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The 2022 fall legislative session came to an end last night. Over the past month, I have brought your voices to the legislature on issues of housing, healthcare, affordability, and climate change. We were glad to see a few bills pass with all-party support, including one that strengthens Efficiency NS, and another that provides leave for those experiencing pregnancy loss.
Many of the bills, however, were clearly designed to streamline the Houston government by eliminating independent boards and restructuring formerly independent Crown Corporations in areas from investment to infrastructure to housing to agriculture so that partisan ministers now control decision-making. This is particularly concerning for residents of Dartmouth South as we await word of what will happen at Dartmouth Cove, as we see a supersizing of the Southdale Mount Hope special planning area without consultation or even a notice to the community, and as we continue to struggle with a dangerously overburdened healthcare system.
With the family practice waitlist at over 120,000, we are pushing for immediate and rapid expansion of collaborative care. We were pleased to see a pilot project at Dalhousie Family Medicine expanded, but more needs to be done to ensure that people have access to primary care and can stay out of emergency rooms. We're also pushing for a freeze on family and seniors pharmacare premiums, as well as expanded thresholds for existing support programs like the Heating Assistance Rebate Program and the Seniors Care Grant so people who need it can access them.
More housing is needed—immediately and desperately in our province. Unfortunately, the focus of government is only on housing at the top end of the spectrum. It's not clear whether there will be beds for the many people with precarious or no housing this winter, but we are working to ensure that more options become available.
While the government did pass legislation to cap Nova Scotia Power's rate increase at 1.8%, because of fuel prices, costs will still go up. We continue to press for expanded efficiency and low-income relief to ensure that people can afford to pay their power bills.
As always, you can see a record of my work in the legislature on my website and YouTube channel, and you can read or watch the entirety of the session in Hansard or on the NS Legislative TV YouTube channel.
Times are tough for many in this province. There is some financial assistance available to help offset costs and I continue to keep a list of available resources on my website. Please have a look to see whether you or someone you know can benefit.
Missing Your Fiona Food Assistance?
A number of people have not yet received their $100 for food lost during Fiona. If you lost power for over 48 hours, you are eligible for a $100 reimbursement. If you applied, but did not receive the benefit, call 1-888-428-2256 Monday to Friday 8:30am - 5pm. You can still apply at novascotia.ca/food-cost-reimbursement-hurricane-fiona.
COVID-19 Tests
My office is still distributing boxes of COVID-19 rapid tests. Please visit us at 33 Ochterloney St, Suite 360 to get a box. Rapid tests are free. My office is open from 9am until 4pm during the week but the Quaker Landing building is open from 7:30am to 5pm and we leave tests outside the office for those who can't get there during office hours.
Today I was happy to attend the Hawthorne Elementary Remembrance Day ceremony and I look forward to seeing many of you at the Sullivan's Pond Remembrance Day Ceremony tomorrow.
Take good care,
Claudia
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