write to your mla

In order for us to see more transparency in the Legislature, we need Nova Scotians writing into their MLA about why recorded votes are important.

Below is a draft letter that you can send as-is, or edit yourself, and then send to your MLA.

Dear ________________,

In 2008 Nova Scotia celebrated 250 years of democracy, making it the oldest democracy in Canada. Indeed, Nova Scotians had much to celebrate.

However, while we have much to celebrate, we have much to improve upon as well. The ability of citizens to hold their MLA to account in the Nova Scotia Legislature is obstructed by the lack of recorded votes in Hansard, the official recording of all business in the Legislature. Nova Scotians have no way of knowing how their MLA voted on crucial issues affecting their families and communities.

In the past 6 years, spanning the 59th and 60th General Assemblies, 853 Bills have been introduced, debated and voted upon in the House. Of these 853 Bills, only 12 votes were recorded in Hansard. The rest of the Bills were voted on anonymously, with no indication of which MLAs voted in support and against.

We are thus faced with a democratic deficit in our Province. A lack of accountability breeds cynicism, and cynicism breeds voter apathy, as demonstrated by the declining rate of voter turnout at Provincial Elections.

As an MLA, you are the key to bringing accountability into the Legislature. In previous Legislatures it had become commonplace to call for a “voice vote”; a vote of the entire House without recording individual votes. While certainly more expedient, the cost is less accountability. A recorded vote can be demanded by any two MLAs immediately before a vote is to be called. Therefore, it is your responsibility and that of your colleagues to change the damaging trend in the Legislature.

I hope that Nova Scotians can count on your support in the 61^st General Assembly.

Sincerely,

_____________________

 

  Nova Scotia House of Assembly (from www.gov.ns.ca/legislature)

  Members of the Legislative Assembly – Constituency Office  

  Electoral District 

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail 

  Annapolis 

  Honourable Stephen McNeil (L)      825-2093 or 1-800-317-8533        825-6306

  142 Commercial Street ; P.O. Box 1420

  Middleton, Nova Scotia                                                                            stephenmcneil@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0S 1P0

  Antigonish 

  Maurice Smith (NDP)

  P.O. Box

  , Nova Scotia                                                                                         ndpcaucus@gov.ns.ca

  Argyle 

  Honourable Chris d’Entremont (PC) 648-2020                                648-2001

  P.O. Box 94

  Tusket, Nova Scotia                                                                                 info@chrisdentremont.com

  B0W 3M0

  Bedford-Birch Cove 

  Kelly Regan (L)                          407-3777                                407-3779

  Suite 555, 1550 Bedford Highway

  Bedford, Nova Scotia                                                                               kelly@kellyregan.ca

  B4A 1E6

  Cape Breton Centre 

  Honourable Frank Corbett (NDP)    862-9550                                862-9501

  3397 Plummer Avenue ; P.O. Box 1

  New Waterford, Nova Scotia                                                                      frankmla@ns.sympatico.ca

  B1H 1Z1

  Cape Breton North 

  Honourable Cecil Clarke (PC)        794-4060                                794-1815

  176 Commercial Street ; P.O. Box 84

  North Sydney, Nova Scotia                                                                       mlaclarke@ns.sympatico.ca

  B2A 3M1

  Cape Breton Nova

  Gordie Gosse (NDP)                   564-9161                                564-9975

  758 Victoria Road

  Sydney, Nova Scotia                                                                               gordiegosse@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B1N 1J6

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 1 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Cape Breton South

  Honourable Manning MacDonald (L)                                          539-6032 or 567-1114  539-6860

  253 Newlands Avenue

  Sydney, Nova Scotia                                                                               manningm@ns.sympatico.ca

  B1S 1Y7

  Cape Breton West

  Honourable Alfie MacLeod (PC)      564-8679                                564-1204

  1990 Kings Road

  Sydney River, Nova Scotia                                                                        alfiemacleod@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B1L 1C4

