Community Canvassing, Conversations, and Coffee Corner
Community Canvassing
In January, I continued to knock on doors to hear constituents’ ideas and concerns. I have been focusing on apartment buildings during the winter weather. Thank you to everyone who takes time out of your busy day or evening to chat with me when I knock on your door—I truly appreciate it. Canvassing will be on hold while the legislature is sitting. I look forward to meeting and speaking with you again starting in late March.
If you would like me to visit your building or to set up a meeting with you and fellow residents, please contact Robert at 902-943-0221. I can also meet with people in the evenings and on weekends, time permitting.
Community Conversations: Health Care Wait Times
My office held a virtual town hall on the topic of health care wait times on February 17, 2026. Thank you to everyone who took the time to join us and share your thoughts. From our conversation, I heard three common themes:
- Attachment to a primary care provider does not always lead to timely access. People are experiencing long wait times to get an appointment with their primary care provider (sometimes a month or longer) and must look elsewhere for care when needed. This is extremely challenging for seniors and people who have difficulty travelling or finding other options, such as walk-in clinics.
- There are long wait times to see specialists following a referral. Waiting to see a gynecologist was mentioned by several people. This validates the Nova Scotia data I reviewed: wait times to see a gynecologist in 2025 averaged 142 weeks, with even longer waits in some areas of the province. Data also shows that Nova Scotia’s wait times for gynecology and plastic surgery are the longest in the four Atlantic provinces and more than double the national median wait time for these services.
- Access to care, both primary and specialist, is fragmented and requires significant time and effort for people to navigate. People are often required to chase down referrals to find out when and where they might expect to be seen. Many do not have the time to do this and therefore wait in limbo.
Recommendations from the town hall include:
- Create more central referral systems and use technology so that people can access the system to see where they are on wait lists. Knowing you are on a list is better than not knowing.
- Create actively managed cancellation lists. People would like to be on a wait list and would be happy to attend a specialist appointment on short notice.
I will be bringing this information, along with other data from my research on wait times, to the legislature when it next sits.
Weekly Coffee Corners
I held my regular Coffee Corner at Tim Hortons on 390 Osborne Street on Friday, February 20, 2026. I truly enjoy these meetings as I get to hear first-hand what’s on people’s minds and what real issues are important to them. Traffic is a concern we are hearing frequently. In response, I plan to host a larger community discussion on traffic safety later this year, watch for details. With the legislature sitting as of February 23, I won’t be able to hold the Coffee Corner until after the spring sitting finishes. I will post when we return, which I expect to be in late March. As always, if you would like me to meet with you, your friends, family, neighbours, or community group to hear your thoughts and concerns, please call the office at 902-943-0221. I’ll try to make it and bring coffee!
Legislature and Return to Work of NS Government Employees
Legislature
The spring sitting of the Legislature begins on February 24, 2026, and the 2026-2027 provincial budget is scheduled to be delivered that day. With a $1.4 billion provincial deficit, I expect there will be cuts to funding and/or reductions in services. The provincial government has already made some pre-budget announcements on program cuts. What will follow remains to be seen. I will provide my response to the budget via Facebook and in a post-budget newsletter next week. You have told me that housing, health care, and the cost of living are the top three issues most important to you at this time.
Once the budget is presented, the process of “Estimates” occurs. In this process, the Minister of Health must sit with members of the opposition and respond to questions regarding the proposed budget and the services to be delivered. This gives me, as Health Critic for the Official Opposition, the opportunity to bring forward questions and concerns about what services are being provided—or not provided—in the coming year. I will have up to twenty hours to raise questions with the Minister.
In preparation for Estimates, I have been meeting with various stakeholders since January 1, including health care unions, community groups, and individuals. This allows me to learn about the status of health care services in Nova Scotia. I also have research staff looking at Nova Scotia health data and comparing our outcomes to other jurisdictions. Together, this information allows me to compare the real-world delivery of health care to what the government describes as its priorities and deliverables. The process also allows me to push for accountability, transparency, and to advocate publicly for better health care for all Nova Scotians. The COVID pandemic taught the government that priorities and service delivery can pivot to meet people’s real-time needs, if it wants to. Better is always possible.
With the budget and government priorities being announced this week, this will be an important time for Nova Scotians. How will you and your family be impacted? Please let me know your thoughts in the coming weeks by contacting my office at info@rodwilsonmla.ca or 902-943-0221.
Return to Work of NS Government Employees
Last week, the Houston government announced that all Nova Scotia government employees must return to the office full time, with no reasons provided for this decision. After successfully working from home and without a valid reason, this appears punitive and suggests a lack of trust in employees by forcing everyone back to the worksite full time. COVID taught many sectors that employee productivity can increase when working from home, in addition to savings on travel time. This decision significantly impacts residents of Halifax Armdale, who face some of the worst traffic in the city when commuting to downtown Halifax worksites. Many of you have emailed me your concerns. I will be presenting them to the Minister of the Public Service Commission, the Hon. Twila Grosse, in the legislature. My position will be to trust and support civil servants to do their best work and to stop the Victorian policing model of management.
Community Support
This month, I am happy to profile and support West End Community Food Bank.
I was also honoured tp support the JL Ilsley Community pantry. Find out more about these groups below!
Organization of the Month
The West End Community Food Bank has been a staple in the neighbourhood for 30 years. A significant turning point came in 2019 when, in order to align with Feed Nova Scotia Standards, the organization underwent a comprehensive transformation. This included welcoming new management, establishing a dedicated Board of Directors to oversee operations, and adopting a new name to more accurately reflect the diverse community of clients it serves.
Since that pivotal year, the Board of Directors has achieved remarkable progress in professionalizing the organization. Key accomplishments include formalizing their status as a registered society and a not-for-profit with the CRA, which allows them to issue tax receipts. They have also built a robust operational framework by developing a Policies & Procedures manual, securing insurance, and significantly improving financial reporting standards. Furthermore, the team has focused on tangible improvements by securing grants to upgrade essential infrastructure—such as fridges and shelving—enhancing food procurement relationships, and implementing online client registration for greater efficiency.
Amidst all these structural advancements, the most important mission remains constant: opening the doors every single week to serve those in need. The Board has also prioritized inclusivity by undertaking diversity training and, in a landmark achievement, received Food Banks Canada Standards Accreditation in September 2025. Through increased workload and the growing challenge of language barriers, the team’s unwavering dedication ensures that their clients face less food insecurity, proving that heart-led service is the foundation of all their success.
Rod in the Community
I am often contacted by constituents bringing municipal issues forward, that’s why I meet with both my HRM counterparts regularly. Different levels of government work best when they work together. I brought forward your concerns about traffic and what provincially we can do to encourage the government to fix this problem. Thank you councillors and thank you Patty Cuttell for the tour of city hall.
JL Ilsley hosts a community pantry for students and their families. I was honoured to drop off dry goods raised by residents in Halifax Armdale. Our office is also supporting the pantry on a monthly basis by providing funds. High school is hard enough without being hungry.
I was thrilled to meet an important group right here in Halifax Armdale that provides excellent support for those experiencing mental health issues. The Canadian Mental Health Association Halifax Dartmouth is a local champion for mental health, they support the resilience & well-being of people living with mental illness through social programs, information & advocacy. They strive to create an environment of hope, reduce stigma & promote mental health for all.
I was grateful to participate in World Literacy Day at Chebucto Heights Elementary. We spoke about how reading helps us understand the world and feeds our curiosity. Thank you Staff and students!
Until we have a chance to meet, please be well.
Gratefully,
Rod Wilson
MLA, Halifax Armdale
