I'm pleased to report that, after nearly a full year with no legislative sitting, the Nova Scotia Legislature will reconvene this spring. The current date is set for March 9th, 2021. This may still change; the Liberal party selected a new leader this weekend (and a new Premier), and ultimately it will be up to him. He will need to finalize a budget and appoint a new cabinet before we sit. Here are a few more of my thoughts on reconvening the Legislature.
While the format of how we will convene is not yet decided, we spent many weeks ironing out a safe format in 2020 where fewer members will sit in-person to allow for public health protocols, and all can vote by proxy. Given our enviable success with COVID-19 I am hopeful that we will be able to return to legislative work as members from every other province and territory in the country have been able to do.
It's important to note that all legislation that was tabled but not passed into law before the Premier prorogued the House in the fall will essentially disappear. While we are pleased to finally see some very recent progress announced in many of the areas we’ve been doggedly fighting for, including affordable housing and long term care, we will continue to press forward with our agenda for an inclusive recovery, one that takes into account the disproportionate impact of the pandemic and of recent economic decisions that have left many people struggling.
The core work of the spring sitting is always debating the budget. This will lay out the province's spending plans and signal what we can expect in the coming year—or at least until an election is called. This is the one time every year where we get a chance to question cabinet ministers, accompanied by their senior staff, directly on their spending choices.
I'm eager to get back into the House to represent all the issues you have been bringing to my attention over that last year. In my recent conversations with residents, I’ve heard affordable housing and environmental protection at the top of the list. Please, let me know what you think, and follow along online via my website ClaudiaChender.ca and social media. See the graphic below for other ways to get involved in the upcoming sitting.
Restrictions Loosen
If you were able to dig out of your home today, you'll be able to avail yourself of the loosened restrictions announced by Dr. Strang on Friday:
retail businesses and fitness facilities can operate at 75% capacity
recognized businesses and organizations can resume hosting events with 150 people outdoors, or 50% of a venue's capacity to a maximum of 100 indoors
these events must stop any food or alcohol service by 10 pm and end by 11 pm
these events include social events, arts and culture events, sport and recreation events, special events, festivals, faith gatherings, weddings with receptions, and funerals with visitation and receptions
these events also include bingo, darts and other similar activities hosted by licensed and unlicensed establishments
gathering limits also apply to meetings and training hosted by private businesses or organizations, provincial and municipal government, first responder organizations, mental health and addictions support groups, and organized clubs
organized clubs can host activities for all ages and follow the day camp guidelines to have cohorts of up to 15 within the larger indoor or outdoor gathering limit
spectators are allowed at events, including sports games and practices and arts and culture rehearsals and performances, except when they are held at schools
large facilities that already have approved plans can resume hosting events with multiple groups of 100 that are kept separate with their own entrances and exits and their own washrooms
Centre 200 in Sydney and Scotiabank Centre in Halifax can have multiple groups of 150
Note that the general gathering limit remains 10 people. This applies to household and informal gatherings and events that are not hosted by a recognized business or organization.
Green Fund
On January 26th the Human Resources Committee and Natural Resources and Economic Development Committees both met via video conference. These gave us the important opportunity in my role as Energy Critic to ask why there had been almost no deployment of the Green Fund.
We have been critical of the focus of the province's recovery spending, which has so far been disproportionately spent on highways and traditional infrastructure. While many of these projects were needed and even already planned, I believe this pandemic gives us the opportunity to rethink how provincial funds are most responsibly spent. In Dartmouth South, the top issues I’ve been hearing about (aside from COVID-19) are affordable housing and climate action. The international consensus on climate change is becoming more and more terrifying. We must demand that the province respond appropriately.
When Nova Scotia instituted a cap and trade system in 2018, part of the legislation specified that the proceeds of the cap and trade auctions would be spent on green initiatives, broadly defined. The Green Fund where these proceeds are tallied has brought in over $28 million dollars. Given this, we were dismayed to learn that of that money, only about $1 million had been spent as of December 2020.
After conversations about this in committee and in the media, I was very pleased to see the announcement that $18 million would go toward youth jobs and green energy programming. I'm especially pleased that a portion of the funds has been allocated to support the fantastic work of Dartmouth South’s own Clean Foundation. We look forward to the rapid deployment of the remaining $10 million dollars.
Our work on climate change can’t wait. We have many amazing organizations and individuals working on everything from education to green tech to deep retrofits to battery storage, who could put that funding to good use.
And while we’re on the topic, after gutting the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act (now the Sustainable Development Goals Act) by removing all hard targets on carbon reduction from the legislation to the regulations, those regulations have yet to come forward.
Housing and Homelessness
Houselessness and lack of affordable housing are not new issues in Dartmouth, or in Nova Scotia as a whole. A terrible byproduct of the public health measures of the pandemic, which has kept many of us safe, was the reduction in shelter beds due to the need to practice physical distancing. This, together with the explosion of the housing market, and the continued lack of vacancies in the rental housing market (especially affordable ones) has created a terrible situation for Nova Scotians who are houseless or precariously housed.
