HALIFAX (CP) - Political plans and a gentlemen's agreement intended to keep Nova Scotia's Conservative minority government afloat could be severely tested as the province's legislature opens its fall sitting on Monday.
A looming strike by 6,600 health-care workers at clinics and hospitals across most of the province threatens to hijack debate and test early promises of co-operation between political opponents.
Security is expected to be tight as busloads of unionized clerical, technical and service workers, who have already rejected the government's offer of arbitration, greet members on their return to Province House.
"The government's ability to form an agenda in a minority parliament is always tenuous, further complicated now by the fact that there could be a health-care strike," said political scientist Jeffery MacLeod, who lectures in Atlantic Canadian studies at Mount St. Vincent University.
MacLeod said a major health-care strike could be a true test for Premier Rodney MacDonald.
"Politically it's not so much the details of the issues but how the premier responds which will determine whether he's successful. That will be, I suppose, the acid test for this government."
Opposition NDP Leader Darrell Dexter said it is in the government's interest to resolve the dispute quickly.
"We're in a countdown toward a strike that could further exacerbate the wait times in health care," said Dexter.
"I would hope the government will not engage in brinkmanship."
The threatened strike, which could see workers represented by CUPE and the Canadian Auto Workers union manning picket lines by the end of the week, has already forced several hospitals to cancel elective surgeries.
"The government has had ample opportunity to sit down with the unions and resolve this matter," said interim Liberal Leader Michel Samson.
"It would be extremely unfortunate if it goes to a strike. It shows a complete lack of leadership on behalf of the government."
MacDonald, who led his Conservatives to a reduced minority victory in an election earlier this year after taking over as leader, said health-care issues are a large part of his planned legislative package.
MacDonald has left Health Minister Chris D'Entremont to comment on the labour dispute, limiting his own remarks to broader health-care issues.
"You'll see us focus on several aspects of primary health-care," said the premier, adding that he's a strong believer in a publicly run system.
However, the legislative session opens just days after his government floated vague hints about more private-sector involvement.
"We have to be open to new ways of doing things, to taking a new approach. If we don't, we won't have the dollars to sustain the current system," said MacDonald, without going into detail.
The Conservatives and the Liberals struck a series of agreements earlier this year that they said would form a framework for co-operation and ensure government stability for a couple of years.
Their alliance is driven by the necessity to rebuild in the face of NDP gains and absolutely no appetite for another election any time soon.
The Liberals, who have been without a leader since Francis MacKenzie left following his June election defeat, won't pick a successor until sometime next year.
The party has decided to switch back to a delegate system at its leadership convention, expected before the end of July, but hasn't yet set the final date or the rules for the campaign.
The Tories fell to 23 seats in the 52-seat legislature in the spring election while the Liberals won nine seats. The New Democrats gained five seats, bringing their total to 20.
David Johnson, a University of Cape Breton political scientist, said given the shift in alliances it may be useful for the New Democrats to distance themselves from the Tories.
"Given their electoral success I think they want Nova Scotians to have a sense that they are now a government in waiting," said Johnson.
"I think the Liberals, who are without a leader, are the ones most needful of having this government survive."
