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This spring session of the Nova Scotia legislature ended last Friday. My colleagues and I had 19 very long days to bring forward bills, debate government legislation, question provincial public spending, and monitor and question the executive branch’s policies and actions. This work is informed by your input on the issues that concern you most--thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts.
Addressing the need for affordability, equity, and sustainability to be a part of our conversation about Nova Scotia Power was a huge part of my work this session. I was pleased to put forward a number of bills designed to ensure that our power utility works for us, not just its shareholders.
Lack of transparency has emerged as a key issue for Dartmouth South. We see it acutely in the tension between the new Housing Task Force (which I spoke about in my last newsletter) and the need to complete rigorous environmental studies and community consultation. I asked the Minister of Housing specifically about Eisner Cove Wetland:
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Protecting Eisner Cove Wetland - Question Period
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We were glad to see the government relent and reinstate the temporary paid sick leave program after we made it clear that this is a vital tool for people to have at any time, but especially during a pandemic. We were also glad to see legislation charging a lower non-profit power power rate to farmers’ markets.
COVID-19
Seniors 70+ are now eligible to receive another booster dose. You can book these online or by calling 1-833-797-7772 (Monday to Friday, 7am to 7pm and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm).
Nova Scotia also has new guidance on booster doses for children aged 12-17, based on updated recommendations from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization. All children in that age group are now encouraged to get a booster dose. They must wait 168 days after their second vaccine dose to receive the booster, though children who are moderately or severely immunocompromised are able to receive their booster dose after 120 days. Only the Pfizer vaccine is available for this age group. Bookings are now open.
The DaRT Program
NSHA announced that the Mental Health Day Treatment team has relocated from the Abbie J. Lane Building site of the QEII Health Sciences Centre to the Marshall Treatment Centre on the Nova Scotia Hospital site to make space for the new mental health acute day hospital. People can currently access care and support at the DaRT program through community mental health teams, and/or through a referral from a psychiatrist.
You can access this service through the Community Mental Health Team by calling 1-855-922-1122.
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Rapid Tests and Hand Sanitizer
Don’t forget we have lots of COVID-19 rapid tests and hand sanitizer available at my office.
Drop by to get yours! Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm at 33 Ochterloney St, Suite 360.
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Community Organization Spotlight
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Healthy Minds Cooperative
Healthy Minds Coop is a peer-led and member-driven cooperative charity, committed to improving the lives of people with mental health challenges (including addiction) through peer-based supports.
WELLNESS PROGRAMS: Workshops, Lunch ‘n Learn events, and groups which are always free and open to join.
NAVIGATION: We all need to find our direction in life, especially when it comes to trying to find the right community supports for us or those we care about.
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT: If you have lived experience as a person with a mental health challenge(s) and are living in recovery, apply to be a human making change today!
Learn more about Healthy Minds.
Now recruiting for Patient Rights Advisors! Find out more.
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Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal
The focus of this program is to honour those who have devoted themselves to the service of others, especially throughout the pandemic, be it as a result of their job, volunteer work or contributions to their community. To be eligible for this honour, a person must:
- Be a resident of Nova Scotia or have a strong direct connection with the Province;
- Have made a significant contribution to Canada, Nova Scotia or to a particular region or community; and
- Have been alive on 6 February 2022, the 70th anniversary of Her Majesty’s accession to the Throne.
Members of the public will be able to nominate people via their MLA. More information.
Apply for Agencies, Boards, and Commissions
ABCs are created by government to provide advice and services in different areas, including health, policing, agriculture, education, culture, environment, transportation, professional regulation and more. View the full listing for opportunities here.
ABCs include advisory committees and councils, corporate boards and adjudicative (quasi-judicial) bodies. The deadline for applications to adjudicative ABCs is Tuesday, May 31, 2022. Applications for non-adjudicative ABCs will be accepted at any time but it is expected that departments will begin screening them soon after May 31st.
Provincial Volunteer Awards
Nominations are now open for the 48th Annual Provincial Volunteer Specialty Awards. The deadline to submit a nomination for the Youth, Family and Nova Scotia Strong Awards is 11:59pm May 23rd, 2022.
