Abortion, Euthanasia & Alternatives  |  Human Engineering  |  Population Control

The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to:

• The meaning or purpose of life
• Abortion, euthanasia, or alternatives
• Gender modification, gene manipulation, or other forms of human engineering
• Population Control
• Human Trafficking

Abortion, Euthanasia & Alternatives | Human Engineering | Population Control

The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to:

• The meaning or purpose of life
• Abortion, euthanasia, or alternatives
• Gender modification, gene manipulation, or other forms of human engineering
• Population Control
• Human Trafficking

As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no complete statement of its proposed policies in a form that can be downloaded or saved by voters in easily-accessible and persistent form for use as a comprehensive and enduring record of the commitments and undertakings the party has made in seeking election. Instead, the party has published a series of “commitments” accessible only online, in a format which can easily be edited by the party at any time, and which can be viewed by voters at any time only in a piecemeal fashion.

As of November 16, the party’s online commitments include statement(s) that the party advocates:
– reducing the cost of prescriptions by providing free contraceptives, eliminating Seniors’ Pharmacare premiums, waiving family drug deductibles, making HIV prevention medication universally available to anyone who needs it.|
– defending and expanding access to reproductive health care by making surgical abortion procedures availabe in underserved regions and addressing delays to abortion access by increasing the number of sonographers.
– reducing the stigma of abortion by regulating anti-choice pregnancy centres and making health-focused information more available.

The party’s constitution states that the party believes that the social, economic and political progress of Nova Scotia can be assured only by the application of social democratic and egalitarian principles to the governance and administration of public affairs. The Principles of Social Democracy can be briefly described as:
(1) That the production and distribution of goods and services shall be directed to meeting the social and individual needs of people within a framework that sustains the environment while maximizing the economy now and in the future;
(2) That the dignity and freedom of the individual is a basic right that must be maintained and extended to all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability;
(3) That the abolition of poverty and the elimination of exploitation are achievable goals and must be the priority of any thinking and compassionate government; and
(4) That the people have a right to a meaningful voice in public policy through consultation and participation in all levels of public decision-making.

The party has published no current statement concerning its policies relating to:
• Gender modification, gene manipulation, or other forms of human engineering
• Human Trafficking

Abortion, Euthanasia & Alternatives  |  Human Engineering  |  Population Control

The party has published no current statement concerning its policies relating to:

• The meaning or purpose of life
• Abortion, euthanasia, or alternatives
• Gender modification, gene manipulation, or other forms of human engineering
• Population Control
• Human Trafficking

Stewardship of Creation

The party’s constitution lists, among the purposes and objectives of the party, fostering a sustained political institution that reflects the Six Principles of the Charter of the Global Green, including ecological wisdom, sustainability, and respect for diversity, and in so doing to consider the interests of all Nova Scotians, their future generations, and the biosphere.

Climate Change

The party states that it:
– recognizes that we are living in a climate emergency and that the impacts of climate change are not only felt by people, but by the remainder of our biosphere.
– supports the development of climate and sustainability criteria, including consideration of cumulative impacts, that will be applied to all future publicly funded capital projects.

Greeenhouse Gas Reductions & Mitigation
The party states that it:
– supports targets for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions that are aggressive, measurable, transparent, and consistent with the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
– supports initiatives that promote reduced public, private and individual use of fossil fuels and increased protection of our natural sources of carbon sequestration, such as forests, healthy oceans, and salt marshes.
– recognizes that the expansion and development of all fossil fuels, including exploratory fracking, must stop.
– recognizes the urgent need for climate change adaptation planning that includes precautionary strategies to address climate change-related hazards, such as sea level rise, blizzards, hurricanes, and wildfires.
– recognizes that environmental assessment processes must consider sustainability goals and take full account of greenhouse gas emissions and cumulative impacts.
– recognizes the value of incorporating nature-based solutions in climate change adaptation strategies. Some examples may include incorporating more green spaces in urban areas, green roofs, etc.
– supports measures to raise awareness about how climate change will likely affect people in Nova Scotia.

