It’s been such a joy to be out and about in the community lately. I’ve felt so much gratitude for the chance to connect with so many of you. The Downtown Dartmouth Community Clean-up had a fantastic turnout, I was happy to see so many people showing up to take care of the neighbourhood! I also had the pleasure of attending the Dartmouth General Hospital Foundation fundraiser with my friend and colleague, Susan Leblanc. The lobster was delicious, the sunny view over the water was stunning, and most importantly, we came together for a great cause. Last week, I spent some time in the Fairbanks area chatting with folks about affordable housing, climate change, and other top of mind issues that are the heart of the work I do, and I’m really looking forward to connecting with more of you throughout the summer.
There’s a lot to look forward to in Dartmouth South. Mark your calendars for Saturday, June 22, HEIST is hosting their first-ever family Takeover at Ferry Terminal Park! This one’s outdoors and open to everyone, kids, pets, chosen family, friends. Come for some classic games like egg-and-spoon races, hula hoop contests, and bean bag tosses, stay for the music and performances, and soak up some much-needed summer fun. That same day, Downtown Dartmouth will come alive with our annual Open Street Sunday Street Party. Portland Street, from Alderney Drive to Prince Albert Road, will be car-free and wide open for walking, rolling, shopping, dancing, and connecting. Coming up on Saturday, July 5, we have the always-popular Mother Goose Festival at Ferry Terminal Park. It’s a great one for families and little ones, hope to see you there!
Something I hear a lot about from residents is healthcare, including the new dental care program and Pharmacare. While dental care is rolling out across the province, Nova Scotia still hasn’t signed onto the new federal pharmacare agreement. That means people here are still paying out of pocket for basic medications like birth control and diabetes drugs, medications that are so often essential, not optional. For too many people, cost is a barrier to care, and that’s unacceptable. This is a historic opportunity to make healthcare more accessible and equitable, especially for women, people living with chronic illness, and those struggling to make ends meet. I’ve been clear: we need to sign on. We need to show up for people. And we need to stop leaving federal funding, and people’s health, on the table. I’ll keep pushing for Nova Scotia to do the right thing.
Thanks as always for reading. Thank you for the conversations, the stories, and the trust you place in me to bring your concerns to the Legislature. If you have something you want to share, an issue you’re passionate about, or a question you’d like answered, please reach out to my office at 902-406-2301 or claudiachendermla@gmail.com.
Have a wonderful weekend,
Claudia
