We're now into Phase 4 of the reopening plan in Nova Scotia! Below are some highlights.
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Public health measures like social distancing and masks are still in effect. For full details on these updates, visit novascotia.ca/reopening-plan/phase-four.
Gathering Limits
- Informal gatherings with household members and close social contacts: maximum of 25 indoors or 50 outdoors without physical distance or masks (unless they are in a public place where masks are required).
- Festivals, special events and arts and culture events, meetings, training, wedding ceremonies and funerals (including receptions and visitation), and faith gatherings hosted by businesses or organizations: 50% capacity up to a limit of 150 people indoors or 250 people outdoors, with social distance and masks, when they are hosted by a recognized business or organization.
Long-term care
- Indoor visits can resume in a resident’s room and fully vaccinated residents can leave the facility to visit with family in their homes (including overnight stays).
- All residents can leave the facility to visit indoor and outdoor public places (like parks, stores and restaurants).
Businesses and services
- Liquor-licensed establishments and restaurants can return to regular hours of operation (indoor and outdoor) as per their licensing with a maximum of 25 household members and close social contacts per table.
- Bar service is permitted if you follow social distancing and mask requirements.
- Liquor-licensed establishments and restaurants can have live music (indoor and outdoor) with musicians following the COVID-19 Guidelines for Musicians.
- All retail stores can operate at maximum capacity possible (shoppers and staff).
Fitness and recreation
- Businesses and organizations offering indoor recreation and leisure activities can operate at the maximum capacity possible with public health measures.
- Fitness establishments and sport and recreation facilities can operate at the maximum capacity possible with public health measures.
- Overnight summer camps can operate with up to 15 people (excluding staff and volunteers) in each individual camp group without social distancing or multiple groups of 15 people each with social distancing between groups and need to follow COVID-19 Return to Overnight Camp Guidelines. Masks are not required for campers 12 and younger.
- Recreational day camps can operate with up to 30 people (excluding staff and volunteers) in each individual camp group without social distancing or multiple groups of 30 people each with social distancing between groups and need to follow COVID-19 Return to Day Camp Guidelines. Masks are not required for campers 12 and younger.
Museums and libraries
- Museums, libraries and Art Gallery of Nova Scotia can operate at the maximum capacity possible with public health measures.
Vaccines
We reached a landmark of 75% of Nova Scotians with a first dose of vaccine, but we have further to go. Luckily there are lots of opportunities for walk-in appointments across HRM through this weekend. If you haven’t gotten your first or second dose, please do! If you know someone else who hasn’t, please encourage them.
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Housing
I've received hundreds of emails from concerned residents about the dire housing crisis in Nova Scotia and concern over the planned removal of Mutual Aid Shelters from city property.
Housing is central to the struggle against income inequality and therefore at the heart of my and my colleagues' thinking about Nova Scotia. Housing is a right. This basic tenet is something we brought to the table in the spring session of the legislature as Bill 43, but it was blocked.
Adsum posted a thread on Twitter that contextualizes the impact that lack of housing has on Nova Scotians and I would encourage everyone to take a moment and read it. Lack of housing leads to poor health outcomes, sustained poverty, apprehension of children from parents, and more.
In 2017, my colleagues and I first introduced a bill that would establish a permanent rent control regime in Nova Scotia and another that would enable inclusionary zoning, a mechanism that would allow Halifax Regional Municipality to require affordable housing in new buildings.
Nova Scotia has not invested in affordable housing in over 30 years. One way to invest and make a meaningful difference quickly would be to use a right of first refusal so that the Province could acquire already existing multi-unit residential buildings that come onto the market.
Sadly, when the state of emergency in Nova Scotia lifts, temporary rent control measures put in place will also be lifted and evictions, which have been stayed throughout the pandemic, can resume. We are bracing for what this will mean and continue to push the government to take immediate, decisive action.