Species, Diversity & Wildlife

The party states that it:
– recognizes the value of maintaining intact ecosystems and expanding protected areas for their contributions to clean air, water, and land; greenhouse gas (GHG) management; natural resource industries, and the recreation and enjoyment of all Nova Scotians.
– supports environmental legislation and procedures to prevent and address biodiversity loss and ecological collapse.

Energy & Resources

The party states that it:
– recognizes that the survival of the planet requires urgent transition to a green economy that is not dependent on the development of the fossil fuel industry.
– supports legislation and incentives for a transition to energy efficient public and private buildings, homes, and for the development and production of green technologies.
– supports public job and re-training programs to help workers who may be affected by the economic transition.

Energy
The party states that it:
– supports efforts to modernize and improve provincial energy infrastructure as the province faces more frequent bouts of extreme weather such as blizzards and hurricanes.
– recognizes the economic and social impacts of power outages and supports ways to prevent them.
– recognizes that access to energy is vital to our way of life and, thus, should be efficient, local, and have as little negative impact on the environment as possible.
– supports the development, implementation, and constant improvement of green technologies as we move away from fossil fuels.
– supports moving toward a diversified energy sector that relies on a variety of sources supplied in many locations throughout the province.
– recognizes the challenges posed by the ownership structure of Nova Scotia’s electrical utility when meeting evolving energy needs and goals during a climate crisis.
– supports regulatory modernization to allow, and measures to incentivize, widespread adoption of demand response and distributed energy resources, prioritizing decentralized implementations that use open standards and technologies.

Conservation & Sustainable Development

The party states that it:
– recognizes that wetlands and coastlines perform many important functions and services to our ecosystem such as providing habitat for a variety of species, including those which are endangered, and serving as important carbon sinks.
– recognizes that wetlands and coastlines are under increasing threat from climate change, warming waters, storm surges, and intrusive development.
– supports measures to restore and protect wetlands and coastlines, such as by working with federal and municipal counterparts to prevent overfishing, species invasions, sand mining, pollution, and development which may interfere with such protection.
– supports raising public awareness about the role wetlands and coastlines can play in our ecosystems and in protection against erosion and flooding.

Waste & Dumping
The party states that it:
– supports stringent legislation and monitoring systems to reduce exposure to toxic pollution and eliminate instances of illegal chemical dumping.
– supports a circular economic model of waste reduction and sustainable producer responsibility programs that promote best methods for reusing, remanufacturing, recycling of materials, and minimizing waste.
– supports legislation for businesses and individuals transporting, storing, or producing hazardous materials to demonstrate their ongoing ability to cover the total costs of cleanup and restoration for damage arising from their operations.

Transportation
The party states that it:
– supports an expansion of affordable public transit within and between communities.
– supports investment in livable neighbourhoods that promote walkability, cyclability, and other diverse forms of mobility, to facilitate safe travel and the reduced need for private vehicles for health, environmental, economic, and social benefits.
– supports reducing emissions from privately and publicly owned vehicles through measures to facilitate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, including comprehensive and equitable access to charging infrastructure.

Agriculture
The party states that it:
– recognizes that less than 10% of the food in Nova Scotia is grown on local provincial farms, farmland is under threat by developers, and some ‘conventional’ and ‘industrial’ agricultural practices deplete soil health, pollute the environment, and are cruel to animals.
– supports legislative and financial measures for:

1. regenerative land management and agriculture,
2. protection of farmland to secure the local food supply,
3. investment and research into climate-friendly agricultural techniques, practices, and food production systems that make our food supply more resilient,
4. investment to assist farmers in moving from conventional to regenerative production systems that do not require the use of artificial agents,
5. enhancement of small-scale farming and community gardening initiatives that support local and sustainable food security systems in urban and rural settings and
6. the development of local markets and distribution systems to support small scale, local producers.

Forestry
The party states that it:
– recognizes that the types of forestry practices used can either harm or aid our biodiverse ecosystems.
– supports stronger legislation in favor of sustainable practices to facilitate systemic change in the forestry industry and towards an ecological forestry approach noting reports on best practices such as the 2018 Lahey report.
– supports measures to ensure forest and ecosystem protection including, for example:

1. the legislated elimination of clearcutting forestry practices,
2. the facilitation of best practices silviculture on public and private land forestry and for old-forest restoration,
3. full implementation of the Endangered Species Act on public and private land,
4. legislation preventing toxic agents, such as glyphosate, from being applied to fields and forests, and
5. legislation preventing the use of forest biomass for the purpose of electricity generation both domestically and abroad.