  Chester – St. Margaret’s

  Honourable Denise Peterson-Rafuse                                           857-3378 or 1-877-740-3378      857-3386

  213-9977 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, RR2

  Hubbards, Nova Scotia                                                                             denisepetersmla@bellaliant.com

  B0J 1T0

  Clare

  Honourable Wayne J. Gaudet (L)    769-3131                                769-2239

  P.O. Box 106

  Church Point, Nova Scotia                                                                        waynej@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0W 1M0

  Colchester – Musquodoboit

  Valley

  Gary Burrill (NDP)                       639-2277 or 1-877-582-0277        639-9776

  20 Dunrovin Avenue ; P.O. Box 129

  Stewiacke, Nova Scotia                                                                            garyburrill@ns.sympatico.ca

  B0N 2J0

  Colchester North

  Honourable Karen Casey (PC)        893-2180                                893-3064

  30 Duke Street

  Truro, Nova Scotia                                                                                  karencasey@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B2N 2A1

  Cole Harbour

  Honourable Darrell Dexter (NDP)    462-5300                                462-5306

  971 Cole Harbour Road

  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia                                                                            ddexter@ns.sympatico.ca

  B2V 1E8

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 2 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Cole Harbour – Eastern Passage

  Becky Kent (NDP)                       465-3180

  1515A Main Rd ; P.O. Box 152

  Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia                                                                    kentbj@gov.ns.ca

  B3G 1M4

  Cumberland North

  Brian Skabar (NDP)                     667-9812 or 694-9448                667-9811

  30 1/2 Church Street

  Amherst, Nova Scotia                                                                               office@brianskabarmla.ca

  B4H 3A8

  Cumberland South

  Honourable Murray Scott (PC)        597-1998 or 1-888-923-2262        597-8080

  6 McFarlane Street

  Springhill, Nova Scotia                                                                            murrayscottmla@eastlink.ca

  B0M 1X0

  Dartmouth East

  Andrew Younger (L)                    406-4420                                406-4421

  Suite 600, 73 Tacoma Drive

  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia                                                                            info@andrewyounger.ca

  B2W 3Y6

  Dartmouth North

  Trevor Zinck (NDP)                     461-0181                                461-0775

  Suite 3, 102 Albro Lake Road

  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia                                                                            tzinck@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B3A 3Y6

  Dartmouth South – Portland

  Valley

  Honourable Marilyn More (NDP)     463-6673                                463-4973

  135 Portland Street

  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia                                                                            marilynmoremla@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B2Y 1H9

  Dartmouth South – Portland

  Valley

  Honourable Marilyn More (NDP)     463-6673                                463-4973

  135 Portland Street

  Dartmouth, Nova Scotia                                                                            marilynmoremla@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B2Y 1H9

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 3 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Digby – Annapolis

  Harold (Junior) Theriault (L)          245-2991                                245-6853

  310 Highway #303 – Conway ; P.O. Box 1038

  Digby, Nova Scotia                                                                                  junior@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0V 1A0

  Eastern Shore

  Sidney Prest (NDP)                     889-2112                                889-3190

  19 Meaghers Grant Road ; P.O. Box 6

  Musquodobit Harbour, Nova Scotia                                                             sidprest.mla@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0J 2L0

  Glace Bay

  Dave Wilson (L)                         842-0155                                842-0642

  633 Main Street, Suite 210

  Glace Bay, Nova Scotia                                                                            wilsond@gov.ns.ca

  B1A 6J3

  Guysborough – Sheet Harbour

  Jim Boudreau (NDP)                    366-3033 or 1-888-465-7575        366-3858

  11 Telegraph Street ; P.O. Box 69

  Canso, Nova Scotia                                                                                 jimboudreaumla@bellaliant.com

  B0H 1H0

  Halifax Atlantic

  Michele Raymond (NDP)              477-4100                                477-4810

  47 Williams Lake Rd

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                mhraymondmla@eastlink.ca

