October is one of my favourite months in Dartmouth South. The changing leaves, crisp air, and sense of community make it a beautiful time of year. I’m looking forward to spending a little extra time with my family over the long weekend and reflecting on all the things I’m grateful for. One of those things is the immense privilege of being your voice in the Legislature. I take great pride in advocating for Nova Scotians and ensuring that important issues are heard and debated fairly, with the goal of making life better for everyone in our province.
This year’s fall legislative session was the shortest since 1986 - just eight days long. That’s not nearly enough time to address the serious challenges facing Nova Scotians. There were no serious proposals brought forward around housing or affordability, two of the issues I hear about the most from you. Further, this government brought in huge pieces of omnibus legislation—where they bundle a number of unrelated proposals together—putting the public and MLA in impossible positions.
Our team continue to push for action on the affordability crisis. Families are paying more every month because of this government’s refusal to address rising power bills and skyrocketing housing costs. My colleagues and I proposed practical, immediate steps to help: a rebate to reduce power bills and legislation to address both housing supply and protections for renters. Unfortunately, the government chose to end the session early rather than take meaningful action. Reversing years of inaction will take time, commitment, and political will, not a quick eight-day session and an early exit. Nova Scotians deserve a government that shows up and gets to work.
Responsible government doesn’t look like an 8 day sitting that doesn’t address the biggest challenges facing us. As your MLA, one of the most important parts of my job is speaking up on your behalf and pushing for real solutions to the issues that matter most and I will continue to do so. I want to hear from you, your experiences and perspectives help shape the work I do. If there’s something on your mind, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Democracy is about more than passing legislation; it's about open debate, listening to people, and working together to find solutions. I remain committed to that vision, and I’m grateful every day for the opportunity to serve this community. If you’d like to discuss any provincial issues, share an idea, or raise a concern, please get in touch. I’m always here to listen, and I’d love to hear from you.
On October 7 HRM Council passed bylaws essentially preventing the proposed dumping activities in Dartmouth Cove. This represents a huge victory for advocates and the community, but the work is not done. Now that bylaw goes to the Province who do have the power to overturn it. So that’s where our advocacy must turn as well. The construction underway across HRM means that there is a need for a strategy for disposing of slate that’s unearthed in the process, and which needs to be sequestered in salt water. Buying up public access pre-confederation water lots and turning them into dumps is not a strategy. I urge HRM and the Province to come together to make a plan that accommodates the needs of the construction companies and of the community. If you want the Province to respect HRM’s bylaws please email Minister of Municipal Affairs John Lohr and let him know.
October brings a full calendar of events here in Dartmouth South, and there’s no better time to get out and enjoy everything our community has to offer. The Dartmouth Heritage Museum has some wonderful events coming up, and the Downtown Dartmouth Food Crawl is just around the corner, one of my favourite ways to support our incredible local restaurants. Nocturne will soon light up our streets, transforming familiar spaces with art in unexpected ways and offering a unique opportunity to connect as a community through accessible, public art. The Nowadays Festival is also on this month, celebrating local music, culture, and creativity with performances and experiences that reflect the best of who we are. And for those looking to enjoy the natural beauty of the season, a walk through Dartmouth Cove is hard to beat. The trail between the ferry terminals offers stunning views of the harbour framed by fall colours, and if you're lucky, you might even spot one of the cove’s resident seals!
As always, if you need assistance, please reach out to my office at 902-406-2301 or claudiachendermla@gmail.com.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Claudia
