Iain Rankin has taken over as the interim leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and is calling on the provincial government to pay greater attention to the economy. He is urging more collaboration, public consultation, and the development of a clear economic strategy.
Rankin assumed the role from Derek Mombourquette this week. The party is halfway through the process of choosing a permanent leader, following a poor election last year that left the Liberals with just two seats.
Rankin said the province needs “a new set of goals for a modern economy” to tackle challenges such as U.S. tariffs and slow population growth, which are affecting revenues. Nova Scotia’s deficit is projected to surpass $1 billion, with an update expected next week.
He criticized the government for focusing heavily on natural resources like petroleum, wind, and critical minerals, while paying less attention to sectors that could grow faster, including tourism and oceans.
“It’s a bit of a cop-out to claim the focus is on economic development when it only started reacting to U.S. events recently,” Rankin said.
He is calling for a more collaborative approach that involves other political parties and community consultation, similar to the Ivany Report’s 10-year economic plan. Rankin also wants economic goals to be measurable and publicly trackable.
Premier Tim Houston responded by encouraging the Liberals to collaborate with his government to strengthen Nova Scotia’s economy, highlighting the importance of natural resources and support for local businesses.
Rankin also emphasized the need for better management of government spending. The Progressive Conservatives have overspent by roughly $1 billion annually, partly due to past population growth. With growth slowing, he said all programs and departmental spending should be reviewed for efficiency.
Meanwhile, Mombourquette remains focused on supporting the party and has not announced whether he will run for the permanent leadership. Rankin has confirmed he is not interested in returning as the permanent leader.
The WHO warned that the Ebola outbreak in DR Congo is spreading faster than response efforts with o
Kyrgyz and Tajik officials discuss new agricultural collaborations and shared goals during a meeting
A deadly suicide bombing targeting a train in Pakistan’s Balochistan province killed more than 30 pe
Kyrgyzstan engages foreign investors in talks about green energy, industrial growth, and infrastruct