This was all thrust firmly into the public eye last month when a group of volunteers came together under the banner of Mutual Aid to build shelters for people sleeping rough in HRM. The first of these was in Dartmouth South, and received a great deal of media. They stepped in to fill a terrible failure of a succession of governments to provide housing to all who need it.
Housing is the responsibility of the province. Despite this, it has been decades since they have built new affordable housing (some new units were recently announced, leveraging federal funding, which is welcome). There has also been precious little investment in co-op and non-market housing providers. Instead, what the province has invested in is navigators and rent supplements. Based on the experiences of folks visiting my office and those of my colleagues, this is basically funding people to find apartments that don’t exist and giving people money to pay for apartments that don’t exist. Or, if they do, the rent supplements often end up simply raising the rent collected by the landlord with no benefit to the tenant.
We need real action on housing. The province introduced a moratorium on evictions and a temporary rent cap for the pandemic, which has helped some folks with existing leases. But as recent media coverage has shown, this is the tip of the iceberg. We need more units, and we ought to be funding the organizations with know-how to build them, as well as considering constructing more public units. Pressure on the issue of housing has been generally ignored for too long. While it’s good to finally see some provincial movement, more is needed and quickly.
The province recently announced the formation of The Nova Scotia Affordable Housing Commission, which wants to hear from people and organizations across the province. Anyone who wants to keep up-to-date with the commission's work, or contribute ideas and stories is asked to visit nsaffordablehousingcommission.ca.
Improvements to the Dartmouth General Hospital
On February 1st, the Nova Scotia Health Authority opened the doors of the newly renovated and expanded dialysis unit. Many Dartmouth patients made massive sacrifices to access dialysis service elsewhere during the renovations at Dartmouth General Hospital. A huge thanks to everyone in that program for your patience as the renovations increased capacity by adding six stations to the renal program.
In response to a demonstrated need and a push from the Dartmouth General Foundation, we have also confirmed that the Dartmouth General will be receiving a new MRI, a very welcome addition to the hospital, and one that will provide speedier access to imaging closer to home.
As always, if you’d like to discuss the topics at the top of your mind, or if you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at ClaudiaChenderMLA@gmail.com or 902-406-2301.
Kind regards,
Claudia
Federal
CERB and IA and Income Tax
With tax time around the corner, constituents who receive Employment Support or Income Assistance (ESIA) and who availed themselves of the CERB during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 are reaching out with questions. While this is a federal issue, I do have some useful information to pass along:
CERB payments did not have income tax deducted before they were paid out, which means you will need to repay CRA the tax.
Receiving the CERB increased overall income, which could affect eligibility for certain federal income-tested programs. The Department of Community Services would not be able to advise on these impacts as they require tax filer information and would be case-by-case determinations.
If you require assistance filing your taxes, the Community Volunteer Income Tax Program (CVITP) offers free tax preparation clinics for eligible individuals who have a modest income and a simple tax situation. Halifax Public Libraries also offer Free Tax Clinics in March and/or April, and appointments can be booked starting February 28.
Everyone’s tax situation is different. If you have questions about your specific case, it is highly recommended that you call CRA. Other issues can be directed to your MP. In Dartmouth, this is Darren Fisher.
Damini Awoyiga recites her poem Together We Stand on the CBC, and is celebrating African Nova Scotians of influence on Twitter.
Learn.
The Black Cultural Centre of Nova Scotia (BCC) is taking a lead in bringing the 400+ year history of the province’s Black communities to life with Nova Scotia Heritage 3D virtual tours.
Share.
Blxck House is an initiative founded by organizer and activist, LaMeia Reddick from North Preston. They are offering personalized care parcels to community residents, who need a little extra support. Get in touch if you'd like to make an offering. Read more about Blxck House.
Act.
After you've taken time to understand African Nova Scotian history and familiarize yourself with the issues folks face, please act. Sign petitions, donate where you can, and write to me and other elected officials about systemic inequalities such as street checks, incarceration rates, and calls for a justice institute.
The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them: 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)
Kids Help Phone is available 24/7: 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)
Morneau Shepell has also opened its 24/7 bilingual crisis support line to help anyone in need of emotional support as a result of the recent tragic events in our province: 1-844-751-2133
Complete a self-assessment online or call 811 for assessment if in the past 48 hours you have had, or you are currently experiencing fever (i.e. chills/sweats) OR cough (new or worsening).
OR
Two or more of the following symptoms (new or worsening):
Sore throat
Runny nose/nasal congestion
Headache
Shortness of breath
You should also call 811 for assessment if you think you've been exposed to COVID-19 or have any other symptoms that concern you.
Other Support
For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)