  B3P 1S9

  Halifax Chebucto

  Howard Epstein (NDP)                 425-8521                                429-6082

  6009 Quinpool Road, Suite 103

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                hepstein@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B3K 5J6

  Halifax Citadel-Sable Island

  Leonard Preyra (NDP)                  444-3238                                444-3278

  989 Young Avenue

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                preyra@eastlink.ca

  B3H 2V9

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 4 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Halifax Clayton Park

  Diana Whalen (L)                        443-8318                                445-9287

  Unit 303 287 Lacewood Drive

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                whalendc@gov.ns.ca

  B3M 3Y7

  Halifax Fairview

  Honourable Graham Steele (NDP)   453-5556                                453-4566

  7105 Chebucto Road, Suite 101

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                graham@grahamsteele.ca

  B3L 4W8

  Halifax Needham

  Honourable Maureen MacDonald (NDP)                                      455-2926      455-3929

  3115 Veith Street

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                mmacdonald@navnet.net

  B3K 3G9

  Halifax Needham

  Honourable Maureen MacDonald (NDP)                                      455-2926      455-3929

  3115 Veith Street

  Halifax, Nova Scotia                                                                                mmacdonald@navnet.net

  B3K 3G9

  Hammonds Plains – Upper

  Sackville

  Mat Whynott (NDP)                     864-5310                                864-8681

  1651 Sackville Drive

  Middle Sackville, Nova Scotia                                                                    mat.mla@ns.sympatico.ca

  B4E 3A9

  Hants East

  Honourable John MacDonell (NDP) 883-7308 or 1-888-827-2212        883-7627

  202 Highway #2 Unit 5

  Enfield, Nova Scotia                                                                                john.macdonell@ns.sympatico.ca

  B2T 1C8

  Hants East

  Honourable John MacDonell (NDP) 883-7308 or 1-888-827-2212        883-7627

  202 Highway #2 Unit 5

  Enfield, Nova Scotia                                                                                john.macdonell@ns.sympatico.ca

  B2T 1C8

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 5 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Hants West

  Chuck Porter (PC)                       798-5779                                798-4093

  58 Gerrish Street ; P.O. Box 3873

  Windsor, Nova Scotia                                                                              chuck@chuckporter.ca

  B0N 2T0

  Inverness

  Allan MacMaster (PC)

  P.O. Box

  , Nova Scotia                                                                                         pcmlas@gov.ns.ca

  Kings North

  Jim Morton (NDP)                       678-6880                                678-6945

  401 Main Street ; P.O. Box 157

  Kentville, Nova Scotia                                                                              jimmorton@kingsnorthmla.ca

  B4N 3W4

  Kings South

  Honourable Ramona Jennex (NDP) 681-3741                                681-6261

  8985 Commercial Street, Suite 2

  New Minas, Nova Scotia                                                                           ramonajennexmla@bellaliant.com

  B4N 3E3

  Kings South

  Honourable Ramona Jennex (NDP) 681-3741                                681-6261

  8985 Commercial Street, Suite 2

  New Minas, Nova Scotia                                                                           ramonajennexmla@bellaliant.com

  B4N 3E3

  Kings West

  Leo Glavine (L)                          765-4083                                765-4176

  780 Cental Avenue Southgate Court ; P.O. Box 1501

  Greenwood, Nova Scotia                                                                          leoglavinemla@eastlink.ca

  B0P 1N0

  Lunenburg

  Pam Birdsall (NDP)                      634-9110 or 1-877-634-9110        634-8489

  119 Pelham Street ; P.O. Box 1509

  Lunenburg, Nova Scotia                                                                           pambirdsallmla@bellaliant.com

  B0J 2C0

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 6 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Lunenburg West

  Gary Ramey (NDP)                      530-8080                                530-8081

  410 King Street

  Bridgewater, Nova Scotia                                                                          gary.ramey.mla@eastlink.ca

  B4V 1A9

  Pictou Centre

  Honourable Ross Landry (NDP)     752-7677                                752-7922