Alderney Manor & Legionnaires' Disease
You may have seen the Global report on two deaths and a resurgence of Legionnaires’ disease in the drinking water at Alderney Manor. It's unclear whether there is a connection between these events, but given the previous outbreak of Legionella bacteria, residents are understandably concerned.
I have been in contact with the Metro Regional Housing Authority about this, and am told that they have sent samples for testing. In the meantime, this event reinforces the need for maintenance on all provincially owned public housing units, especially Alderney Manor which, despite recent renovations, has had several issues in the past few years.
Childcare
I have spent a great deal of time over the past four years advocating for a universal, accessible childcare system in Nova Scotia. Recently the need for this has been more acute than ever, as we have seen the disappearance of regulated daycares from downtown Dartmouth. Given this, I was very glad to see the recent announcement of a Canada-Nova Scotia Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care Agreement. While there is a signed agreement, the devil will, of course, be in the details.
I want to offer a huge thank you to the dozens of women who have been advocating for this for so long, including Professor Tammy Findlay, Christine Saulnier, CUPE members across the province and so many ECEs, parents and others. I’m sure they will continue to push to see the actual implementation, and one that ensures equity, accessibility, and affordability are paramount.
According to the government, this agreement will:
- reduce child care fees by an average of 50% by Dec. 31, 2022
- ensure child care fees are, on average, $10 per day by 2026
- create at least 9,500 new early learning and child care spaces by March 31, 2025, including new spaces for infants and toddlers, and a new three-year-old early learning program with priority access given to vulnerable and equity-seeking families
- enhance before and after care options at schools
Additionally, this strategy will address workforce issues identified by the sector and support ECEs in lifelong learning. Key initiatives include:
- providing a one-time grant of $500 for trained ECEs who work in provincially funded childcare centres
- developing a compensation framework for ECEs working in government-funded licensed child care facilities to improve pay and benefits. The new framework is expected to be completed by 2022
- supporting ECEs with career navigation support
- moving toward professional recognition by introducing a regulated certification process for ECEs
- providing free tuition and books for over 300 staff currently working in child care and pre-primary without a diploma, including designated seats for Mi'kmaq/Indigenous peoples, Black/African Nova Scotians, Acadian/francophone Nova Scotians and newcomers
- providing bursaries to 300 students currently enrolled in full-time ECE diploma/degree programs in Nova Scotia, and more for students from equity-seeking groups
- working closely with public schools to ensure they are supported to help students who are considering ECE as a career option
- establishing a post-diploma certificate training program through the Advanced Practitioner Program in Early Childhood Education, allowing qualified ECEs to specialize and advance in a particular area of practice
Nova Scotia Power
I met with several staff members from Nova Scotia Power last week to discuss the rampant outages in Dartmouth South. Businesses and residents have made it clear outages are not a minor inconvenience, and the frequency with which Dartmouth South is hit with outages when there are no weather events is deeply frustrating. Particularly given the number of folks working from home and running businesses, a power outage can cause real strain. Whether or not there are more outages in Dartmouth than in other areas of the province, the felt experience is that we have more power losses than elsewhere.
The issue is, of course, complex. Many of the power lines in downtown Dartmouth are underground and were installed in vaults that flood periodically. In the past, NSP simply pumped water out into the harbour. As we began to better understand the environmental impact of pumping runoff directly into the ocean (and lakes!), regulations were created that stopped NSP from being able to deal with the water this way. Despite having upgraded the underground system in 2015-2016, water ingress is still a major problem in Dartmouth. I’m assured that solutions are being investigated and that there may be a pilot project in the area to test solutions to this somewhat unique issue.
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Water ingress below street level.
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In terms of the residential areas, with the increase of challenging weather and wind in particular there is a real strain on the grid. I’m assured that the maintenance budget is steadily increasing and that Portland Street has major maintenance planned for this year.
It was a productive meeting, but I do encourage residents to call their outage line if there is an outage and to be in communication with any concerns.
It's possible this may be my last email to you as a sitting MLA. I'm expecting that the next provincial election will be called very soon, if not this weekend. It's been my absolute privilege to serve as your representative through thick and thin. Thank you for your kindness to me and my staff, and I hope to see you on the other side!
