Rees' Pieces
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February 2012 - Hollowing out
How many of us remember, as a child, planting a tree or finding a tree,
which we nurtured to grow into a magnificent thing of beauty. Then one day
maybe 40, 50 or 60 years later a gigantic windstorm uprooted the tree.
When the tree was being removed, we discovered the tree’s centre was in a
severe stage of decay. From the outside the tree had looked magnificent, but
the centre was nothing but a hollow cavern.
An act of nature took the tree from us, but we learned the tree’s time had
come. It was gone before it lost its magnificent beauty. Even though it is
no more, we are filled with fond memories.
As Nova Scotians we love our
province as much as we loved our childhood tree. Through the years, we have
grown up with its beauty; we have struggled together and have rejoiced in
happier times. One of those happier times occurred decades ago, when then
premier Gerald Regan held up a vial declaring “It’s Oil”. We speculated on
riches and all of us would be driving a Volvo, which was then made in Nova
Scotia.
As a coastal province far from the centre of perceived power and wealth of
Upper Canada we fought, struggled, coped and got along. Most of us were land
people, because we lived off the land. We cut the firewood, grew vegetables,
caught fish, raised pork, beef and chickens, occasionally hunting for a
treat of venison. We walked to school, helped repair the church and looked
out for our neighbour.
We weren’t rich in monetary terms, but we had wealth money can not buy.
Similarly, we did not have a lot of debt. Yes, we owed, but small in
comparison to today. Debt was obtained on a handshake, because we knew each
other.
We had a few coins in our pocket, because we didn’t need a security system
or put locks on our doors. We were safe and we knew it. If someone was in
trouble the community rallied to their support.
However, times have changed. We try to be brave and put on a good smile. We
need to ask how solid is that strength? Are we solid through to the core?
Now it’s security systems on house and property. We don’t know our
neighbours like we used to. Just like our childhood tree, we’re in the
hollowing out phase.
For almost as long as our tree flourished, rural Nova Scotia has been on the
decline. The hollowing out of rural Nova Scotia started when one-room rural
schools reached the endangered list and were eventually closed. Once we
started bussing students to larger consolidated schools in other
communities, the rate of growth and forward momentum of rural Nova Scotia
started hitting speed bumps.
There’s a significant difference in the delivery of services in the rural Vs
urban saga. It’s not just rural – urban, the real injustice is the
favourtism shown to much larger metropolitan areas at the expense of towns,
villages and rural areas.
The looming elephant in the room is the forthcoming changing of provincial
election boundaries. We can see it coming. Within the next decade areas
within 30-45 minutes of HRM’s harbour bridges will have a majority of MLA
seats.
If we currently think HRM is getting more than its share, just wait until
the seats are realigned. To curtail the further hollowing out of Rural Nova
Scotia, citizens best sit up and take notice. Whoever is in charge, best
rally the troops. If something is not done rural areas will be just like our
childhood tree – hollowed out and forgotten.
I am honoured to live in rural
Nova Scotia. Look how people gathered together to raise $16,000.00 in one
afternoon for Holly Grue. Just before Christmas $10,000 for Debert’s Brian
Esau. In June $9,500 for Londonderry’s 2 year old sweetheart, Maya
MacDonald. Every dollar donated went to the funds. Everything was donated.
I challenge HRM residents to do better. I challenge them to be able to say,
there were no expenses. 100% of donations went into the fund.
Let’s take our children by the hand and help them
January 2012
The year 2011 has had so many twists and turns it’s almost impossible to
pinpoint the most important event(s), and makes it even more difficult to
determine which way 2012 is headed. Some of 2011’s events might seem trivial
now, but in 10 years may be perceived as the thing which mattered the most.
If I was to suggest the most
important events, it would be a combination of “people power” in the
mid-east; near collapse of the European economy and lack of growth of the
American economy as it hovers at near recession levels. All three have
significant impacts upon Canada.
After decades of Mid-East and northern African dictatorships “people power”
did not really exist until social media became unstoppable. Facebook,
texting, smartphones, and tweeting enabled the young to communicate to an
outside world expressing opposition to their plight.
With many of their families and friends having emigrated to “more”
democratic countries their message became headlines elsewhere. The more
public opinion gravitated to their side, the braver they became. As a result
demonstrations became vogue. With millions demonstrating, hard line rulers
were unable to stop the unrest. The rest is history.
People, in these countries, placed their own safety and lives on the line.
After gaining support from colleagues and the masses they achieved success.
The Egyptian government collapsed. 40 years of cruel dictatorship caused the
UN to take action leading to the downfall of Khadafi’s regime. Unrest is
growing elsewhere. These successes has instilled confidence in others who
are unhappy.
United States and Canada residents are not known as a society to take to the
streets, except in small local situations. Citizen unrest in the mid-east,
gave birth to the OCCUPY movement in New York voicing opposition to
corporate greed. It soon moved to Canada, including Halifax.
At first the general public seemed uninspired, but the key message “1%” and
“99%” has developed traction. The OCCUPY tents have been dismantled, but the
seeds of discontent are lingering and gaining strength everyday.
In Nova Scotia, HRM’s concert funding fiasco; HRM’s frequent “in camera”
meetings developed a perception of lack of transparency; the constant
appearance by Emera and Nova Scotia Power before the Public Utilities Board
for rate increases is causing many more to become disenchanted. Business
owners are unhappy with the passing of “First Contract” legislation.
Michelin, Sobeys, Clearwater Fine Foods and the multi-thousand members of
CFIB say it makes Nova Scotia unattractive for investment.
I’m not suggesting Nova Scotians
are going to demonstrate enmasse, as did the mid-easterners. Unhappiness
about everything which is forced upon the taxpayer is becoming more visible
and a louder topic in the coffee meetings.
I was surprised when two respected small business owners in Colchester North
recently told me, “At first I was unimpressed with OCCUPY, but now I see
their point of the 1%. Everything governments do is at the peril of small
business and the rural economy”.
My second point is Canada is going to be significantly affected by the
downturn in Europe. Our exports will be reduced; tourism from those
countries is sure to plummet and financial instability will cause the
markets and financial institutions to pull in their horns.
The American economy is going to continue to sputter and underperform until
it is overhauled. The USA has to stop the flagrant use of its military
strength to solve global situations. It appears, they strike out at other
countries in an effort to obtain rights to energy and to weaken other
economies as a means to strengthen their own. Their invasion of Iraq a
decade ago has created many enemies, who quietly and collectively will do
anything they can to bring America to its knees.
Canada needs to develop it’s own identity, reach out to others, expand its
export markets and demonstrate it is not in the “back pocket” of our friends
south of the border. All levels – federal, provincial and municipal
officials best start listening to, consulting with and heed the advice of
its small and large business executives, or we may face our own version of
the Arab Spring.
It will take the traditional tenacity of Maritimers to survive 2012
unblemished. We can do it, we just need to use our own resolve.