy strategy. Clearly, there are better ways to protect the environment and conserve resources than to pay needlessly high insurance rates to companies headquartered outside Nova Scotia.
Sustainable development is our priority. We work harder than any other party to improve environmental protection. If I could, I'd like to mention that on Monday the Environmental Network awarded the NDP an A for their commitments. The Liberals received a C and the Conservatives received a D-. The Environmental Network also noted that the NDP has the best grasp of the issues, and makes the strongest and most specific commitments regarding environmental protection.
The NDP have been setting the environmental agenda both inside and outside the House of Assembly for years. We work closely with groups across this province, doing our best to ensure that key issues are addressed in the Legislature.
Improving public transportation would lead to reduced greenhouse gases, and improve our health by improving our air quality. It is certainly the case that in Nova Scotia, the Liberal and Tory record on transportation, or on the environment more broadly, has been a disgrace.
As a lifelong committed environmentalist, I have spent decades working to improve the environment in our local communities, and across the province. I not only want to improve public transportation in Nova Scotia, I also want to ensure that Nova Scotians are given the break they deserve.
Sincerely,
Howard Epstein
NDP Environment Critic
____________________________________________________________________________
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