Best,
Claudia
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P.S. During the campaign my office will be closed and email and phone messages will be picked up intermittently. If you have an issue please start by calling 211, 311, or your councillor or MP for municipal and federal issues.
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Mental Health Resources
Indian Residential School Survivors Society
1-800-721-0066
Crisis support 24/7 for Residential School Survivors, their families, and those dealing with intergenerational traumas.
Mental Health Mobile Crisis Team
902-429-8167 or 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)
Crisis support for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis by phone 24/7 anywhere in Nova Scotia and a Mobile Response from 1 pm to 1 am to most communities in HRM.
Kids Help Phone
1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868
Kids Help Phone is always there for you. No matter what you want to talk about, we’re here to listen. No judgment, totally private, 24/7. Live Chat is open daily from 8 pm to 1 am AT. They will be accepting new chats until 12:15 am AT only, in order to help ensure that all conversations are responded to by 1 am.
NSHA & IWK Mental Health and Addictions Intake Line
1-855-922-1122
For help with a mental health or addiction concern, the Nova Scotia Mental Health and Addictions team is available to take your call Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm.
Morneau Shepell
1-844-751-2133
24/7 national crisis support line that is available to anyone in need of emotional support. By calling the crisis line, individuals will receive crisis counselling support and/or referral to community resources. This resource is available to anyone and everyone, client or not.
Eskasoni Mental Health Services (Indigenous Nova Scotians only)
902-379-2099 or 1-855-379-2099 (toll-free) or Facebook: @EskasoniCrisisWorker
Culturally appropriate, community-based, and community-led mental health and addiction services available 24/7 by phone or via Facebook. Crisis intervention and referral services, central intake, ASIST/Safe Talk/Mental Health First Aid.
Pause: Mental Health Walk-In Clinic (ANS only)
1-800-598-5270 (toll-free)
A mental health drop-in program where community members can access a 45 minutes counselling session on a first-come-first-served basis. Currently only operating via telephone due to restrictions around COVID-19. Tuesdays & Thursdays, 5 pm – 8 pm. Call at any time, leave your name and a call back number and the coordinator will reach out to you with an appointment time. You do not need a health card or a mental health diagnosis. You do not need to be a patient of the NECHC.
Association of Black Social Workers (ANS only)
1-855-732-1253 (toll-free) or email nsabswcovid19@gmail.com
Providing support to members of the African Nova Scotian community by phone and email Monday – Friday, 8:30 am – 4:30 pm. For after-hours calls, please allow up to 12 hours for a callback.
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line is available for adults who are going through a difficult time and need someone to text with. This service is free and available 24/7. Special support is available for frontline workers.
Text NSSTRONG to 741741
Frontline workers: text FRONTLINE to 741741
Good2Talk Nova Scotia
Good2Talk Nova Scotia provides support for university and college students.
Call toll-free: 1-833-292-3698 or text GOOD2TALKNS to 686868
Healthy Minds Cooperative
902 404-3504 ext. 201
The HMC patient navigator, Brad, can help connect you with the appropriate support services within your community. Services in the community: support groups, programs and workshops, referral services, self-advocacy, web-based resources
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COVID-19 Information
How and Where to get a COVID-19 Test
Primary Testing Sites. For symptomatic and asymptomatic testing. Book online or call 811. Dartmouth locations are Burnside/Dartmouth Crossing, by the Dartmouth General Hospital, and the Zatazman Sportsplex.
Public Health Mobile Units. Pre-book your appointment at the mobile unit online, call 811. Click here for mobile unit locations.
Pop-Up Rapid Testing. Asymptomatic testing. No appointment is necessary. This option is for you if you are over 16 and have no symptoms or exposures.
Click here for rapid testing locations.
Domestic Violence
For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)
Further Resources
2-1-1 is a 24/7 connection to programs and services in Nova Scotia. Call 211 or visit online.
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