CLAUDIA CHENDER MLA DARTMOUTH SOUTH Your Voice in the Nova Scotia Legislature
Bubbles and Hugs
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Dear Dartmouth South,
It’s hard to believe that we’re half way through May. Although we have more information each day about what our next few months will look like—no school, no Halifax Recreation summer programs, open parks and trails, ability to visit cottages and get outside into what will finally be some decent weather—so much is still unknown.
Today, on the eve of the long weekend, we got some very welcome good news. Mutually exclusive “immediate families” and households are now able to “bubble” with one another. It’s up to you how you define immediate family as long as it’s another single household. You can spend time with one another in homes or outside so long as you remain physically distant from other members of the public. It’s not advisable for a household with either a front line worker or someone who is at particularly high risk for COVID-19 to bubble at this time.
More good news:
Beaches are now open so walking, paddling, and surfing can resume.
Archery, golf, equestrianism, paddling, tennis, and sailing are permitted to resume as of Saturday, May 16th or as soon as their facilities are prepared.
The province-wide ban on fires remains in place until June 1st, but backyard fires are allowed in a firepit or similar.
All lifted restrictions depend on us maintaining physical distancing measures. If not, restrictions may be replaced.
Looking at the data from testing in NS, the good news is that we are flattening the curve. Nonetheless, we continue to see new cases, and new deaths, primarily at Northwood. My heart goes to the loved ones of those who are battling or have died due to COVID-19. Once Northwood has stabilized and we are past this wave of infection, we have called on the government to do a thorough investigation of the Long Term Care situation in Nova Scotia, so we can understand and address the immediate and systemic issues that led to this tragedy, and ensure that it never happens again.
This is important because we now know that even once we begin to move back into our usual routines, things will not be normal as we know it for quite some time, until a vaccine is found. Public Health and the government are beginning to discuss lifting restrictions, but no plan has been released yet. Early June has been targeted for the next round of opening. It will be a cautious, slow and steady process.
In a rare piece of good news, history was made on Thursday when Kendra Coombs, recently elected MLA for Cape Breton Centre and the newest member of the NDP Caucus, was virtually sworn in by Acting Clerk Annette Boucher. As House Leader I was so pleased to see this come together, allowing Kendra to represent the caucus at legislative committees and to take her seat in the Legislature in the fall session. Welcome, Kendra!
This is an indication that the virtual capabilities of the legislature are able to expand to committee work. Every other Legislative body in Canada is currently convening in some capacity. HRM council is meeting virtually throughout the pandemic. However, the Premier said today that as the budget (now completely changed) has passed and the Legislature has risen for the spring, and that committee work is not urgent and would be suspended until the fall.
The Public Accounts Committee, chaired by the Progressive Conservatives, is scheduled to meet this month for the first time since March.
Given that we are in the midst of a pandemic, we continue to press for the Health Committee to reconvene. What do you think? Should our legislative oversight resume? Or should everything wait until the fall as he suggested today?
Inspiring as ever, Dartmouth continues to show up, and to step up. Many of our small businesses have found ways to stay open and serve the community, from the Alderney Market to the Canteen to Lake City Cider and Brightwood Brewery. Power Promotions has been selling clothing to benefit front line organizations, Yeah Yeahs and Humble Pie and Stone Pizza are keeping us all fuelled. To these businesses and all of the others managing to serve the community, thank you. To the ones who can’t, we miss you. And to Dartmouth residents able to choose local in this time for your needs, please do.
As always, if you are struggling or need help don’t hesitate to reach out directly to my office.
Provincial Updates
While school has now officially been cancelled for the rest of the year, students or a family member will be able to access schools by appointment to retrieve personal items beginning in the week of May 25th. Schools will be in touch with families with more details in the coming weeks. Virtual learning will end on June 5th.
Licensed daycares in the province have a potential re-opening date of June 8, but the timeline for their reopening is not yet confirmed; it will be determined after consultation with the daycare sector and assessed in the coming weeks.
The number of programs that have launched to support business in the time of COVID-19 has become something of a maze. There are at least eight official programs total from both the Provincial and Federal governments. Yet, my office is still taking daily calls from business owners who are falling through the cracks.
Moreover, the Provincial Small Business Loan Guarantee Program is already overwhelmed by requests for aid such that it has temporarily stopped taking applications.
The Premier advised today that he is working with business associations and that all questions should be directed there. No specific reopening targets are being set. Instead, businesses are being directed to create a plan that shows they are able to operate within the protocols and restrictions laid out by Public Health.
It should also be noted that the Provincial Small Business Impact Grant has paid out only $9.5 million of the allocated $20 million. The deadline has passed and businesses are being asked to reach out directly to the Department of Business. There is no appeals process for businesses who have been denied at this point, but if you feel you have been unfairly rejected please contact my office.
We know that residents and businesses continue to struggle. Despite the lack of democratic processes available to us—Nova Scotia is the only province with no legislative work happening at all—we continue to push for greater accountability, and to press the government to avail themselves of all MLAs to find our way to the new normal.
Federal Updates
The Federal Government announced two more programs to support businesses though the pandemic.
The Large Employer Emergency Financing Facility (LEEFF) is to “provide bridge financing to Canada’s largest employers, whose needs during the pandemic are not being met through conventional financing, in order to keep their operations going.” More details can be found here.
The Regional Relief and Recovery Fund (RRRF) is meant to support regional and rural businesses that may not have existing relationships with financial institutions, or don’t qualify for other federal relief programs.
As with all federal programs, please reach out to your MP for questions. In Dartmouth, that is Darren Fisher, Member of Parliament for Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, 902-462-6453.
Community
This past week was National Nursing Week. Thank you to all the compassionate and tenacious nurses who work so hard every day on the front lines of our healthcare system. From the emergency room to long-term care facilities, to community health, your presence, expertise, and care is a trusted and steady hand in trying times. Thank you!
Feed Nova Scotia has launched a short-term initiative to provide home delivery to Nova Scotians who are unable to access food. The COVID-19 Food Box program is being administered through 211. If you know anyone in need, please pass this information along. You can download a one-pager PDF about the program here.
Square Roots is offering free veggie packs for those in need. A pickup will be held tomorrow, Saturday May 16th from 12-1 pm at the Macphee Centre. This is on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last. Info here.
Today Zuppa Theatre launches Vista, a walking tour that can be taken anywhere: on the spot, in circles around an apartment, or on the streets of your neighbourhood. It sets out to ask big questions without losing track of the day-to-day realities faced by workers in the field of public health.
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