September 26, 2025

Iain Rankin, MLA for Timberlea-Prospect, has tabled a petition on behalf of more than 2,000 residents calling on the Minister of Public Works to take urgent action to address long-standing safety concerns on the Prospect Road.

The petition highlights the vulnerability of the Prospect Road – the only route in and out of 17 communities stretching 30 kilometres from Goodwood to West Dover and serving as the gateway to Peggy’s Cove, one of Nova Scotia’s most iconic tourist destinations. Despite its importance, the road is frequently closed due to accidents, fires, and other emergencies, leaving residents and first responders without safe evacuation options.

“More than 2,000 people from my constituency signed this petition because they are deeply concerned about what happens when the Prospect Road is blocked,” said Rankin. “This is a safety issue, not just a convenience issue. Residents and first responders need to know they have a way in and out when every minute counts.”

Following pressure from Rankin and community members, the government approved a traffic study to examine options for alternative access routes, with draft findings now nearing completion. However, with new development proposed in the area and congestion already increasing, Rankin says action cannot wait until the official completion of the study.

“We need to get ahead of this problem before more development and traffic make it worse,” said Rankin. “This is a united call from our community. I’ll continue to stand up for residents along the Prospect Road to make sure their voices are heard.”

September 25, 2025

Today in the Legislature, the Nova Scotia Liberal Caucus will table three bills to support renewable energy growth, modernize the power grid, and make life more affordable for families.

“Nova Scotians want a clean, affordable, and reliable energy future,” said Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette. “These bills are about accountability and action. We can’t reach our climate targets or keep power bills fair if the government keeps ignoring expert advice, cancelling successful programs, and dragging its feet on transmission upgrades.”

The Transmission Modernization Act, tabled by Mombourquette, would require Nova Scotia Power to upgrade long-range transmission lines to a 138-kilovolt standard. The bill creates a clear plan to improve reliability, unlock new renewable projects, and attract outside investment. Right now, the grid isn’t keeping up with population growth or the Premier’s offshore wind promises — without upgrades, clean power simply can’t reach homes and businesses.

The SolarHomes Program Funding Act, also tabled by Mombourquette, would reopen the SolarHomes program and secure long-term funding so families can keep lowering their energy costs with clean power. A recent Freedom of Information request revealed the Houston government abruptly shut the program down despite staff recommending it continue. SolarHomes offered rebates of up to $3,000, helping thousands of families cut their bills and emissions.

The Virtual Power Plant Act, tabled by House Leader Iain Rankin, would set up a licensing system for virtual power plants — following the lead of Alberta and other provinces. These networks link solar, wind, batteries, and heat pumps across many homes and businesses into a single system that can ease demand on the grid and lower costs.

“These bills are about taking practical steps now,” said Rankin. “Nova Scotians are already investing in things like solar and heat pumps. These bills would let those tools work together to stabilize the grid and keep costs down. Other provinces are moving on this. There’s no reason Nova Scotia can’t be too.” 

September 24, 2025

Nova Scotia Liberal MLAs will table a suite of bills today aimed at holding Nova Scotia Power accountable in the wake of one of the largest data breaches in the province’s history.

“Nova Scotia Power can’t be asking ratepayers for more money when they’ve just failed to protect the most sensitive personal information of thousands of Nova Scotians,” said Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette. “These bills are about ensuring transparency, accountability, and real protections for people – not more excuses from Nova Scotia Power.”

The legislative package includes three bills designed to strengthen accountability and give Nova Scotians better tools to protect their information.

The Private Data Protection Act, tabled by Mombourquette, would give Nova Scotians the ability to take legal action if their privacy is willfully violated, including through surveillance or data misuse. 

Amendments to the Consumer Reporting Act, also tabled by Mombourquette, would give Nova Scotians the right to place a security alert or freeze on their credit files free of charge to help protect against identity theft.

The Nova Scotia Power Cybersecurity Transparency Act, tabled by Rankin, would require Nova Scotia Power to publicly report on its cybersecurity investments, breaches, and risks every year, with oversight from the Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Economic Development. Importantly, the Act ensures that any fines imposed for failing to meet standards cannot be passed along to customers through higher power bills. 

