PROVINCIAL EVENTS
November 26 Stewart McInnes Tribute @ Harbourfront Marriott Hotel – Tickets: $125
November 28 Provincial Executive in Bridgewater
Now – April 15 - Life & Times of G.I. Smith Exhibit
@ The Colchester Historical Society & Museum
February 5-7 2010 Annual Meeting at Westin NS
October 29-30 2010 Leadership Convention, Cunard Centre, Halifax
REGIONAL EVENTS OF INTEREST
Thursday, November 19 @ 6:00 pm — Kings North PC’s honour Mark Parent @ Dinner/Roast – Kentville Legion – Tickets: $15 at 678-6781
Tuesday, Nov 24 @ 700 pm- Pictou West AGM – Location - TBA Speaker: Hon. Karen Casey
Wednesday, November 25 @ 7:00 pm- Bedford – Birch Cove AGM @ St. Peter’s Church, Birch Cove - Speaker: Hon. Karen Casey
Saturday, November 28 @ 2:00 pm- Inverness AGM @ Creignish Recreation Centre - Speaker: Hon. Karen Casey
Saturday, November 28 @ 5:30 pm- Lunenburg AGM & Dinner @ Barss Corner Community Hall - $15 – Speaker: Hon. John Buchanan
Sunday, November 29 @ 2:00 pm- Richmond AGM – Louisdale Lions Den Speaker: Hon. Karen Casey
Friday, December 4 @ 6:00 pm- Lunenburg West Women’s Pot Luck Supper @ Baker Settlement Community Hall – Info: 543-9375
Of Note:
Annual Meetings: At the Queens AGM, held on Nov 18th, long serving president Gary Levy was thanked for his many years of service. Margo Walsh-Leaman was elected new president; At the Timberlea – Prospect AGM on Nov 5, Jeremy Scott was elected president, taking over from Carmen Williams; At the Hants West AGM on November 4, Cindy Shupe was re-elected; Halifax Chebucto’s AGM was held on Oct 29. Sean Phillips is the new president taking over from Cameron Craig; At Kings South AGM on Oct 26, Tom MacEwan was elected president taking over from Les Sequeira who did not re-offer; Cumberland South’s AGM was held on Oct 24. Doug Marshall continues his service as the longest serving president of any constituency.
We acknowledge two new federal presidents in Nova Scotia – Rob Cooley in Sackville – Eastern Shore and Troy Myers takes over from Bill Morris who completed his term in Dartmouth – Cole Harbour.
Congratulations: Alfie & Shirley MacLeod (CB West) are proud grandparents of a first grandson – Keegan Daniel born on Nov 3rd
Sympathy Notes: Condolences to the families of two loyal and long serving members who passed away recently. Sherman Hawes (Guysborough – Sheet Harbour) on Nov 14 and Wes Weldon (Lunenburg West) on Nov 18th; Condolences to Nancy & Richard Hurlburt (Yarmouth) on the passing of her father, Francis Johnson on Nov 10; Also on Nov 10, Susan (Kennie) Mullin (Sackville Cobequid), mother of Selina Mullin.
Thanks:
The Family of G. I. Smith and the G. I. Smith Exhibit Committee wish to thank the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party for its financial contribution to the Exhibit, "the Life and Times of G. I. Smith" currently on display at the Colchester Historical Museum in Truro.
The exhibit is full of history and political, military and legal memorabilia of the time of G. I. Smith who was the 17th Premier of Nova Scotia and who along with the late Robert Stanfield and the late Richard Donahoe led the revitalization of Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative party after World War II. G. I. was a senior Minister in the Stanfield government for more than a decade before becoming Premier and party leader in 1967. He brought Medicare and Michelin to Nova Scotia, established the Human Rights Commission and Voluntary Planning. He modernized the roads and highways of Nova Scotia, and introduced both winter salting of roads, and motor vehicle inspection. He was a pioneer in the battle for fair treatment of Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada in Confederation and an early advocate of Novas Scotia's rights to any benefits accruing from offshore resource development.
