First, the tax news. As you know, the HST was restored to its former 15 per cent on July 1. “Nobody likes taxes. Not you, not me, not anybody,” said Finance Minister Graham Steele. “But we all like great public health care, a quality education system, decent roads, a sustainable environment, and good jobs. And it’s taxes that pay for those things.” The government introduced this HST measure as part of its multi-year plan to get Nova Scotia’s finances back to balance. Another key part of that plan is government spending restraint, including freezing wages for MLAs, senior officials and political staff.

Starting in July, children’s clothing and shoes, diapers and feminine hygiene products are exempt from provincial HST. To further protect people with low or modest incomes from the effects of the HST, the government’s new Affordable Living Tax Credit came into effect on July 1. Households earning less than $30,000 will automatically receive quarterly payments adding up to about $240 a year, with $57 a year for each dependent child. Households earning up to $34,800 will also qualify for a portion of the tax credit. Seniors with low and modest incomes are also eligible. To further protect low-income seniors, the government did the right thing by ensuring that seniors who receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement will no longer have to pay any provincial income tax.

It is important to remember that people will still need to file their income taxes each year to qualify for federal and provincial tax rebates such as the GST credit, child tax credit, and Affordable Living Tax Credit.  If you are a Waverley – Fall River – Beaver Bank resident with a total household income under $25,000 last year, you can complete your return free of charge at my office with Quick Tax software. Just phone my assistant, Megan, at 860-4004 to make an appointment. We’ll walk you through it.

FLU SHOT WILL BE FREE THIS YEAR

No one wants to think of grim winter flu in the glorious days of summer. However, the Department of Health Promotion and Protection is planning ahead for the 2010/2011 flu season. H1N1 could be one of the main influenza strains next winter, so the government will be providing free seasonal flu vaccines for all Nova Scotians. In previous years, the province’s flu program covered certain at-risk groups. This year, the vaccination will be available to everyone. The province’s flu vaccination program typically begins in October.

GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS ANTI-CLIMATE-CHANGE PROJECTS

Nova Scotia is already experiencing climate change. According to our province’s Climate Change Directorate, the average temperature in Nova Scotia rose by 0.5 degrees Celsius over the past century, and the amount of rain and snow in Atlantic Canada rose by 10 per cent between 1948 and 1995. And here’s a sobering thought: by 2050, summers here will be two degrees to four degrees warmer than they were in 2005. There’s no doubt the effects of climate change are extremely serious: rising sea levels; more frequent extreme rainfalls; changes in temperatures that affect plants, animals, and our way of life.

Tackling climate change requires two approaches. First, we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Almost half of Nova Scotia’s emissions come from the electricity sector.  Shortly after last year’s election, our government brought in strict emissions caps, and made a commitment to get one-quarter of the province’s energy from renewable sources within the next five years.

Second, we need plans to adapt to climate change. A new Climate Change Adaptation Fund aims to encourage local, innovative ideas to deal with the effects of climate change. The fund, initially set at $25,000, is for projects that help Nova Scotia become better suited to deal with effects of climate change, or assess threats and opportunities related to climate change. The fund is open to organizations, businesses, schools, municipalities, community groups or individuals. The deadline for submitting projects is Aug. 3. You can find more information about the Climate Change Adaptation Fund online at climatechange.gov.ns.ca, or by calling 424-0782.

As always, I encourage you to phone or stop by my office for assistance with any matters that are important to you. Best wishes for a safe and fulfilling summer.

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This year the school’s graduation committee chose Emily Sheen of Beaver Bank. Emily’s commitment to social inequity was cited as outstanding by the teachers and staff at Lockview High. Emily plans to study International Development Studies at St. Thomas University in Fredericton in the fall. Congratulations to Emily and her parents.

Summer may mean vacation time for many working people, but for the unemployed, it is an ideal time to focus their job hunt on getting a foot in the door to cover holidays for others.  As always, my constituency office is able to help you a little with your job hunt. My assistant, Megan, is happy to make copies of your resume, you can send and receive local faxes, and use my computer for your on-line job search.  Please phone the office for more details on these services. We’re here to help.

