The loss of the film tax credit still affects many families living in the riding of Chester-St. Margaret’s.
PC candidate Julie Chaisson says they would not only bring it back, but remove the cap and make it easier to access.
“We want to be able to work with the industry to start bringing that money back into the province, and bringing our people back into the province.”
NDP incumbent Denise Peterson-Rafuse agrees it was mismanaged from the start.
While Green Party candidate Harry Ward isn’t sure what he’d do differently in the same position, but says his party would work to reinstate the tax credit.
Hugh MacKay with the Liberals says he won’t argue that it was poorly handled, but says intentions were good.
“We’re going to have to live with that one, we have to own it, and we have to insure that we rebuild that sector and try to bring home those young people and those creative minds that we lost.”
Youth retention was also top of mind.
Peterson-Rafuse says government needs to stop talking about it and do something.
“Starting to enact some things because what I’ve learned is that it’s always plan plan plan and then a couple of years goes by and then it’s talk about more planning.”
MacKay says making sure high speed internet is available for small business and students will make rural communities more attractive.
Ward says he’s been working closely with youth for years.
“I saved our Estabrooks Community Hall from being torn down by HRM, and now we have[the] 250 Vimy Air Cadets in there which is over a hundred kids.”
Chaisson says supporting local businesses will create thousands of jobs and keep youth from leaving to find work
Advanced polls are open now.
Election day is Tuesday.
