Its bank account is booming and the PC Party of Nova Scotia is ready to go for a maybe, possibly, perhaps spring election.
And while no one is yet confirming the alleged, presumable, perchance election, the party’s annual general meeting on the weekend was brimming with rallying cries against the opposition.
“We’ll be ready if there’s an election this year or next year, whenever the call comes,” said Premier Rodney MacDonald.
“There were some of the biggest crowds (at the AGM) that we’ve seen in many, many years. We saw an energy level from our youths, which is growing, and the numbers are growing.”
The party’s war chest will certainly be prepared. The Tories are in the best financial position they’ve been in for years, according to treasurer Dan Avery. The party will have at least 50 per cent more money to spend this election than it did in 2006.
In total, the party has just more than $500,000 in surplus to spend. Though some must be put aside for normal operations, Avery said there should be around $450,000 that can be committed to an election.
A good chunk of that money — $270,000 worth — comes from public financing. Political parties are given a certain amount of public funding depending on the number of votes they get.
The rest of the money comes from donations, fundraising, party dues and other income sources.
Last week the Tories launched an attack campaign against the NDP, claiming the party had made more than $2 billion in promises since 2006. The campaign came under fire for citing vaguely worded statements and questions in some cases as “promises.”
But yesterday MacDonald stood by the attacks.
“These are commitments and suggestions that they have made,” he said.
“We are simply putting the information out there and people will judge based on that information.”
