After being nominated by riding association president Hal Elliott on Saturday afternoon at the Annapolis Golf and Country Club in Annapolis Royal, business owner Ginny Hurlock of Bear River is now the official PC Party candidate in the provincial riding of Annapolis.
She told the crowd, “I’m here because I think it’s time for a new beginning, a new course, and new leadership in this province. That’s something I think the PC party and its leader, Jaimie Baillie, can give us.”
Hurlock faces off against Stephen McNeil, the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberals and an assembly member for the city of Annapolis.
“If I’m going to win this election, it will be because of my own hard work, my own tenacity, and my own honesty.” She claimed she has a reputation for saying what’s on her mind and being unwavering in her convictions. And she acknowledged that it would be a tough fight against an opponent who was so firmly established in their position.
Hurlock said of McNeil, “And he really is a nice guy, I can’t argue with that,” but he went on to imply that being nice isn’t enough to represent the people.
“We’re voting for someone who can represent Annapolis County’s interests in the provincial government in Halifax. Someone who will have your interests at heart always,” she said. “No one I asked who had a soft spot for Mr. McNeil could recall anything positive that he had done for the county. That’s revealing, and it should be taken into consideration. It’s something that more people need to know about.”
According to Hurlock, the current NDP government in Nova Scotia is to blame for the province’s falling economic standing because it has imposed higher taxes, inflation, job losses, and gas prices. Her statement that “the province’s business climate is at an all-time low” was shocking.
She emphasized the difficulty of heating homes in the winter, saying, “Rural families, working families are struggling just to pay for the bare necessities.” Government budget cuts have weakened the nation’s healthcare and educational systems.
Hurlock praised the province of Nova Scotia for its long and illustrious history of pioneers who engaged in agriculture, fishing, and shipbuilding. “And I believe the PC party is the only party with a realistic plan to help us regain our place in this country,” she said, referring to the party’s platform of lowering taxes, boosting the economy, and ending wasteful spending. She expressed optimism that this would be possible once there are real jobs. “However, I need your assistance in order to deliver on these promises. Each and every one of you.”
Hurlock and Baillie Have Kerr’s Support
Greg Kerr, the MP in West Nova, and a former MLA for the region, attended the meeting to show his support for Hurlock and Baillie and to express his growing dissatisfaction and concern with the Darrell Dexter government, which he claims is unaware of the existence of areas outside of Halifax. But he reports that Baillie is getting more attention.
“A healthy economy is necessary for providing essential services like social support, health care, and a good education,” as Kerr put it. “You can trace it back to one place: the tax base. There would be no hesitation from the NDP to implement a per capita tax increase. We need to focus on getting more people into the workforce so that more people can contribute financially. I’m sure that Jamie is committed to doing that; and with our help and the help of these outstanding candidates, Nova Scotia can become an even better place to live in the next five, ten, or twenty years.”
B&B Owner
Hurlock has been a resident of Bear River for the past nine years, and she runs the Barnwood Inn B&B. She dedicates her free time to helping the Digby Area Tourism Association, the King’s Theatre, local chambers of commerce, farmer’s markets, and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Hurlock argued that Jamie Baillie, a chartered accountant and former president of Credit Union Atlantic, was the best candidate to lead Nova Scotia and make life more affordable for families, strengthen the economy, and foster job growth.
Hurlock contrasted his party’s policies with those of the Liberals and the New Democrats, arguing that these latter two have costly energy plans that will increase utility bills for everyone. In addition, she mentioned that the New Democrats and Liberals were in agreement to allow hospital closures due to labor disputes.
Baillie attended and spoke at the event on Saturday, and he supports Hurlock’s candidacy.
When advocating for the families of Annapolis, “Ginny’s experience as a small business owner will be put to use,” Baillie said. Annapolis will benefit from having someone with Ginny’s experience represent them in the House of Assembly because “the high-tax plan of the NDP has made life harder for Nova Scotians.”