Letters From The MLA

I want to take this opportunity to outline a few changes, rebates, and programs the government has introduced, including the Affordable Living Tax Credit, free influenza shots, and a program dealing with climate change. First, the tax news. As you know, the HST was restored to its former 15 per cent on July 1. “Nobody [...]

Since becoming an MLA in 2006, I have furnished the Percy Paris Award for Social Justice.  The recipient of the award, chosen by the faculty of Lockview High School, is a graduate who has demonstrated a commitment to issues of social justice – previous winners have been involved in issues relating to the environmental, anti-poverty, [...]

House Finances and Household Finances After the Auditor General’s report was issued in early February, MLAs were severely restricted in the amount we could spend on advertising and donations. I have had a ton of calls since then  from disappointed constituents who were hoping to receive a donation to their club, team or organization. Many [...]

Spring: Time to Recognise Our Volunteers I am always humbled by the attitude of volunteers. So often volunteers shy away from thanks and recognition. So often they bristle at our praise. One volunteer gave me pause for thought when she confessed to me that she hates getting up in front of a crowd to accept [...]

Several constituents have contacted my office in the past months with questions about getting back their suspended driver’s licenses. These young men all lost their licenses for driving without insurance. After waiting out their court imposed suspension, they thought they’d be back behind the wheel. But then they each got a letter from Service Nova [...]

February is the Time to Start Organizing your Finances Every year I hear from constituents who have lost out on opportunities for grants and financial assistance because they didn’t file their taxes on time. Often the reason for late filing has nothing to do with time, but a lack of organization that makes the filing [...]

You own a mobile home. The landlord of the mobile park has just handed you a list of repairs and renovations – most of them very costly. Replace windows, add a peaked roof, tear down your shed, make your deck narrower… Do you really have to do all of this? And what will happen if [...]

Fall has been a very busy time. As the children trekked back to school, and their teachers returned from vacations, I was getting ready for our new NDP government’s first session in the House of Assembly. As of right now we are approximately one month in at Province House and I’m happy to report that [...]

I’d like to extend great and heartfelt thanks to the citizens of Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank and surrounding communities for re-electing me as your MLA.  Thank you for speaking to me with such candour and interest when I came to your neighbourhoods. And thank you for helping Nova Scotia elect its first [...]