– supports measures that contribute to carbon sequestration and climate resilience, such as fire-risk criteria and incentives, to conserve old-growth and Acadian forests on public and private land.

Fisheries
The party states that it:
– recognizes that inappropriate fisheries’ practices can severely harm aquatic ecosystems as well as the biodiversity of our waters, and can also affect the safety of the products for consumers.
– supports legislation to facilitate sustainable fisheries, such as ensuring areas of no-take zones and continued legislation for periods of no-fishing.
– supports funding for research into fishing methods which minimize negative ecological impacts and develop uses for bycatch and waste products.
– supports close coordination with Federal counterparts and measures to ensure that fishery operations and disputes are handled equitably.
– supports the diversification of fisheries’ species in Nova Scotian waters to avoid overfishing and potential extirpation of fish populations while providing livelihoods for local fishers.

Aquaculture
The party states that it:
– recognizes that inappropriate aquaculture practices pose risks to native aquatic populations, the health of exploited species, and to consumers.
– supports ecologically safe aquaculture practices, such as land-based operations, to support the economy of Nova Scotia with minimal ecological harm.
– supports monitoring of identified commercial species for potential threats such as disease, illegal harvesting, and invasive species.
– supports research efforts in the identification of species which are good candidates for sustainable aquaculture.

Mining & Extractive Industries
The party states that it:
– recognizes that extractive industries, such as mining, while currently necessary, can interfere with the rights of Nova Scotians and the ecosystems upon which we all depend.
– supports legislation and monitoring to ensure that industries operate without their wastes interfering with ecosystems or people’s health, employment prospects, or recreational enjoyment of the natural environment.
– it further supports legislation and monitoring to ensure that industries are held responsible for all cleanup and restoration, and are subject to steep and prohibitive penalties for noncompliance or for environmental accidents that should have been prevented.
– supports measures to assist in just transitions for former employees leaving harmful extractive industries or when industries close or relocate.

Climate Change 

 The party states that:
– climate change represents a serious threat to Nova Scotia’s ecology, biodiversity, communities, coastlines, and prosperity.
– Nova Scotia’s average annual temperature is projected to increase by 2.6°C in the next 25 years, and 4.5°C by 2100, making more frequent extreme heat, drought and wildfire more likely, and changing the characteristics of winter in Nova Scotia as temperatures rise.
– the promotion of sustainable practices and moves toward a carbon-neutral economy will mitigate the effects of climate change and protect and encourage ecological and economic growth in Nova Scotia.

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to transition Nova Scotia to renewable energy, by: setting ambitious targets to increase the generation of renewable energy, aiming for a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by a specified timeline; increasing incentives and support mechanisms to encourage the adoption of renewable energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and tidal power; and by promoting community-led renewable energy projects, fostering local ownership and employment opportunities.

Species, Diversity & Wildlife  |  Energy & Resources

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to protect natural resources and biodiversity by: strengthening comprehensive conservation strategies to protect and restore ecosystems, wetlands, and forests, enhancing carbon sequestration and biodiversity; supporting sustainable forestry practices, utilizing science-based approaches to balance economic development with environmental conservation; and by promoting responsible land use planning, protecting sensitive habitats and encouraging sustainable development practices.

Animal Welfare
The party states that:
– enhancing animal welfare standards and promoting responsible stewardship of animals in Nova Scotia contributes to a compassionate and ethical society, and promotes environmental sustainability.
– climate change represents a serious threat to wildlife and habitat conservation and protection.
– animal adoption shelters and agencies in Nova Scotia are increasingly reporting capacity challenges due to inflation and the increased cost of living, the surrender of animals brought into homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as staff shortages.

