On the fourth and final day of premier Tim Houston’s health care tour of Nova Scotia, he announced an expansion of the province’s virtual care program, and renewed his pledge to knock off each item from the hefty Progressive Conservative health care platform promise list. “Today we’re moving forward with one of our campaign initiatives, […]
Tim Houston
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ACORN rally calls on government to extend rent control
On Thursday morning, traffic on Hollis Street was moving even slower than normal. Cars and semi-trucks were honking, some repeatedly, as they approached the provincial legislature—but it wasn’t because of a mid-morning traffic jam. Beginning at 10am, dozens of people gathered outside the provincial legislature to call on the government to extend rent control, which […]
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Natural resources minister looking into Owls Head Park sale
New minister of renewable and natural resources Tory Rushton says he “needs to understand” how the sale of Owls Head Provincial Park happened before taking next steps. “You’ve heard us speak at different times about Owls Head. We need to understand what was signed in the contract by the previous government,” said Rushton, the MLA […]
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New ministers talk health care priorities
Premier Tim Houston and his novice cabinet met for the first time Thursday. The three ministers in charge of the newly divided health portfolios spoke about plans for race-based health data, universal mental health care, and the difficulty of trying to hire 2,000 new nurses and continuing care assistants for long-term care. Barbara Adams, minister […]
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Rent control extension is not off the table, says new housing minister
Extending Nova Scotia’s temporary rent control program, which is currently tied to the COVID state of emergency, is not off the table for new housing minister and landlord John Lohr. The Kings North MLA and newly-sworn-in minister says the PC government has not ruled out the possibility of an extension to rent control, which is […]
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Houston’s quick health care shake-up
On the day after his swearing in, premier Tim Houston immediately disrupted Nova Scotia’s health care system by firing the health authority CEO and getting rid of the provincial health board. “I’ve said all along that transformational change was needed to improve health care and it starts today,” Houston said in a statement Wednesday. He […]
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Nova Scotia’s new cabinet has 2 health ministers, but is missing one for mental health
Progressive Conservative premier Tim Houston was sworn in Tuesday, alongside his team of 18 cabinet ministers. The new cabinet includes seven women, new roles and Nova Scotia’s third white MLA overseeing African Nova Scotian affairs. Together the 19 politicians make up Nova Scotia’s executive council; Houston is president of the council, as well as minister […]
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Meet peninsula Halifax’s new MLAs Ali Duale, Suzy Hansen and Lisa Lachance
Meet the three first-time MLAs who get to have the word “Halifax” in their job title. Ali Duale is the incoming member of the legislative assembly for Halifax Armdale, Suzy Hansen represents Halifax Needham and Lisa Lachance is the MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island. They officially start their new jobs with a swearing-in ceremony Monday […]
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Tim Houston (again) rejects rent control
Premier-designate Tim Houston agrees the lack of housing in Nova Scotia is a “crisis.” But in his first appearance with chief medical officer of health Robert Strang, the Progressive Conservative leader repeated his campaign message that rent control is not the fix. “I don’t believe that rent control is a solution to the housing crisis, […]
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A back-to-work to-do list for the new Nova Scotia legislature
Nova Scotia is the “home of responsible government in Canada,” the place that launched parliamentary democracy in Canada on October 2, 1758. This auspicious beginning lead to a minute 250 years later, back in the early aughts, when all these folks were singing our praises, and many Nova Scotians were walking around wearing D250 swag and […]
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What new premier Tim Houston promises to do in Nova Scotia
Houston, we have a majority. Premier Tim Houston (does that still sound weird? He’s technically premier-designate now) was elected on Tuesday evening, and by Wednesday morning his Progressive Conservative Party had a clear majority government with 31 of the 55 seats in Nova Scotia’s legislature. Houston wasted no time selecting a transition staff team to […]
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Letters to the editor, October 25, 2018
Tory mudslingers The late-stage mudslinging in the Nova Scotia PC Party leadership race makes one thing clear: While Julie Chaisson respectfully focuses on her campaign, three of her fellow candidates believe Tim Houston is way out in front. Cecil Clarke, John Lohr and Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin left the final debate in Truro seemingly in agreement that […]