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The Record Episode 16

Video Upload Date: September 3, 2024

In episode 16 of *The Record*, Civic Journalist Jake Boudrot interviews Zach Churchill, the Leader of the Official Opposition. Churchill first addressed the government's appropriation of $1.3 billion outside the legislative process, noting that a projected deficit has now turned into a surplus.

Churchill was then asked about the Nova Scotia Loyal ad campaign, which the current government spent $543,000 on since 2021. The Liberals argue that the program, initiated during the 2021 election campaign at a cost of half a million dollars, has amounted to little more than an expensive advertisement.

Shifting focus, Churchill highlighted the Nourishing Communities Food Coupon program, which helps low-income Nova Scotians access locally grown food. He called for increased funding to expand the program, citing rising food insecurity in the province.

Churchill was critical of the government’s performance since taking office in August 2021, pointing out that nearly 100,000 Nova Scotians remain without a family doctor, specialist wait times have doubled, ambulance offload times have tripled in some regions, and emergency rooms are either closed or overwhelmed.

He also cited an exit survey, obtained by the Nova Scotia Liberal Caucus through a Freedom of Information request, which found that 60 per cent of doctors who left the province between May 2021 and December 2023 did so for other employment opportunities. Nearly half of the respondents were dissatisfied with their work environment, and over a third said their departure could have been prevented by the organization.

Churchill argued that doctors immigrating to Nova Scotia have been "set up to fail" and emphasized that affordability is a growing issue, pointing to skyrocketing rent, inflation, and power rates. He dismissed claims that the federal Liberals were primarily to blame for affordability issues, and advocated for a two per cent reduction in the HST to provide relief.

The Liberals also accused the government of “flip-flopping” on the Coastal Protection Act. Although the Progressive Conservatives supported the legislation in 2019, they have yet to implement it since taking office. Churchill warned this could leave taxpayers on the hook for homes destroyed by coastal erosion, as serious weather events become more frequent.

Next, *The Record* interviewed Joanna Clark, the NDP candidate for the provincial riding of Inverness, which includes Port Hawkesbury and all of Inverness County. Clark, who ran for the NDP in 2021, said she shares her party's priorities on housing and healthcare. With the fixed election date of July 15, 2025, Clark has recently kicked off her campaign, holding meetings with constituents across the riding.

Kendra Coombs, NDP MLA for Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier, then discussed various issues, starting with the government’s additional appropriations of $1.3 billion. Despite a surplus of $143.6 million, Coombs criticized the Houston government for not committing to increasing public housing, noting this is the third consecutive year the province has ended the fiscal year with a surplus.

Coombs also took aim at the Nova Scotia Loyal program, a $6-million initiative that rewards shoppers buying local products at Sobeys and the NSLC with Scene+ and Air Miles points. She pointed out that a $950,000 sole-source contract was awarded to Sobeys to participate in the program, raising concerns about political donations from the Sobey family to Tim Houston's leadership campaign and the Progressive Conservative Party.

Coombs further criticized the government’s handling of healthcare, noting the continued shortage of family doctors, limited emergency department hires, and declining inflows of physicians. She also called for the Auditor General to review the YourHealthNS procurement deal with Think Research, a $15-million contract for an app that allows patients to access their health records.

Despite these concerns, only one percent of users in a pilot survey completed by the NSNDP felt they didn’t need to visit their primary care clinic due to app access, and just 35 percent felt better prepared for their appointments. Coombs also noted that the provincial government has yet to act on a consultant’s report recommending the creation of a residential tenancies enforcement unit, leaving violations of the Residential Tenancies Act without meaningful repercussions.

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