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to advance animal protection and welfare by strengthening animal protection laws and regulations to ensure comprehensive coverage for all animals, including domestic pets, livestock, wildlife, and animals used in research and entertainment; establishing a dedicated Animal Welfare Enforcement Unit within the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to enforce animal welfare laws, investigate complaints, and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to address cases of animal cruelty and neglect; and by promoting the adoption of animal-friendly practices in agriculture, fishing, and other industries involving animals, ensuring their well-being, and minimizing unnecessary suffering.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance public education and awareness by: introducing animal welfare education into the public school curriculum, promoting responsible pet ownership, empathy towards animals, and the importance of environmental sustainability; collaborating with animal welfare organizations and community groups to organize awareness campaigns, workshops, and seminars to educate the public about proper care, humane treatment, and the importance of spaying/neutering pets; and by fostering partnerships with veterinary clinics and animal shelters to provide low-cost or subsidized spay/neuter programs, reducing the population of stray animals and preventing animal homelessness.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance wildlife conservation and protection, by: collaborating with environmental organizations and wildlife conservation agencies to develop and implement programs aimed at preserving and protecting native wildlife species and their habitats; promoting research initiatives to better understand the needs and behaviors of wildlife populations, ensuring informed conservation strategies; and by implementing measures to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts, promoting coexistence and minimizing harm to both humans and animals.

Extraction Royalties

The party states that:
– its goal is to make Nova Scotia an attractive jurisdiction for the critical mineral sector. But it necessary to create a level playing field for businesses while ensuring protection for the natural environment, with a clear evidence- and science-based approach.
– it advocates examining all resource extraction royalties to build wealth for Nova Scotians by maximizing the true value of provincial resources, including examination of the entire resource regulatory framework, with a focus on Nova Scotia’s critical minerals, which will help fight climate change.

Conservation & Sustainable Development

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote energy efficiency and conservation, by: strengthening comprehensive energy efficiency programs targeting residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, providing incentives, education, and financing options for energy-efficient upgrades; implementing energy efficiency standards for new construction projects and building retrofits, including an updated provincial building code, reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions; and by collaborating with municipalities and utility companies to provide energy audits and support for low-income households to improve energy and water use efficiency.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote sustainable transportation, by: encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) by expanding charging infrastructure, providing financial incentives, and collaborating with the private sector to increase accessibility and affordability; investing in public transportation infrastructure, promoting the use of clean and efficient modes of transportation, such as buses, light rail, commuter ferry and active transportation options; and by designing transportation plans to optimize connectivity, reduce emissions, and support sustainable commuting.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote climate resilience and adaptation, by: developing a comprehensive climate adaptation plan, assessing vulnerabilities, and implementing strategies to protect communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems from climate-related impacts; developing research and innovation in climate resilience, collaborating with academic institutions and industry experts to develop solutions and technologies; and by providing funding and resources for community-led initiatives that enhance resilience, such as flood management, shoreline protection, and emergency preparedness.

Coastal Protection
The party:
– states that the Coastal Protection Act was passed with all-party support during the previous Liberal government. However the current government decided not to proclaim it as law, despite widespread public support.
– it advocates respecting the will of Nova Scotians, proclaiming the Coastal Protection Act, and implementing the required regulations across the province. It undertakes to work with municipalities to transition any existing coastal protection action plans to one unified set of rules for coastal protection across the province.

Climate Change  |  Species, Diversity & Wildlife  |  Energy & Resources  |  Conservation & Sustainable Development

As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no complete statement of its proposed policies in a form that can be downloaded or saved by voters in easily-accessible and persistent form for use as a comprehensive and enduring record of the commitments and undertakings the party has made in seeking election. Instead,

As of November 16, the party’s online commitments include statement(s) that:
– much of what Nova Scotians love about their province is at risk because of the impacts of climate change.  It’s time to tackle those risks with urgency.

Its online commitments include:
– protecting 13,000 kilometres of vulnerable coastline from climate change and private development by reinstating and enforcing the Coastal Protection Act abruptly abandoned by the current government.
– transitioning Nova Scotia to renewable energy like wind and solar, speeding up the transition to net-zero buildings, and making it easier for people to become part of the solution by offering rebates for moving off coal and fossil fuels for their home heating.