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 of you also took the time to contact the Speaker’s Office to let him know how this change was affecting you personally.

By the time this letter goes to print, the new House of Assembly Management Commission will have met to establish new rules for MLA donations. This Commission replaces the old Board of Internal Economy. It is my hope that the belt will be loosened up a bit so that I can return to providing some small funding for local groups as I have done in the past. Their report is due on June 9th.

For those of you who have not yet filed your 2009 income taxes, I urge you to do so. Every year people miss out on their GST rebate, child subsidies and other cash benefits. Every year people are delayed in getting other government benefits and services because they do not have their latest Notice of Assessment. If your total household income was less than $25,000 last year, you can complete your return free of charge at my office. The Quick Tax software is available for any low-income constituent. Just phone my assistant, Megan, to make an appointment. We’ll walk you through it. 860-4004.

It is the responsibility of the driver of the vehicle – whether they own it or not – to ensure that the vehicle they’re driving is insured and that the insurance is paid and up-to-date. Borrowing a friend’s car and not knowing the insurance had elapsed is not an excuse. If the car isn’t insured, don’t drive it. It isn’t worth the risk.

When a police officer finds you driving a vehicle which does not have current insurance, a copy of the ticket is sent to the courts AND to Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations. The courts determine your guilt or innocence and, if warranted, can issue large fines and suspend your driver’s licence for a lengthy period (most often for one year). But that is not the end of the punishment. Service Nova Scotia & Municipal Relations, the department responsible for issuing driver’s licenses and vehicle permits, will also impose a punishment of their own.

In such cases it is common for Service Nova Scotia to place a suspension on your driver’s license AND the vehicle permit. These suspensions are separate and apart from any issued to you by the courts. More importantly, a Service Nova Scotia suspension is potentially limitless. There is no expiry date on their suspensions. That’s when I get the calls. “What do I have to do to get my driver’s license back?”

You must apply in writing to a Service Nova Scotia adjudicator and ask for your license to be reinstated. You must be able to satisfy the adjudicator that your court fines have been paid, so include a copy of the receipt. Your court suspension must be over, so include a copy of your court transcripts with the letter. Furthermore, you must have demonstrated a willingness to comply; in other words, when Service Nova Scotia asked you to return your driver’s license, plates and registration, you should have done so in a timely manner. Finally, there cannot be any new violations on your driving record.

Why two different punishments? Compare it to this: a school boy steals money from his teacher’s desk and gets caught. The principal suspends him for a week. Then his parents ground him for a month. One crime: two punishments.

Obviously the lesson in all of this is if you can’t afford car insurance, then you can’t afford to drive. The police take it seriously, as do the courts and the provincial government. Need more help with your driver’s license? Call my office. We’ll help you through it.

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 process incredibly difficult. If you have been putting off getting your finances in order, February is the month to start.

Start by choosing a spot to keep your T-4 slips; by the end of this month, all employers are required to mail your T-4 slips to you. This includes T slips from the government for EI, CPP and Social Assistance income.

Next, start the habit of keeping receipts for certain expenses and purchases:
• day care, baby-sitters, after-school programs
• children’s sports lessons
• gym memberships
• monthly bus passes
• home repair and renovations
• prescription drugs, medical equipment
• charitable donations

When should you file? People know that the deadline for filing your regular, individual taxes is April 30th. But there are a few details to point out about Revenue Canada’s deadlines.
If you know that you will be getting a refund, and that you will not have to pay Revenue Canada anything, then you can file your taxes as early or as late as you want. The April 30th deadline does not apply if you are getting a refund. But be mindful that filing late will delay your Child Tax Benefit and GST Rebate for months.

If you owe money to the tax man, then it is vital that you file on time – even if you can`t afford to pay what you owe. If your tax return is not received by April 30, a penalty is applied to your account. Usually this penalty is hundreds of dollars. But if you file on-time and then pay the taxes later, no extra penalty is applied.