  115 MacLean Street

  New Glasgow, Nova Scotia                                                                       pictoucentremla@rosslandry.ca

  B2H 4M5

  Pictou East

  Clarrie MacKinnon (NDP)              396-1853                                396-1803

  1905 Main Street ; P.O. Box 914

  Westville, Nova Scotia                                                                             clarriemla@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0K 2A0

  Pictou West

  Honourable Charlie Parker (NDP)    485-4550                                485-7088

  49 Water Street

  Pictou, Nova Scotia                                                                                 charlieparkermla@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0K 1H0

  Preston

  Honourable Keith Colwell (L)         433-1494                                435-1712

  Box 1, Comp 4 2345 Highway #7

  East Preston, Nova Scotia                                                                         colwelkw@gov.ns.ca

  B2Z 1G6

  Queens

  Vicki Conrad (NDP)                     354-5203                                354-5247

  P.O. Box 430

  Liverpool, Nova Scotia                                                                             vconrad@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B0T 1K0

  Richmond

  Honourable Michel Samson (L)      345-0778                                345-0779

  Richmond Industrial Mall, 2nd Floor ; P.O. Box 57

  Louisdale, Nova Scotia                                                                             michelsamson@ns.sympatico.ca

  B0E 1V0

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 7 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Sackville – Cobequid

  Dave Wilson (NDP)                     864-0396                                864-8409

  51 Cobequid Road, Suite 105

  Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia                                                                     dave@davidawilsonmla.ca

  B4C 2N1

  Shelburne

  Honourable Sterling Belliveau (NDP)                                           637-3200 or 875-9090  637-3530

  3441 Highway #3 ; P.O. Box 595

  Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia                                                                mlashelburne@eastlink.ca

  B0W 1G0

  Shelburne

  Honourable Sterling Belliveau (NDP)                                           637-3200 or 875-9090  637-3530

  3441 Highway #3 ; P.O. Box 595

  Barrington Passage, Nova Scotia                                                                mlashelburne@eastlink.ca

  B0W 1G0

  Timberlea – Prospect

  Honourable Bill Estabrooks (NDP)   876-2472                                876-2192

  1492 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, BLT Recreation Centre

  Lakeside, Nova Scotia                                                                              billestabrooks@navnet.net

  B3T 1B3

  Timberlea – Prospect

  Honourable Bill Estabrooks (NDP)   876-2472                                876-2192

  1492 St. Margaret’s Bay Road, BLT Recreation Centre

  Lakeside, Nova Scotia                                                                              billestabrooks@navnet.net

  B3T 1B3

  Truro – Bible Hill

  Lenore Zann (NDP)                     897-9266

  35 Commercial Street, Suite 212

  Truro, Nova Scotia                                                                                  lenorezann@gmail.com

  B2N 3H9

  Victoria – The Lakes

  Keith Bain (PC)                           674-0089                                674-0191

  1551 Old Route 5

  Big Bras d’Or, Nova Scotia                                                                        keithbainmla@ns.sympatico.ca

  B1X 1B5

  Friday, October 23, 2009                                                                                                             Page 8 of 9

 

  Electoral District

  Address                                  Phone                                 Fax           E-mail

  Waverley-Fall River Beaver Bank

  Honourable Percy Paris (NDP)       860-4004                                860-0197

  273 Windsor Junction Road

  Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia                                                                  percy@percyparis.ca

  B2T 1G7

  Waverley-Fall River Beaver Bank

  Honourable Percy Paris (NDP)       860-4004                                860-0197

  273 Windsor Junction Road

  Windsor Junction, Nova Scotia                                                                  percy@percyparis.ca

  B2T 1G7

  Yarmouth

  Honourable Richard Hurlburt (PC)   742-8120 or 742-8486                742-8157

  Lovitt Plaza, 368 Main Street

  Yarmouth, Nova Scotia                                                                             rhurlburt@ns.aliantzinc.ca

  B5A 1E9