Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout continues to expand this week. There are now vaccinations taking place across the province, and facilities are rapidly being brought online to store, distribute, and administer immunizations. Within the next thirty days, there will also be nine cold storage sites – and seven health care worker vaccination clinics established.
This is the largest public health project in our province’s history, and our government is ensuring that health care workers and those who are at highest risk get immunized as soon as possible. Over the coming weeks and months, we will continue to work with medical experts in ensuring a safe and successful rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2LDtohB
Today is a historic day for Nova Scotia – and for Canada. Nova Scotia has officially become the first jurisdiction in North America to adopt transformative deemed consent legislation for organ and tissue donation.
This change will affect thousands of Nova Scotians and their families for years to come. The new legislation was passed unanimously – an important achievement for our government and Premier Stephen McNeil. Learn more: https://bit.ly/2Xn6kWn
New Self-isolation Requirements
With cases of COVID-19 rising, our government has implemented new self-isolation requirements for people hosting travellers from outside the Atlantic bubble. Effective today, if a person travelling for non-essential reasons enters Nova Scotia from outside Atlantic Canada, everyone in the home where they are self-isolating will have to self-isolate as well. Nobody in that home can leave the property for 14 days and they cannot have visitors.
There will be no change for rotational workers, specialized workers or those who have been granted exemptions under the health order, such as military, police, first responders, truckers, flight crews and others. Nova Scotians are also advised to avoid non-essential travel into and out of Atlantic Canada. The public is reminded again to continue following public health protocols – including washing your hands, wearing a mask, practicing social distancing and limiting social contacts.
Nova Scotia Health is offering a variety of online wellness programs this fall for adults of all ages on healthy eating, physical activity, mental wellness, parenting, and reducing one’s health risks.
The wellness sessions are offered in a friendly group setting using Zoom for Healthcare, and are facilitated by health care professionals, including dietitians, physiotherapists, social workers, and occupational therapists. Most sessions are an hour in length, and generally consist of a presentation, followed by a moderated group discussion. All of the online wellness sessions are free for anyone who lives within the province; a valid Nova Scotia health card is required to register.
The fall wellness schedule is now available online. Nova Scotians can register for sessions through www.HealthyNovaScotia.ca or call 1-844-460-4555 for more information. As well, this website contains a wealth of information about staying well (e.g. tips on mental wellness, physician activity, healthy eating, and parenting), as well as living a healthy life with chronic conditions (such as diabetes, heart and lung conditions, or chronic pain).
Government of Nova Scotia 150 Forward Fund
Canadians across the country will mark the 150th Anniversary of Confederation during 2017. As a way to celebrate this special year, the Government of Nova Scotia has created the 150 Forward Fund. The purpose of the Fund is to give Nova Scotians in communities across the province an opportunity to create, promote and participate in local and regional events.
For projects to be considered for funding, the applicants must show how their proposal can highlight their communities and their organization. They should focus on such things as honoring a significant achievement or person(s) over the last 150 years; pay tribute to our diverse cultures, highlight our history, our heritage, our music or our youth. The activities must be held in Nova Scotia and completed by December 31, 2017.
Nova Scotia’s Food Development Agency
Nova Scotia has its own agency focused on developing the province’s food industry, Perennia Food and Agriculture Inc. Perennia is a not-for-profit agency owned by the province that helps farmers, fishers and food processors develop new crops, enhance their livestock operations, reach new markets with food safety certifications and develop new products. There are many things that make Perennia unique, but a key one is that it has specialists that provide comprehensive solutions from the farm or boat to the marketplace. Its team of close to 40 staff work on special industry development projects.
New Years Levee
It was my great pleasure to help ring in the new year than in the Village of Tatamagouche. I was happy to join community members and others at the New Year’s Levee on January 1, 2017. Something unique and special about this year’s Levee was that the Tatamagouche Fire Brigade and the Royal Canadian Legion Branch # 64 joined forces in the spirit of cooperation and hosted the Levee together. Lots of good food, drinks, friendship and positive attitude filled the room at the Legion. What a great way to wrap up 2016 and welcome 2017.
Teachers & Negotiations
As conversation in the public continues around the potential of a teachers strike it is important to speak to all Nova Scotians, especially students, parents and teachers and all who will be impacted by such a strike. As a retired teacher I continue to be committed to students in the classroom. It is what motivated me to join the profession and become a classroom teacher. It is what continues to influence the decisions I make as Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Christmas & Our Fire Brigades
What better way to kick off the festive season than to join with firefighters, their families and friends at their annual Christmas party. In the last ten years as your MLA, I have enjoyed the Christmas party at the Onslow Belmont Fire Brigade. This year was no different. There are great cooks in the community and the meal is always delicious. There is lots of fun and laughter and a few jokes as Santa distributes gifts to all those attending. Musical entertainment provided by local musicians is also a highlight. But it is the friendship and support between and among all of us there that is truly in keeping with the Christmas spirit.
2016 Home Warming Program
It is that time of year when many of us are thinking ahead to the winter season and that means among other things, prepare our homes for the cold weather that we can expect. One of the steps homeowners take at this time is to look at ways to reduce heat loss in our homes. In a typical house, 80% of that heat loss is caused by drafts around doors and windows and as a result of poor insulation. Upgrades like improving insulation, installing new windows and doors and general draft proofing can help keep our homes warmer in the winter.
We offer no-charge energy assessments and home upgrades to income-qualified homeowners. Know someone we can help? No Child Should Ever Go Hungry
Through Nourish NS, your Nova Scotia Liberal government is expanding the school breakfast program to provide a healthy breakfast to every single student in the province, five days a week.
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