The exhibit tells his story, and that of the political times in which he worked. It also features tribute videos from former Prime Minister Joe Clark, Joseph Clarke of Dartmouth who was Premier Smith's Chief of Staff, Senator Lowell Murray, Broadcaster Orville Pulsifer, Truro Tories Edith Ripley, David Armstrong (father of Scott), Roy Henderson, G. I's sister-in-law Maud Smith of Stewiacke, and his niece Susan Smith-Doucet, also of Stewiacke, as well his two eldest children, Alison Smith
McLean of Truro. and Rob Smith, Waverley. The exhibit opening speeches by Senator Fred Dickson, former Deputy Premier Angus MacIsaac and Former Finance Minister Jamie Muir will shortly be added to the video at the exhibit.
The museum is open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m to 12 noon and 1:00 p.m until four p.m, and on Saturdays from 1:oo p.m to four p.m. it is closed Sundays and Mondays. The exhibit runs until April 15, 2010.
Again it's a worthwhile exhibit of interest to Tories and people interested in politics, government and ideas behind them. .
And once again thanks to the Nova Scotia PC party for helping.
Rob Smith
MESSAGE FROM LEADER, KAREN CASEY
Dear fellow Tories,
It is a great day to be a Tory in Nova Scotia.
The confirmation of Allan MacMaster as MLA in Inverness and the federal by-election victory of Scott Armstrong in Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley are reasons for Tories to be proud today.
While it may have taken three weeks to confirm the results in Inverness, results which saw Allan increase his majority by four votes, we are respectful of the recount process and are looking forward to having Allan join us in the legislature when the next sitting of the House resumes in the Spring. Allan has been working hard over the last three weeks and is now ready to begin this exciting chapter in his life.
Ottawa will soon have another Nova Scotia Conservative member in the House of Commons thanks to Scott Armstrong’s great victory last night in the Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley by-election. As president, Scott has served our Party well. He also played an integral role in my election campaigns, so I am especially proud of his accomplishment and wish him well as he serves his constituents and all Nova Scotians.
On behalf of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Caucus, I would like to send my sincerest congratulations to both Allan and Scott as they begin what will assuredly be successful careers in public service.
Thank you.
Karen Casey, Leader
MESSAGE FROM SCOTT ARMSTRONG
On behalf of myself, my family and the Cumberland Colchester Musquodoboit Valley Federal Conservative Riding Association I wish to express my heartfelt thanks for the incredible amount of support we received from the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party during our successful by-election campaign. The support arrived from every corner of the province and from every division of the party; from the provincial caucus, provincial executive, local constituency associations and individual provincial party members. This was a huge victory not only for our federal team but our provincial association as well.
After reflection, I have come to the decision that, due to my new responsibilities, I can no longer serve the provincial party as our President.
Today I sent our leader – the Honourable Karen Casey a letter of resignation as Party President which she accepted. It has been my honour to serve the party as president since 2006 but it is now time to step aside and allow others to lead our historic organization. The last several years have been tumultuous for our party and I wish to acknowledge the support I received from all of you during this time. In particular I wish to acknowledge members of our Provincial Executive. They are truly an outstanding group of volunteers who donate their time and expertise to make our party what it is.
I would also express my personal thanks and admiration to Mr. Jim David, our Provincial Director. Jim is the heart and soul of our party and he is truly a man of ability, skill, and character. It was my pleasure to work closely with Jim over the past ten years and acknowledge his outstanding contribution to our party.
I also wish to acknowledge the contribution of our Executive Vice-President, Rob Batherson. Rob did an outstanding job of running the association over the past several months while I was occupied with our campaign. He is an outstanding leader and will serve us well as President until the 2010 annual general meeting, in accordance with Article 5.5.of the party’s constitution.
In closing, I wish to say that this party has been a large part of my life and will continue to be as I serve as a Member of Parliament. It was, is, and will always be an honour to be part of the Progressive Conservative Party and of Nova Scotia.
Sincerely,
Scott Armstrong, President
Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia
MEDIA RELEASE
MP-elect Armstrong resigns as Nova Scotia PC president, Batherson takes over
Halifax – Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley’s newest Member of Parliament is stepping down as president of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.
