Houston won’t campaign for federal leaders during election

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says he won’t be actively campaigning for any of the federal party leaders during the election campaign.

With the campaign in full swing, Houston says he has written a letter to the federal leaders outlining the province’s priorities.

“Whoever steps up and can get on board and supports the priorities that we put forward as a government, we would make it known to Nova Scotians,” Houston said. “Whoever supports Nova Scotians, that’s who I would be interested in supporting.”

As for MLAs, Houston says they’re free to campaign on behalf of federal Liberal or Conservative candidates if they choose to do so.

Houston also weighed in on the federal government’s decision to scrap the consumer portion of the carbon tax, saying he believes Nova Scotians will benefit greatly from the change, particularly through relief at the gas pumps.

Nova Scotia’s ‘key priorities’ this federal election

Houston outlined his wants in the letter including a national energy corridor and a new pulp mill for Nova Scotia.

On the issue of the Chignecto Isthmus, Houston writes that he is “seeking confirmation that a Government led by you will accept the decision of the court, should the court decide that paying for the isthmus is a federal responsibility.”

The provincial government has now agreed to pay 25 per cent of work to protect the isthmus, but continues to argue the federal government should foot the entire bill.

The premier also says he wants to see a national energy corridor connect the west with Canso, N.S., an idea he calls “vital to our economic and energy security.”

Houston also calls for amendments to national childcare agreements to allow participation by private providers, and for the federal government to support an application to the Canada Infrastructure Bank for the new pulp mill. He also asked for confirmation the federal government would support high-speed rail projects.