New testing sites in Dartmouth
Dear Dartmouth South,
Welcome to what we once called a weekend.
It’s with a heavy heart that I open this week’s email with yet another tragedy. As you know, on Thursday a CH-148 Cyclone helicopter, the HMCS Fredericton based out of 12 Wing Shearwater, was reported missing off the coast of Greece. As of today, the body of Sub.-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough has been recovered. We are told the five other crew members are presumed deceased and that it is now classified as a recovery mission. My thoughts are with all the families with lost loved ones this week, in Dartmouth and beyond.
We also lost a community leader from Harbourview this week. Marie Koehler was at the core of the Harbourview community. Her obituary can be found here.
On a slightly more positive note, in response to recent events and as announced previously the Federal government has announced an immediate ban on assault-style weapons in Canada, an important first step in stemming the tide of violence in Canada.
Provincial Updates
On a truly positive note, yesterday the provincial government announced that some outdoor restrictions were lifted as of Friday at 3pm. All provincial and municipal parks and trails are now open! Beaches and playgrounds remain closed. Please maintain physical distancing but please, also give yourselves and your families a stroll around one of our beautiful lakes.
The details:
Provincial and municipal parks can reopen, but playground equipment will continue to be off limits.
Trails are allowed to open.
People are allowed to use and visit community gardens.
Garden centres, nurseries and similar businesses can open.
Sportfishing is permitted from shore or boat, but fishing derbies are not allowed.
People can attend boating, yacht or sailing clubs for the purpose of preparing boats for use.
Golf driving ranges can open, including those at golf clubs, but the course must remain closed; golf clubs can perform necessary maintenance and preparations for opening.
People can use their cottages. Use is restricted to one household unit at a time, travel must be directly to the cottage and back, and travelling back and forth frequently from cottage and primary residence is discouraged.
Provincial and private campgrounds remain closed, but they can perform necessary maintenance and preparations for opening. An exception is recreational vehicles parked year-round at private campgrounds, which can be used but must follow the same rules as cottages.
Drive-in religious services will be allowed, as long as people stay in their cars, they are parked two metres apart and there are no interactions between people in cars or between people in cars and others.
Please make an effort to use parks and trails in your neighbourhood. If you do have to drive to one of these locations, and there are many cars in a parking lot when you arrive, please try to pick a more sparsely populated spot.
As always, get up-to-date Provincial updates here: novascotia.ca/coronavirus/
Testing
We continue to identify positive COVID-19 cases in our communities, but the numbers are consistently lower than they were a week or two ago, and it appears our curve is flattening. Additionally, our capacity to test is expanding, which we know is the key to suppressing the virus as much as possible until a vaccine can be developed. This week saw the opening of a new testing site in North Dartmouth at 105 Highfield Park Drive. The Dartmouth General Hospital shared in a recent update that the drive-thru testing site is now open in the side parking lot and that the newly opened 5th floor inpatient unit is housing patients who are battling the virus in hospital. Dartmouth is lucky to have such a wealth of hospital infrastructure and dedicated staff and front line workers.
As always, if you have two or more symptoms of COVID-19 call 811. To get tested at the new assessment centre at the Community Centre on Highfield Park Drive, call 811 to make an appointment or drop in between 9 am and 7:30 pm. Note that you may be given an appointment and asked to return.
I’m happy to report that our neighbours in East Preston have closed their testing site as it is no longer needed. There is no more disease activity due to community spread in that area. A bright light indeed!
In other positive news, the tragic outbreak of COVID-19 at Northwood long term care in Halifax is stabilizing. Staff are required to wear surgical masks, and carers who were quarantined are returning to work. Residents who tested positive have been moved off site to a nearby hotel to recover, allowing the Northwood team to care for the on-site residents. The situation will be considered resolved after a 28-day period in which no new cases are reported.
COVID-19 has exposed the shortfalls in our long-term care facilities. For too long they have been underfunded and understaffed. I would direct you to these wise words from a former Health Minister and Deputy Minister. It should be clear to everyone now that long term, systemic changes are desperately needed.