Scott Armstrong, who was elected Conservative MP in Monday’s federal by-election, said he owes it to his new constituents to focus on representing them full time in the House of Commons. He submitted a letter of resignation to provincial Progressive Conservative leader Karen Casey earlier today.
“This was a difficult decision for me to make as I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as Progressive Conservative president under the leadership of Rodney MacDonald and Karen Casey,” said Mr. Armstrong. “But after consulting with my family, friends and supporters, it’s time for me to turn the page and devote 100 per cent of my time working for the people of Cumberland-Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley as their Member of Parliament.”
According to the provincial party’s constitution, executive vice president Rob Batherson will become the new president and will serve until the party’s annual general meeting February 5-7, 2010.
“Rob did an outstanding job of running the association over the past several months while I was occupied with the by-election campaign,” added Mr. Armstrong. “He is an outstanding leader and will serve us well as president.”
Born in Sydney, Batherson is a Halifax business person who has been active in the party for close to 20 years. He has been a member of the provincial executive since 2005, worked on a number of provincial campaign teams, served as a constituency president and ran as a candidate for the provincial legislature. He also co-chaired the 2006 PC leadership convention
“It’s an honour to have the opportunity to serve the party and its thousands of volunteers in this role,” said Mr. Batherson. “Scott Armstrong is our party’s longest serving president in 20 years, so I know I have big shoes to fill. Working with our leader Karen Casey, our caucus, our constituency associations and our provincial executive, I will do my part to reach out to past, present and potential party members and supporters to modernize, improve and build a Progressive Conservative Party that is relevant and connected to Nova Scotians.”
From her province-wide tour today in Cape Breton, Progressive Conservative leader Karen Casey thanked Scott Armstrong for his term as provincial president.
“Scott Armstrong is one of the best political organizers in this province and as my campaign manager in Colchester North for two elections, I have seen that talent first hand. While his contributions as provincial president will be missed, I know he will do a phenomenal job as Member of Parliament,” said Ms. Casey. “I look forward to continued co-operation and support from our new president Rob Batherson and the team on the provincial executive.”
LEADERSHIP 2110 – October 29 & 30 @ Cunard Centre Halifax
Congratulations to Since being named co-chairs on September 12th, we have been pulling together a committee and have focused on drafting rules for the leadership selection process.
The first focus of our committee has been to prepare the rules to guide Leadership 2010.
We consulted with the party's presidents council at a meeting in Bible Hill on October 3. The draft rules were adjusted based on the feedback of constituency presidents. The rules were approved by the provincial executive on October 24 and will be posted on our website (www.pcparty.ns.ca) in the next week or so.
We plan on holding an "in service" session for party members on the leadership selection process at some point later this Fall.
The provincial executive has also approved a venue for the 2010 leadership convention, as well as a slight change in the date.
The 2010 leadership convention will be held at the Cunard Centre in Halifax on October 29 and 30, 2010.
We will send out further updates on the process as decisions are made.
Alice McCarron & George White
Progressive Conservatives set leadership date, location and rules
Party approves location and new date for leadership convention
HALIFAX, NS – Nova Scotia’s Progressive Conservatives will be holding their leadership convention at the Cunard Centre in Halifax on October 29th and 30th of 2010.
The party’s executive committee ratified the date and rules for the convention at a weekend meeting in Windsor.
“Leadership 2010’s rules will be similar to our previous convention with the addition of a larger number of delegates per constituency and provisions for delegate status for long-standing party members,” said party Executive Vice-President Rob Batherson.
All of Nova Scotia’s 52 constituencies are weighted equally and can be represented by up to 50 voting delegates. There are also delegate positions for campus associations and ex-officio party members such as current MLAs, candidates, constituency presidents and executive members.
“This leadership convention will draw new members to our party from around the province and that new energy and input is an important part of the rebuilding process that is now underway,” said Batherson.
The leadership committee, chaired by Halifax business person Alice McCarron and Truro lawyer George White, consulted with the party’s presidents' council on October 3rd and presented the rules to the party’s executive on October 24th. The leadership rules will be available on the party’s website in the coming days.
