The Legislature sat from February 14 to March 27. As the newly elected MLA for Halifax Armdale, this was my first experience participating in a full sitting of the House. It was a whirlwind—marked by moments that were surprising, discouraging, encouraging, and ultimately, hopeful.
Surprising
The session began with the Speech from the Throne, but quickly shifted to unexpected legislation that was never mentioned during the recent election. The government introduced bills to lift long-standing bans on uranium mining and hydraulic fracking, limit the powers of the Auditor General, curtail Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) rights, and give themselves sweeping authority to dismiss senior non-union public servants without cause.
These proposals took many of us by surprise. Not only were they absent from Premier Houston’s election platform, but they also struck at the core of government transparency, environmental stewardship, and public accountability.
Discouraging
Our office, like many across both government and opposition benches, was flooded with calls and emails from constituents alarmed by these bills. Nova Scotians asked for genuine consultation—especially with First Nations—and demanded that their voices be heard.
It was deeply discouraging to watch the government dismiss this feedback, branding concerned citizens as “naysayers” or “special interest groups.” As elected officials, our role is to listen and respond—not to shut down engagement.
Encouraging
Even so, your advocacy made a difference.
Because Nova Scotians spoke up, several of these bills were amended. Public pressure worked—and that is encouraging. It’s a powerful reminder that democracy depends on engaged citizens. When people come together to challenge decisions that don’t reflect their values or priorities, real change is possible.
Hopeful
Throughout the session, we in the NDP Caucus pressed the government on the issues that matter most: healthcare, housing, and affordability. As Health Critic, I raised concerns about ongoing ER closures and the need for greater transparency—especially as the province heads into the busy summer season when hospitals see increased demand.
Many constituents are still without family doctors. The government’s decision to stop public reporting of physician waitlists by riding, along with its move to halt annual emergency room closure reports, makes it harder to track the scope of the problem and harder still to fix it.
One of the reasons I ran to represent Halifax Armdale was to help quantify our local need for physicians, support recruitment efforts, and push for long-term solutions. That work continues—but it’s being made more difficult when vital data is hidden.
Still, I remain hopeful. Through continued advocacy, collaboration, and engagement, we can move the needle on the issues that matter most. In the coming weeks, I’ll be reaching out to constituents, healthcare professionals, and community leaders to explore new ways we can work together to improve healthcare access and strengthen public services.
Thank you to everyone who reached out during the session. I’m always eager to hear your thoughts, and I look forward to sharing more updates soon.