“These bills are about putting Nova Scotians first,” said Rankin. “Ratepayers shouldn’t be on the hook for Nova Scotia Power’s mistakes. People deserve to know that their data is protected, that breaches are taken seriously, and that accountability falls on the company – not on families who are already stretched paying their power bills.”

September 23, 2025

The Nova Scotia Liberal Caucus is tabling three bills today focused on holding Nova Scotia Power to account, improving power reliability, and protecting children’s mental health in Nova Scotia. All three bills will be debated tomorrow during the Liberals’ Opposition Day.

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said the bills reflect the concerns he heard travelling across the province this summer. 

“Nova Scotians expect better service and more accountability – especially when it comes to Nova Scotia Power,” said Mombourquette. “These bills are about putting people first, making sure our utility delivers more reliable service, and holding them to clear standards.”

The Electric Utility Reliability Standards Act, tabled by Derek Mombourquette, would make Nova Scotia Power and other utilities meet clear, enforceable reliability standards. It requires quarterly reporting on outages, their caucuses, and the actions being taken to prevent them in the future. Utilities would also be required to maintain detailed storm-preparedness and emergency response plans to keep power flowing during major weather events and to provide timely updates to customers.

The Electric Utility Capital Accountability and Transmission Competition Act, tabled by House Leader Iain Rankin, ensures that when Nova Scotia Power builds major projects, ratepayers aren’t left paying for unnecessary financial risk. It adjusts allowed profits based on the actual financing used and requires large transmission projects to go through a fair competitive bidding process. The goal is transparency, fairness, and better value for families and businesses across Nova Scotia.

The Social Media Responsibility Act, also tabled by Rankin, would require social media companies to take meaningful steps to keep children under 16 off age-restricted platforms. By reducing early exposure to harmful online content, the bill aims to protect young people and support their ability to focus on learning and healthy social development. Companies that fail to comply could face significant penalties.

“Nova Scotians shouldn’t have to pay more for utility projects than necessary, and our kids shouldn’t be exposed to harmful content online at a young age,” said Rankin. These bills put families first, hold Nova Scotia Power accountable, and give young people the protections they deserve.”

September 22, 2025

On the eve of the fall sitting of the Legislature, Nova Scotia Liberal MLAs Derek Mombourquette and Iain Rankin are outlining their caucus’ priorities to make Nova Scotia the best place to raise a family in Canada.

“Over the past four years, the Houston government has focused more on flashy headlines than real outcomes, and the results are skyrocketing power rates, families struggling to build a life, and businesses finding it harder to succeed,” said Mombourquette. “This session, we’re committed to bringing forward solutions to address these key issues we heard from people right across the province this summer.”

The Liberals are going into the legislative session with three key priorities:

1. Lowering power bills and holding Nova Scotia Power to account: Under Premier Houston’s government, Nova Scotians have faced massive rate increases, while grid infrastructure upgrades have stalled. The Liberals will introduce legislation to limit Nova Scotia Power’s profits, hold the utility accountable for reliability and cybersecurity failures, and get long-delayed grid upgrades moving to deliver cleaner, more affordable power.
2. Supporting families: The Liberals will continue to push their landmark legislation to establish a minimum age for social media use, while also fighting for families — by working to make childcare more affordable, healthcare more accessible, and the cost of living more manageable — while addressing growth-related challenges like housing and traffic congestion.
3. Building a sustainable economy: Nova Scotians deserve a government that spends their tax dollars wisely and supports the industries and workers that drive our economy. The Liberals will keep pressing the Houston government to rein in reckless spending, strengthen sectors like farming, fishing, and forestry, and invest in the infrastructure people count on, like better roads, internet, and cell coverage.

“At the heart of it all is making Nova Scotia a place where people can build a future,” said Rankin. “That means making basic necessities like power and groceries more affordable, ensuring parents have access to affordable childcare spaces, and building an economy that works for families today – and for generations to come.”

Last session, the government used its supermajority to attempt to fire the Auditor General, block the media, limit opposition, and threaten the job security of public servants. The Liberals will continue to defend the integrity of Nova Scotia’s democracy against these threats. 

September 2, 2025

Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette is calling on the Houston government to reverse its decision to eliminate the long-standing 80/20 rule for highway contracts – a policy that ensured the majority of work went to local trucking companies.

