Dear Progressive Conservative:
On Saturday, more than 70 party members representing almost every one of our 52 constituencies gathered in Bible Hill for our party's Presidents' Council.
It was a great session. Constituency presidents and others had a chance to hear from and question our leader Jamie Baillie, provincial campaign chair Tara Erskine gave an update on the work of the provincial campaign - with particular emphasis on candidate selection and voter identification - and 2012 annual meeting co-chairs Kim MacQuarrie and Chris Lydon outlined their early work towards our party's next annual general meeting - February 10-11-12, 2012, at a new location: Marriott Harbourfront Hotel in Halifax. Mark your calendars now!
The Presidents' Council also accepted the Outlook 2014 Strategic Plan, which was circulated to the 52 constituency associations over the summer, reflecting two years of consultation with party members.
Presidents' Council also received written reports from Vice President Policy David Finlayson and Constitution Committee Chair Jeff Hunt.
Here are some important things you need to know:
1) Jamie Baillie and Tara Erskine have asked us to be ready for a spring 2012 provincial election. While this may seem early, only Darrell Dexter decides when the next election will be, so we can't afford to be caught short if the NDP decides to go early.
2) As part of the Outlook 2014 Strategic Plan, all constituencies have been asked to strike a candidate search committee, with at least three members (no more than five). There should be at least one man and one woman on the committee. While the committee members don't necessarily need to be members of your executive, they do need to be neutral in any nomination race. All constituency associations will be asked to submit their candidate search committees to Tara Erskine (through Jim David at PC Headquarters) by the end of October 2011.
3) After a three year absence, our party's provincial annual dinner is back! Mark your calendars for the evening of Friday, October 28, in Halifax. Canada's Finance Minister Jim Flaherty is our very special guest speaker, with additional details on ticket price and others coming this week. Plan now on joining your fellow Progressive Conservatives and others to celebrate one year of Jamie Baillie's leadership!
4) A provincial policy conference is also planned for NSCC's Waterfront Campus on Saturday, October 29. More information about the conference will be shared soon, but we can expect to get updates from, and provide feedback to, the four Leader's Task Forces on health, education, government spending/taxes/debt and the economy.
5) Your provincial executive will continue to reach out around the province. Our next meeting is taking place October 1 in Yarmouth, in recognition of that community's 250th anniversary, with November 26 slated for Kings County.
Concluding on a personal note, I would like to thank everyone for the warm wishes sent to Cathy and I on the birth of our new son Sam. I also appreciate the understanding of those constituencies that have invited me to events that I was unable to attend.
Let us now turn our minds towards doing everything we can over the next 12 months to bring good, fiscally responsible government - based on a stronger economy and lower taxes - back to Nova Scotia under the Progressive Conservative leadership of Premier Jamie Baillie!
As always, keep in touch.
Robert Batherson
President
PC Party of Nova Scotia
robert.batherson@pcparty.ns.ca
