Progressive Conservative (PC) leadership hopeful Tim Houston was in friendly territory when he visited the Liverpool area in late June.
Having already received endorsements from Queens-Shelburne MLA Kim Masland and local PC luminary John Leefe, a warm welcome was all but assured.
Houston is one of the perceived frontrunners in the contest to replace former leader Jamie Baillie, who stepped down in January due to allegations of misconduct. The PC party has not revealed the details surrounding Baillie’s resignation.
An accountant by trade, Houston was the guest of honour at a meet-and-greet event at Masland’s home and marched in the annual Privateer Days parade. He also took time for a sit-down interview with LighthouseNow.
“I believe in prudent fiscal management of taxpayer dollars, but I’m progressive in terms of how people want to live their lives,” Houston said. In other words, he is not a right-wing populist or a social conservative.
“I think the ideas I’m putting forward during this leadership campaign are resonating with a lot of people because they see themselves in them,” he said. Those ideas include a new approach to preventing and treating chronic health issues such as diabetes, obesity and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Focusing on care in the home, Houston said his plan would reduce wait times in emergency rooms and cut down on hospital admissions.
Other policy proposals include income tax breaks for young people, the creation of a department of addictions and mental health, and the creation of legislative standing committees on health and education.
During a recent leadership debate in Dartmouth, Houston was non-committal when asked about using a “P3” model for new hospital facilities in the Halifax area.
Such public-private partnerships are common – and often controversial – in Nova Scotia, particularly in the construction of new schools. P3s typically see governments saddled with expensive, long-term leases on public infrastructure that has been financed and built by private corporations.
Houston remained on the fence when asked about P3s by LighthouseNow. “I’m not fundamentally opposed to them, but it would have to make sense,” he said. “Show me the numbers. Show me the business case. Show me how this is going to provide services to Nova Scotians in a cost-effective way – and then we can decide.”
The Dartmouth debate also saw Houston’s opponents take swipes at him for being relatively new to party politics. He tends to view this as strength rather than a weakness.
“I’m pretty new to politics,” said the married father of an 18-year-old daughter and 17-year-old son. “I never really had an interest in politics when I was younger. In many ways it’s a plus, because I’m a bit more unencumbered in terms of political loyalty and baggage.”
First elected as MLA for Pictou East in 2013, Houston was re-elected last year with nearly 74 per cent of the total vote. He’s happy to have South Shore backers like Masland and Leefe – and even more pleased with his support within the Nova Scotia PC caucus.
“I’m proud to have Kim and John on my team, absolutely,” he said. “I’m also very proud that a majority of our caucus is supporting my leadership. Those are the people I work with day-in and day-out.”
Houston lived and worked in Bermuda for 12 years, but he makes no apologies for his time away. On the contrary, he believes it makes him a better candidate for the PC leadership and for premier in the next general election.
“I think it enriches our communities when people have other life experiences,” he said. “The job I had in Bermuda was helping companies operate more efficiently by reducing waste on the operations side. I think that’s a good skill-set for what I’m trying to do.”
Representing a rural district for the past five years, Houston said he identifies with and understands the South Shore. Ensuring rural communities have access to health and education services, reliable internet, good roads and sound infrastructure will help stabilize their dwindling populations, he said.
Houston has not issued an official policy regarding poverty, a chronic issue in both Queens and Lunenburg counties. And he was unable to articulate concrete examples of how he might address the situation locally. He did, however, indicate that savings could be found within the province’s community services budget and that his chronic illness plan could help people climb out of poverty.
For the working poor, Houston is willing to consider raising the province’s minimum wage, which at $11 an hour is the second-lowest in the country. But he doesn’t accept the notion that a $15 minimum wage would be a cure-all. He prefers other strategies for helping low-income residents.
“I would be more focused on changing the tax structure so that people can keep more of what they earn,” he said. “It’s about making sure people can keep more money in their pockets.”
Houston would not commit to putting Masland in cabinet if he wins the leadership and eventually becomes premier. However, the chances of her landing a portfolio are very good, especially if she helps deliver a significant number of votes for her caucus colleague during the Oct. 26-27 leadership convention in Halifax.
Houston’s leadership bid received a high-profile boost shortly after his visit to Liverpool. Former federal cabinet minister Peter MacKay endorsed him at a June 24 rally in Truro.
“I have known Tim for many years and always enjoyed working with him,” MacKay said in a news release. “His skills and experience in the private sector and in the Nova Scotia Legislature will help drive innovative ideas that will improve the future for all Nova Scotians.”
MacKay was a long-time regional minister for Atlantic Canada under former prime minister Stephen Harper. He represented Central Nova, which includes Pictou County, Houston’s home base.
The other candidates for the PC leadership are: former provincial cabinet minister and current mayor of Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Cecil Clarke; Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin; Kings North MLA John Lohr; and business advisor and former Chester-St. Margaret’s candidate Julie Chiasson.
There are four PC leadership debates remaining, including one in Bridgewater Sept 11.
LighthouseNow Progress Bulletin
July 11, 2018
Scott Costen 