September 5, 2024

The Nova Scotia Liberals tabled a bill in 2023 that would bring job-protected leave to our province, ensuring Nova Scotians facing serious illness such as cancer will no longer need to worry about having a job to return to after treatment.

The provincial government announced today that they would act on the Liberal bill, expanding job protection from just three days to a total of 27 weeks in Nova Scotia.

“Today is an exciting day for Nova Scotians as job-protected leave finally becomes a reality in our province,ˮ said Opposition Leader Zach Churchill. “The last thing someone going through chemotherapy should have to worry about is whether or not they will have a job to return to. This will bring peace of mind to many families across the province while they are going through some of their darkest days.ˮ

A Liberal resolution committing the government to study job protected leave passed with all-party support in November 2023.

“This is an example of what can be achieved when we in government put aside our political differences to do what is best for Nova Scotians,ˮ said Liberal Labour Critic Lorelei Nicoll. “This move will impact many lives and ensure that people dealing with serious illness have one less thing to worry about in their recovery.ˮ

To kick-off the fall session of the Legislature, the Nova Scotia Liberals will table a number of bills to put money back in the pockets of Nova Scotians who are struggling with the rising cost of living.

In support of the Liberalsʼ commitment, Leader Zach Churchill tabled legislation today to eliminate public transit fares for Nova Scotians. The bill will also include funding for community transportation networks in rural communities and the expansion of services for existing transit authorities.

Churchill also re-introduced a bill to cut the HST from 15% to 13% – giving Nova Scotia the lowest sales tax in Atlantic Canada.

And, as kids head back to school across the province today, Fairview-Clayton Park MLA Patricia Arab tabled a bill on behalf of Derek Mombourquette, the opposition Critic for Education and Early Childhood Development, to cover the cost of school supplies, in a win for both parents and teachers.

“Iʼm proud of our caucus for putting forward bold, practical ideas that have the potential to save Nova Scotian families thousands of dollars each year,ˮ said Liberal Leader Zach Churchill. “This is just the beginning of our plan to deliver a better deal for Nova Scotians, and Iʼm excited to see what this legislative session has in store for our team.ˮ

Throughout the session, the Liberals will be focused on presenting policies that make life more affordable for Nova Scotians, while holding the Houston Conservatives accountable for their failed promises on healthcare and housing.

August 22, 2024

Kris MacFarlane has been nominated as the Nova Scotia Liberal Party candidate for Pictou Centre.

A lifelong resident of Pictou County, Kris grew up in Westville and now lives in New Glasgow with his wife, Sara. They are proud parents of two grown sons, Evan and Brady. 

With a music career spanning over three decades, Kris has supported artists like Alan Doyle, Great Big Sea, and Jimmy Rankin. His passion for encouraging the next generation of musicians has recently led Kris to teach at a summer music program at Pictou Landing First Nations School.

Inspired by his late mother’s quiet and personal community service, Kris has organized winter coat drives for Viola’s Place and often helps those in tough situations with sudden home repairs and maintenance. “As I watch more people in Pictou County struggle to access healthcare and find an affordable place to call home, I know now is the time to put my name on the ballot to advocate for better in my community,” said MacFarlane.

Since 2018, Kris has been a member of the board at Local 571 of the American Federation of Musicians (NS & PEI). Now serving as the board’s Vice President, Kris has been part of an amazing team assisting members in creating a better working environment for musicians.

“I’m thrilled to have Kris on our team to represent the people of Pictou Centre in the next provincial election,” said Liberal Leader Zach Churchill. “One in four people in Pictou County are without a family doctor and far too many are struggling to keep up with the cost of living. I know that Kris will be a strong voice and work towards tangible improvements for his riding.”

As the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers meeting begins today in Charlottetown, Southwestern Nova Scotia MLAs Zach Churchill and Ronnie LeBlanc are calling for DFO and the provincial fisheries department to strike a joint task force with industry leaders to address rising tensions in Nova Scotia.

Inadequate enforcement from both the federal and provincial governments have created a troubling situation across the province, particularly in Yarmouth and Digby counties. Earlier this year, the Nova Scotia Liberals successfully advocated for an increase in the maximum fine for illegal fishing to $1 million, but without a minimum fine and more enforcement officers, this policy change alone is not enough to curb illegal fishing across the province.

“The Houston government needs to come out of this meeting with real solutions for our province’s fishing industry,” said Opposition Leader and Yarmouth MLA Zach Churchill. “This sector is the lifeblood of our rural economy in Southwestern Nova Scotia. We can’t afford to allow this problem to get any worse.”

The lobster fishery is a key economic driver for many parts of the province, underscoring the importance of strengthening conservation efforts in Nova Scotian waters.

“Our lobster industry is the backbone of our local economy and everything must be done to protect it,” said Fisheries and Aquaculture Critic and Clare MLA Ronnie LeBlanc. “Both levels of government have tools at their disposal they could use to address this serious issue, they are just refusing to use them.”

To hear Leader Zach Churchill talk about the rising tensions in Southwestern Nova Scotia on the Todd Veinotte Show, listen here.

August 9, 2024

This month, Tim Houston will celebrate three years since he was sworn in as Premier.

He made big promises to get elected. As we take a look back at some of the progress he’s made, one thing stands out: Tim Houston is all promise, no progress.

Doctor waitlists have doubled and ER deaths have reached historic highs. Young families can’t find a house to buy or an affordable place to live. The price of basic essentials is skyrocketing. And government services are buckling under record population growth.

From Yarmouth to Sydney, our team of MLAs are meeting Nova Scotians across the province. No matter who we talk to, everyone says the same thing: life has gotten more expensive under the Conservative government.

We know people need relief, and that’s why we’re committed to cutting the HST by 2% – saving the average family $1300 a year on everyday essentials like car maintenance, phone bills, and clothing.

We can’t alleviate the affordability pressures Nova Scotians are facing without tackling the housing crisis. That’s why we’ve pushed for a number of solutions like a residential tenancies enforcement unit, increasing rent supplements, and modernizing zoning standards across the province to increase affordable housing supply.

Tim Houston has ignored the cost-of-living crisis because he is focused on his campaign promise to “fix” healthcare. But how is that really going?

In the past three years, too many people have been added to the doctor waitlist, too many ERs have shut down, and too much money has been thrown at our healthcare system only for things to get worse.

In order for us to actually “fix” healthcare, we need to focus on outcomes, not optics. We’re proud to have advocated for better healthcare policies like enhanced screening for lung and breast cancer, funding for continuous glucose monitors, and at-home HPV testing.

While Tim Houston is focused on helping his friends, we remain focused on you and your family.