If you have questions about filing your taxes, please feel free to contact my office. We can walk you through it.

Having Money Problems?

Are taxes the least of your problems? February is a time of financial difficulty for many. The Christmas bills are overdue, the oil tank is almost empty and the property tax assessment is higher than last year. If you`re in deep debt on top of that, you may need the help to get back on track.

Here`s how the Nova Scotia Debtor Assistance Program identifies the signs of a serious debt problem:

• You use credit cards to purchase necessities such as groceries
• You borrow money to make it from one payday to the next
• You make only the minimum Payment on credit card and do not reduce the total debt
• You lose sleep worrying about money
• You and your partner argue often about money
• Your wages have been garnisheed to pay outstanding debts
• Your utilities (power, water, oil, phone) have been cut off

If any of these situations seem familiar – especially if this has been going on for months – then you need help with your debt problem.
Call Nova Scotia Debtors Assistance to arrange an appointment 424-5200.

As a mobile home owner, you need to know what the various laws and policies are around a landlord’s demand for repairs.

First, let’s look at the city’s by-laws. HRM makes your landlord responsible for a long list of safety and utility regulations for the park. You are responsible for your mobile, and some standards have to be met.

For example:
• The outside of your mobile has to be kept clean
• All mobiles have to have skirting
• Porches can’t be closer than 15 feet from another mobile
• Sheds and dog houses can’t be taller than 15 feet and have to be kept clean

Now there are the provincial laws. The Nova Scotia Residential Tenancies Act is vague, but it does say that tenants have to make repairs to their mobiles if the repairs are “reasonable.” What’s reasonable? It comes down to safety and security versus appearance. The landlord can’t make you do repairs or renovations that just make your trailer pretty.

So you can say “no” to:
• Peaked roves
• Replacing metal siding with vinyl
• Staining or painting decks
• Replacing windows and doors

But the landlord is in the right to ask you to:
• Fix broken exterior lights
• Clean up garbage and debris
• Repair your fence
• Repair your shed or dog house
• Repair your deck
• Bring your deck down to size if it’s too wide

What if you can’t afford the repairs – even the ones that you have to do by law? Don’t panic. There may be help available. Depending on your income, you may qualify for a grant that can help off-set some of the costs. My office can help you find out how to apply.

What happens if you just don’t make the repairs? That’s up to the landlord. Your landlord can ask the Director of Residential Tenancies to decide what you have to fix and what you don’t. If that happens, you will be allowed to give your side of the story before the Director makes up his mind.

I do caution you: if you have lived in the mobile park for less than one year, the landlord can evict you without any reason. Making him mad by not doing what he asks may be all it takes to find yourself with nowhere to put your trailer.

Similarly, if you are trying to sell your mobile, making the landlord angry can cause more problems than it’s worth. While you have the right to sell your trailer to anyone you wish, the landlord doesn’t have to accept them as a new tenant. Sometimes landlords use a sale as an opportunity to pressure you into making repairs – holding up your sale if you don’t comply. This is illegal, but hard to prove, and a landlord doesn’t have to give a reason for rejecting a new tenant.

Still confused? Call my office and we can help you through it. 860-4004.

Already we’ve fulfilled commitments we made to voters in the spring including removing the HST from home electricity on October 1st. Today’s families pay enough for essentials and many are worried about making ends meet in these uncertain times. By reducing 8% from power bills we believe fewer households will have to chose between heating their homes or buying necessities.

Along with representing the people of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank at the Legislature, I’ve also had the privilege of attending many fine events in the community this fall.

Over the Labour Day weekend I walked in the Waverley Gold Rush Days Parade. I had a lot of fun channeling my inner Gold Rush Gus while sharing Waverley’s rich gold mining history with others. Many people forget that from 1866 through to the early 20th century Waverley had a bustling gold-mining industry and prospectors from around the world descended on the town to seek their fortunes. The gold, saloons and bandits may be long gone, but fortunately there are still plenty of great stories to tell.

