My Recent Conversation with Gary Burrill, outgoing leader of the Nova Scotia NDP.
By – Kendall Worth
On Friday January 28th, 2022 I interviewed Gary Burrill about his decision to step down as leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party (NSNDP). This conversation also included him talking about things like:
What he felt he achieved during his time as leader in reducing poverty in Nova Scotia and what further action, that he could not take, should be achieved
How much Gary loves the party and how much he loved meeting and working with the membership of the party, throughout the province.
Gary and I both agreed that it has been a great privileged for the Leader to be engaged.
Gary is looking forward to continuing being the MLA for Halifax/Chebucto.
Gary and I also talked about COVID and CERB which provided $2000 a month. Gary and I agreed that everyone should have the ability to contribute to the economy – and that is what CERB did. For more on CERB and how it improved lives of people living in Poverty see “https://nsadvocate.org/2020/08/10/kendall-worth-cerb-systemic-harassment-and-bureaucratic-nonsense/”
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| Gary Burrill and Kendall Worth |
Here is the Edited (for length) Interview
On Friday, January 28, I interviewed Gary Burrill about his decision to step aside as NDP Leader. Our conversation has been edited for length.
KW: What has been achieved during your term in leadership in eliminating and/or reducing poverty?
GB: The rent control that we won from the Liberals in 2020, and from the Conservatives in 2021, is huge. It's so important that landlords won't be able to put rents up more than 2% a year until the end of 2023.
KW: Are there further actions in that direction that you wish could have been achieved?
GB: Oh, for sure. We've got to have income assistance levels that people actually can live on. We've got to have $15, on a path to a Living Wage.
The striking thing, in the present moment, is that governments have shown that they know this, and that they can do it. That's what CERB was – government showing that they know perfectly well that people need $2,000 a month, and that they can produce it, actually, very quickly, when they make up their minds to.
KW: Do you have any regrets about your time as Leader?
GB: Yes, I wish we could have won more seats, both in 2021 and 2017.
KW: Are there things you're going to miss about being Leader?
GB: Oh yes, very much so. I love our Party and I love its people. I love meeting with NDPers around the province and thinking together on how to strengthen our work. It's just an enormous privilege to be Leader of the Party.
KW: Are there things you're looking forward to, once you're no longer Leader?
GB: Well, I'm looking forward to continuing as the MLA for Halifax Chebucto, and with the work of our caucus, and supporting our new Leader.
KW: With you as Leader, the NDP has been very focused on poverty issues. Do you have any concern that that focus might be lost with a new Leader?
GB: No concern at all. Abolishing poverty is one of the core, defining principles of our Party. It's a big part of the reason why the NDP got started in the first place. Nobody would become Leader of the NDP in 2022 who didn't have this in their heart.
I want to take this opportunity to share a memory of a reference Gary Burrill wrote for me. As a member of the NDP myself, and knowing Gary Burrill, I believe I speak for all of the Nova Scotia NDP Membership that working with Gary has always been a pleasure during his leadership.
I know Gary will be will be missed as the leader of the NDP.
I wish Gary all the Best moving forward!
Note: Gary remains leader of the NSNDP until a new leader is elected at the NS NDP Leadership Convention that will be held June 24th-26th 2022. You must be a member of the party by May 30th to participate in the online and telephone voting that begins on June 20th
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