In a letter sent earlier this month to the Trucking Association of Nova Scotia, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley confirmed the province will scrap the 80/20 rule starting in 2026. For decades, the rule guaranteed that at least 80 per cent of trucking services for provincial highway projects were awarded to Nova Scotia companies.

“This change slipped out quietly this summer, with no consultation and no explanation for the small businesses it directly impacts,” said Mombourquette. “These trucking companies are the backbone of our communities. They’ve helped build our roads, our hospitals, and our schools. They deserve to understand why the government is making this decision.”

The 80/20 rule has helped keep jobs and investment in Nova Scotia communities for decades. Removing it means large corporations will have an easier time underbidding small businesses – putting local operators and workers at risk.

“This is when we should be doing everything we can to support local businesses – not turning our backs on them,” Mombourquette said. “Nova Scotians deserve a clear explanation from the government on why this decision was made and what impact it will have.”

August 27, 2025

As students across Nova Scotia return to school this fall, the Nova Scotia Liberals have committed to tabling the Social Media Responsibility Act – legislation that would make Nova Scotia the first province to set a minimum age of 16 for social media use, following the lead of countries like Australia and Norway.

The bill comes at a time when experts and parents alike are sounding the alarm on the mental health crisis facing young people, with mounting evidence showing how social media contributes to anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. A 2023 study from the U.S. Surgeon General warned that youth who use social media for more than three hours per day have double the risk of poor mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety.

Liberal House Leader Iain Rankin will table the bill this fall. 

“Protecting our kids from the harms of social media is a responsibility we all share,” said Rankin. “This bill will ensure that children under 16 are not exposed to harmful content or interactions that can have life-long impacts on their mental health. As a father myself, I know how critical it is that we put our children’s well-being first. If we want Nova Scotia to be the best place in Canada to raise a family, this is a positive step in making that happen.”

Last year, the government implemented a cell phone ban in schools to help reduce distractions and support students’ well-being. The Liberals say the next step is to take the same principle outside the classroom by restricting social media access for children under 16, ensuring consistent protection for youth both in school and at home. 

“We know that social media can have real consequences on children’s mental health and their success at school,” said Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette. “This legislation would create clear protections for families and make Nova Scotia a national leader in putting children’s safety first.”

Jenna Poste, a tech executive, mom of two, and co-founder of the Nova Scotia chapter of Unplugged Canada works with parents and industry experts to urge governments nationwide to take action to protect children from the harmful effects of early smartphone use and social media exposure. Drawing on her experience in the tech industry, Poste advocates for policy changes that prioritize children’s mental health and well-being.

“This is a crucial step forward in protecting children online,” said Poste. “Parents across the country are calling for action, and this is exactly the kind of leadership we need. Nova Scotia is recognizing the real and urgent harms social media is having on youth mental health and creating a model for others to follow.”

July 9, 2025

As the Houston government shifts its focus to offshore wind, Nova Scotia Liberal MLAs are urging a more comprehensive energy strategy – one that includes, but doesn’t solely depend on, a single large-scale project to meet the province’s energy needs.

While offshore wind holds promise, Nova Scotians can’t afford to wait years for a project that still faces significant regulatory and logistical hurdles. Relying too heavily on a single project could leave Nova Scotia vulnerable, and that a smarter path forward involves investing in a broader range of energy solutions.

“People are hopeful about the potential of offshore wind, and so are we. But Nova Scotians can’t afford to bet everything on a single project that’s still years away from becoming a reality, especially when the grid upgrades needed to make it work are on hold,” said Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette. “Instead, we need to be doing more to secure long-term energy affordability and reliability.”

The Liberals are calling for renewed investment in two-way energy transmission with the Atlantic region, competitive procurement for battery storage, and increased support for solar and other clean technologies. They also criticized the Houston government for pausing key transmission upgrades like the Atlantic Loop, which are critical to making any major energy project viable.

“We’ve seen this before with tidal energy – lots of promise, but slow progress and no backup plan. Let’s not repeat that mistake,” said Mombourquette. “Nova Scotians want clean, affordable, and reliable energy, and the federal government has signalled its willingness to support it. Now is the time to be bold and make sure no opportunity is left on the table.”