School is coming back, and so is the Nova Scotia Legislature! I’ve had such a great summer in Dartmouth South. There has been so much happening in our community, and I’ve been lucky to connect with many of you at events, around the neighbourhood, and on your doorsteps.
If you’re like me, this time of year is a little bittersweet. I love the excitement of a new school year and the fresh start that September brings, but it’s always hard to say goodbye to summer. I hope you’ve had a chance to slow down, spend time with friends and family, and make some sweet memories along the way.
The fall sitting of the Legislature begins on September 8, and I’m looking forward to bringing all of the conversations I’ve had with residents over the summer from Dartmouth South and beyond back into the Legislature. I’ll continue pushing for accountability from Nova Scotia Provincial Housing and Nova Scotia Power, while advocating for real progress on affordability, housing, and health care. Our wonderful hospital still continues to be very crowded and the wait times in the ER are too long. Nova Scotians are also waiting too long for referrals and basic diagnostics, right now the wait for a simple mammogram can be almost 2 years. We need concerted attention to these issues.
The high cost of housing remains at the centre of so many of the challenges facing Nova Scotians. We have a number of proposals we will continue to advocate for that would make a real difference in this regard. We need to ensure that people can afford to stay in the homes they have by closing the fixed term lease loophole that allows rents to skyrocket and for people to be constantly displaced. We need a dedicated residential tenancy enforcement unit that supports both tenants and landlords to ensure our system works. We also need more community and non profit housing so that everyone can afford a home. In Dartmouth we also still have a number of people who are sleeping rough or in shelters and this points to the need for stronger supports for people living with mental illness and addictions and more transitional housing options to help people get back on their feet.
But before we get back to the Legislature, there’s still lots happening in our community! The Back to the Sea Centre’s Cruise Fundraiser is coming up on August 30, the Halifax Colour Festival returns on September 5, and the first-ever Atlantic Fam Fest music festival is happening September 12 and 13. I’m so excited about Fam Fest and can’t wait to attend! The Dartmouth Seniors Service Centre also has lots of great community events coming up, so be sure to check out the listings below for more information.
As always, if you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact my office at 902-406-2301 or claudiachender@nsmla.ca.
Have a wonderful end to the summer, and I’ll see you around Dartmouth South!
Claudia
