Five Percent

It's all you really need

Anyone who has worked in a service industry - bars, restaurants, taxi drivers - knows that the difference between OK and “Wow! That was amazing!” is about 5%.

It’s that little extra bit of effort. It’s about making that small change to adapt to a customer. It’s about making that most ubiquitous of East Coast meals, fish ‘n’ chips, something special.

Or, as I found tonight at the Halifax Airport, pretty disappointing. $28 before tip got me a small greasy chunk of fish, a tiny handful of frozen fries, and tough coleslaw. And a beer.

Thinking about it, after a long, frustrating three weeks of trades and home repairs in Western Head, established in my mind why living in Nova Scotia can be so damned frustrating.

Even though I love this place, and the weather, and the people, it feels far too often that Nova Scotia isn’t missing that last 5%, they’re down by something closer to 10%.

If getting roofer 10% quicker was normal, people would be happier. If stuff got fixed completely and properly the first time, people would have less stress.

If hospitals had 10% more funding, emergency rooms would be open seven days a week. If there was money for 10% more doctors, every family would have GP.

If groceries cost 10% less - in other words, Vancouver prices - or if the quality of fruits and vegetables was 10% better, people would spend less and eat healthier.

Getting from Liverpool to the airport was a $140 challenge. Part of that is because the one bus that travels from Shelburne in the south to Halifax inexplicably skips Liverpool. They stop in the towns on either side, but not here. Why? It’s that 10%.

Instead, people have just given up expecting the best, and feel fortunate if they get second best. Or third best.

That attitude is one that comes from the top, from government, who have worked very hard to convince people that they should be grateful for anything they receive, no matter how small.

There’s a half a billion for highways this year, but people are supposed to celebrate a paltry increase in the minimum wage from $15.20 an hour to $15.70 on April 1, then to $16.50 on Oct. 1. That’s a whole $225 a month. Before taxes.

And yet, the people of Nova Scotia voted this year to give Tim Houston another majority government.

If only they could find a politician who would give that extra 5%.