Tim Houston wanted health care to be the key issue for his government. He might not get his wish
Housing, affordability have become central issues in Nova Scotia
About two weeks after his government crossed the halfway threshold of its mandate, Premier Tim Houston shuffled his cabinet and set course with the team he hopes will carry the Progressive Conservatives to election victory in 2025, if not sooner.
This is about the time in a mandate when a government traditionally enters re-election mode, meaning most if not all decisions are considered in the context of what it will mean come campaign time.
In the run up to and during the 2021 election, no issue was bigger for the Tories than health care. The promise to fix an ailing system has been the No. 1 focus for them since coming to power, and will surely be a key issue for voters.
Lori Turnbull, as associate professor of political science and director of the school of public administration at Dalhousie University, said as long as the Tories can demonstrate they’re moving in the right direction on health care, they’re likely to get credit.
“I think nobody expects health care to be fixed, probably ever, and nobody expects health care to be fixed by [the] next mandate,” she said in a recent interview.
“Like, that’s not a real thing.” …[Continue Reading]