NS campaign trail

The Progressive Conservatives have promised to invest $1.8 million a year on at-home cancer medications.

Conservative Leader Jamie Baillie wants to close a gap in coverage where some cancer drugs are covered if given in hospital but not at home.  He says it would be available to all Nova Scotians, regardless of insurance status or income level.

NDP leader Gary Burrill says, if elected, his government would immediately cancell the community outpatient centre in Bayers Lake which was announced by the liberals just before the election was called.

Burrill says within 30 days of taking office, his party would implement a public site selection process to find publicly owned, serviced land for an outpatient clinic, near good transit routes and a 100 series highway which could be integrated with other community facilities.

The Liberals have released their election platform.

It includes over a billion dollars in spending commitments and tax cuts. There’s not a lot new, most of the committments were in the budget presented last month but not voted on.

Premier Stephen McNeil called his platform comprehensive, credible and costed.

Ottawa and human rights

Ottawa is going to crack down on countries with terrible human rights records.

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland introduced legislation last night to expand international sanctions against gross human rights violators.  The bill is similiar to laws passed in other countries in honour of Russian whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky, who died in prison after accussing Russian officials of a $230 million tax fraud.