While we have seen a lower number of new confirmed cases in Nova Scotia this week, please stay vigilant and respect Public Health’s guidelines to flatten the curve. You can see the data and stats for Nova Scotia here.
Mental Health
It has been an extraordinarily difficult month for all of us. Please, if you feel like you need help try and seek it out. The province has set up a list of resources here. If you need more information you can also always contact my office, check out the resources we've put together here, or call 211.
MLA Responsibilities
If we weren’t practising social distancing, right now I would normally be attending committee meetings as part of my work as your MLA. I currently sit on the Human Resources, Internal Affairs, Law Amendments, Natural Resources and Economic Development, and Veterans Affairs committees among others.
Because of the pandemic, this kind of work has been put on hold. However, as we are all getting a handle on this situation and figuring out how to work from home, the NDP believes that it is time to begin planning for some committees to meet virtually, as they are federally, municipally, and in other provincial legislatures.
I was interviewed by the CBC this week about the issue. As I said in the interview, if the government is going to continue to move forward with large capital projects like the QEII hospital redevelopment and other parts of the billion dollar capital budget that the government passed in March, then we also need the democratic oversight on which these kind of projects are predicated.
(Can you spot my child in the background?)
Business
The Nova Scotia Business Improvement Districts hosted an online “Ask Government” town hall on Monday where a select number of officials were able to address questions put forth by the business community about measures put in place by all levels of government to help businesses survive the current situation. Worth a watch if you’re interested in an overview. You can watch the full session here.
The Small Business Credit and Support Program is now available and is being administered through the Credit Union. The deadline to apply is June 30, 2020.
The Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA), offers forgivable loans to eligible commercial property owners so that they can reduce the rent owed by their impacted small business tenants by at least 75% for the months of April, May and June, 2020. Applications are open.
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.
Find out more about what other resources are available to businesses and workers.
Education
Schools and daycares will remain closed until at least May 22. Learning packs are scheduled to be updated and delivered bi-weekly. Families who do not have access to technology can register to receive a learning kit from SaltWire, or they can call 1-800-565-3339. If you already receive the flyers, you will receive these documents in the mail.
If you have issues accessing technology or affording school supplies please reach out to my office and we’ll do our best to assist you in accessing what you need for distance learning.
How to Help
There are several organizations helping the most vulnerable in Dartmouth and beyond, and they can always use your help if you are in a position to give. Here are a just a few:
A more thorough list may be found here.
If you are unsafe at home, there is help. Transition houses throughout Nova Scotia are providing shelter with government support, while still following public health advice.
You should not feel that you should stay in an abusive situation. The Transition House Association of Nova Scotia will work with you to find options to keep you and your children safe.
For more information: www.thans.ca or call 1-855-225-0220
Youth Opportunities
Dr. Ffrench Trailblazer Award
This award is presented annually by Business Is Jammin’ to Nova Scotian youth of African Descent for contributions to their community, as demonstrated by long-term commitment and leadership as volunteers, students, athletes and/or artists.
#RisingYouth Grants
TakingITGlobal (TIG) is looking for young people who are inspired with ideas and ready to take action through youth-led community service grants. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis.
We’re fielding lots of questions about where to get groceries these days. If you don’t want to go into a store it can be difficult to keep track. Here are a few online resources that should help:
Gateway Meat Market is offering $100 Grocery Cartloads for curbside pick up in the parking lot. Check their Facebook page for details.
Superstore curbside pickups are available at Braemar, Portland Street, and Cole Harbour Road locations.
For more about Provincial support, please visit: novascotia.ca/coronavirus/support/
Check Sam Austin’s latest newsletter here: samaustin.ca/e-news-covid-updates-8/
My office remains open virtually for your constituency-related needs. Don’t hesitate to call 902-406-2301 or email claudiachendermla@gmail.com if you need assistance.
Stay safe, and be kind to each other.
Claudia
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