In late September I enjoyed a breathtaking display of art and nature at the Shubenacadie Art Connection reception. Celebrating the sights and scenery along our historic canal, this community initiative showcased many fine local artists. In my role as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Heritage I take great pride in knowing many very talented people reside in our constituency.

At the end of summer I took part in the Woodbine Family Association BBQ and the Beaver Bank Kinsac Outdoor Fair and I want to commend the organizers of both for the good time that was had by all. Like everyone I was deeply saddened to see the Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre destroyed by fire. It’s a big loss but I have been extremely impressed with the response by our community and neighbouring communities. Efforts to rebuild the Centre began immediately, and in support of the cause, on October 2, I participated in a fundraising auction on FX 101.9 along with MP Peter Stoffer and Counsillor Barry Dalrymple.

I’m always interested in hearing what you have to say, so please never hesitate to call me at 860-4004. You can also always reach someone at my constituency office located at 273 Windsor Junction Road.

Happy Halloween!

THANKS TO ALL CANDIDATES

Thank you also to the Conservative, Green and Liberal candidates who put their names forward and worked hard on their campaigns. We all chose to run for public office because we know how important government services are to citizens in our local communities and across Nova Scotia. Government choices affect people; good governance can make a genuine difference to people’s lives.

On June 19, I had the honour of being appointed to Cabinet as minister for three portfolios: Tourism, Culture and Heritage; Economic and Rural Development; and African Nova Scotian Affairs.  I am also the minister responsible for Nova Scotia Business Incorporated. These are all important, interesting and challenging Cabinet positions and I look forward to working with citizens and groups from all sectors affected by the work of my departments. Please bear with me over the next couple of weeks as I attend to the aftermath of the election, my new positions, and organize my roles appropriately.

Some people have asked me about the status of my office in the constituency, now that I have accepted my ministerial roles. My constituency office in Windsor Junction will remain open every day, and I will continue to be available to constituents. My office will continue to be staffed by a full-time constituency assistant who does research and casework for anyone seeking help.

REVIEW OF GOVT. FINANCES GETS UNDERWAY

I’m writing this column just days after Darrell Dexter was sworn in as Premier of Nova Scotia. On June 25, the Legislature will convene in a special session to swear in all MLAs and appoint legislative committees, which do important work in many areas, including veterans’ affairs and community services. While these are early days, one thing is clear: our new government has a lot of work to do this summer and fall. We need to begin implementing our platform to create jobs, improve access to health care, and take the provincial portion of the HST off home electricity. We also need an audit of the province’s books before bringing down our budget. The independent review will begin July 6, with an interim report due Aug. 7. The first phase of the report will examine the government’s finances, while the second phase will study a number of issues previously raised by the Auditor General. In the meantime, government business can run on special warrant spending, just as it did after John Hamm was elected in July 1999. The new NDP government will introduce a provincial budget this fall.

Constituents raised a diverse range of concerns this election—mostly about issues I hear on a day-to-day basis in my role as MLA, and on which I’ve been working for the past three years. People’s concerns with municipal services such as water, waste collection and public transit underscore the need for the province to work closely with the municipality. Concerns about health-care delays and emergency services  as well as  assistance for seniors reinforce the importance of the NDP’s platform promises to reduce wait times, open the Cobequid Centre 24/7, and provide more  support for seniors to stay in their own homes and to receive better care in nursing homes. And, of course, I heard many concerns about provincial and municipal roads. I have relayed concerns about provincial roads to the Department of Transportation, and I will continue to advocate for better services to our communities.

CONGRATULATIONS TO GRADUATES

This is a time of exciting beginnings for many people. Lockview’s Class of 2009 holds its graduation ceremonies on June 26. This is a special ceremony for me, because my daughter Jacqui is among the graduates. Congratulations to all the graduates who are leaving Lockview and opening a new chapter in their lives.

Again, I’d like to say how honoured I feel to be your elected representative. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me.