On behalf of the 5,000 small- and medium-sized business owners in the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in Nova Scotia, I am urging you to make the economy the focal point for the remainder of the election campaign.

Up to this point, the bulk of the announcements and debates have focused on spending. There have been a rash of spending promises for health care, despite the fact that the province has increased its health-care spending by nearly 10 per cent per year since 2003. As you are well aware, health care now eats up nearly half of the province’s revenue, leaving less money every year for the other priorities of Nova Scotians and their families. There have also been spending announcements on every issue from roads to justice to a potential public auto insurance plan, an HST rebate on home heating oil, fuel regulation, education and just about everything else in between.

For the most part, all political parties have been focusing on one side of the balance sheet. My question is this: How are Nova Scotians going to pay for all of these promises?

History tells us there is only a few ways to finance increased spending: 1) increase the amount of money the government brings in by asking taxpayers for more, 2) borrow money and drive the province into deficit, 3) cut spending in other areas, or 4) grow the economy.

In a recent election survey conducted by the federation, you each committed to increasing the basic personal exemption (the amount of tax-free income Nova Scotians can earn) and indexing personal income tax rates. Federation members sent hundreds of faxes asking for just these two changes. As you know, by making this commitment you have promised to reduce taxes — not increase them. Further, you all committed to balancing the budget and paying down the debt. And there has been virtually no discussion on cutting spending in other areas...