- Youth Volunteer Award: for volunteers aged 13 to 24 who have made a significant contribution to a range of causes for at least 2 years.
- Family Volunteer Award: for 2 or more people (not a couple) living in the same community who have demonstrated volunteer leadership and consistent caring for their community for at least 5 years.
- Nova Scotia Strong Award: recognizes an individual or group who come together to demonstrate resiliency in community during a time or event when people faced tragedy and struggle.
Full details and applications here.
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City Nature Challenge Bioblitz at Eisner Cove Wetland
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Join the Protect Eisner Cove Society as we partner up with the 2022 City Nature Challenge to compete with 360 other cities in an attempt to help Halifax identify the most species from April 29th-May 2nd using iNaturalist. Contribute to the largest international citizen science initiative!
You can find us set up at the end of Neptune Crescent right in front of a foot path to the Wetland. We'll be located at the entrance from 1-3pm Sunday to give demos of how to use the free iNaturalist app, provide quick fact sheets for species of interest to identify, and help you plan a route through the woods. There is parking on the street and places to lock up bikes nearby. Coordinates: 44°39'41.1"N 63°32'29.1"W
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Mother’s Day Charity Tea
Join us this May 7th for an old fashioned tea just in time for Mother's Day! Treat your mothers (or other beloved caregivers) to a lovely tea in our old charming Victorian manor, all while supporting a local charity helping women and children.
May 7th, 2022 at the Dartmouth Heritage Museum's Evergreen House
Tickets will go on sale now. More details here.
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CLEAN Foundation Climate Grants
Is there a climate focused project you and your students have wanted to tackle but haven't had the funds available to do so? Now is your chance to get the support you need to get your project off the ground! Clean is offering up to $500 for youth-led climate action projects. Simply fill out the 2-page application for the chance to be granted up to $500 to make your climate action projects come to life!
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The HRM Spring Job Fair is the largest in-person and virtual job fair in HRM. Over 1,000 job seekers will network in-person and virtually with over 100 actively hiring employers at this one-day event on May 5th.
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With the help and support of the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada, the Kiwanis Club Of Dartmouth awards two $1000 scholarships annually. Student should be graduating from High School and be planning to go to any post secondary institution; e.g. university, college, trade school, etc. Application required to be submitted by end of April and the student will be advised by the end of May. More info here.
Contact Scholarship Chairman, Tim Rissesco (902) 430-8236 or trissesco@gmail.com
Volunteer Opportunity
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ISANS is opening up to more in-person sessions with masking and social distancing.
- Welcome Ambassador training will be delivered via Zoom, every Wednesday in May, from 1-4pm. It is one four hour session per week on May 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th.
- The Building Intercultural Competence workshop is delivered twice monthly. Upcoming sessions are an online session on Thursday, April 21st or an in-person session on Wednesday, April 27th, from 9am -4pm.
- ISANS is looking for volunteers for conversation circles, mentoring and tutoring, and is also able to provide volunteers to work within the community.
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Jane’s Walk is a movement of free, volunteeer-led walking conversations inspired by Jane Jacobs. It encourages people to share stories about their neighbourhoods, discover unseen aspects of their communities, and use walking as a way to connect with their neighbours.
- “Learn to Bird” Saturday, May 7th, 9 am - 10:00 am
- “Banook History: Dartmouth’s First Lake” Saturday, May 7th, 10 am - 12:00 pm
- “Downtown Dartmouth Geology” Saturday, May 7th - 1pm - 2:30pm
- “Oathill Lake - Hike with Mike” Saturday, May 7th - 1pm - 1:30pm
- “A magical history tour: Public education in the town of Dartmouth, 1830-1960” Saturday, May 7th - 3pm - 4:30pm
- “The Art of DARTmouth” Sunday, May 8th - 3:00-4:30pm
Full schedule: www.janeswalkhalifax.com/schedule
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This is the constituency newsletter for Dartmouth South.
If you're looking for information about the leadership race, go here.
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