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Former Nova Scotia NDP leader denounces coalition plan
by Scott Gilbreath ~ December 3rd, 2008
Jeremy Akerman sat in Nova Scotia’s legislature as leader of the provincial NDP for ten years, but he is adamantly opposed to the Liberal-NDP-Bloc coalition. Here is the full text of his letter in yesterday’s Halifax Chronicle-Herald.
My political sins are in full view for all to see: Fifteen years a member of the NDP (10 as their leader in the legislature); 12 years a member of the Liberal party; 10 years a public servant under a Tory government.
Although I have come to regard party politics as a curse upon the country, after almost three decades of estrangement from them, I had become sufficiently reconciled with the New Democrats to be prepared to vote for them in the next provincial election.
That said, I have seen many atrocious things done in political life, but never anything as outrageous and irresponsible as the actions of the opposition parties in the House of Commons in the past few days. I can hardly believe there are people who would so wantonly put their own egos ahead of the good of the nation.
Like it or not, the Conservatives won the last election. The NDP made small gains and the Liberals were, like it or not, trounced.
Now, we are asked to embrace the idea of a government led by a man whom Canadians decisively rejected only a matter of weeks ago.
Like it or not, minority government does not mean that the losers should call the shots. Still less should it mean that the shots should be called by those whose avowed aim is to destroy this country, namely the Bloc Quebecois upon whom this unholy alliance would depend.
Partisans may have their place (though I think Canadians have had a belly full of them), but at this perilous economic time, we have more need of patriots. Let them now step up to the plate if there are any left in Canadian political life.
Jeremy Akerman, Halifax
That put paid to any plans Mr Akerman may have had for a political comeback.
I’m sure he doesn’t remember, but I met Jeremy in Montreal in 1968 shortly before he became leader of the Nova Scotia NDP at age 26. (Among my political sins is a brief time as an NDP supporter when I was a young and foolish teenager. That was before I studied economics in university.)
FWIW, Akerman has a lengthy biography at Wikipedia.
h/t: The See of Pisiquid
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