Among statements previously presented on its website at https://www.nsndp.ca/, the party previously stated that it:
– understands that climate change is real, that sea levels are rising, and Nova Scotians want to see provincial coves, beaches, trailheads, and coasts protected from the impacts of climate change we’re already seeing.
– the current government broke a promise and abandoned the Coastal Protection Act, downloading responsibility for protecting the coast to municipalities.
– the Coastal Protection Act received all-party support, but consecutive Liberal and Conservative governments have to make it law. Since then, developments have been built dangerously close to the water, or in places that cause damage to neighbouring coastlines, ecosystems, and properties.

Climate Change  |  Species, Diversity & Wildlife  |  Energy & Resources  |  Conservation & Sustainable Development

2024-25 Budget
In its 2024-25 budget, the party:

states that in 2023-24, out of a budgeted total of $14,820,301,000 which it estimates will close at actual expenditures of $15,531,008,000, it spent:
– an estimated $51,020,000 for Environment and Climate Change.
– an estimated $17,046,000 for Fisheries and Aquaculture.
– an estimated $157,664 for Natural Resources and Renewables.

has allocated, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, of a budgeted total of $16,518,722,000 (a 6% increase):
– $73,876,000 for Environment and Climate Change (a 44% increase).
– $15,951,000 for Fisheries and Aquaculture (a 9% decrease).
– $141,588,000 for Natural Resources and Renewables (a 9% decrease).

The party has provided no transparent explanation of the use of these funds in the budget or other documentation.

The party has published no further current statement concerning its policies relating to:

• Climate Change
• Species, Diversity, & Wildlife
• Energy & Resources
• Conservation & Sustainable Development

Role of the Family 

The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to the role of or support for the family.

Health Care & Elder Care

Food & Nutrition
The party states that it:
– acknowledges that adequate food is a fundamental human right, is a main determinant of people’s health and well-being, and that access to affordable, healthy, local food is very limited in Nova Scotia.
– recognizes that insufficient government supports and the dominance of a few large food chains, which are often inconveniently located, have contributed to difficulty for local producers to compete, and to the need for charity-based food provision.
– supports legislative and financial measures to ensure that people can access affordable, healthy, culturally relevant, and local (where possible) food.

Health Care
The party states that it:
– joins the people in Nova Scotia in valuing our universal public health care and supports their desire for an expansion of services to include prevention, universal pharmacare, and sexual reproductive, palliative, dental, and eye care.
– supports action that proactively addresses root causes of health problems, including addressing inequalities associated with social determinants of health, such as income, race, age, and gender thereby reducing the need for emergency services, and chronic and acute care.
– recognizes that the health impacts of climate change will not be distributed equitably and will often disproportionately affect marginalized groups.
– recognizes that the health impacts from pollution and toxic waste are not distributed equitably due to environmental racism and the associated targeting of Black and other racialized communities for the locations of toxic sites.
– supports working with local health authorities to conduct climate change and health vulnerability and adaptation assessments to identify and address vulnerabilities to climate change in our health systems (e.g., assessing if patients are vulnerable to extreme heat in rooms without air conditioning, determining how much back-up power generation is required in a power outage, etc.).
– supports action to eliminate barriers to accessing quality healthcare.
– recognizes that health care has eroded from inadequate planning for health professionals’ training, insufficient funding to maintain services and increasing reliance on private sector provided services which cost more and risk profit-motivated losses in the safe delivery of quality services many of which require users to pay leading to greater inequalities.
– supports renegotiation of equalization payments to ensure adequate funding to eliminate privatization, increase training, better prepare for health crises, and expand programs.
– supports measures for the prevention of and treatment for mental health and addiction-related health needs with adequate services and support to all areas of the province with respect, compassion, and without stigma.
– supports a community-based, public healthcare system which ensures training of health care staff and provision of infrastructure to provide and maintain sufficient quality services to all areas of the province.

Education & Young Workers

The party states that it:
– joins the people of Nova Scotia in valuing the provincial universal public education system and supports their desire for an expansion to universal access to post-secondary education and beyond.
– acknowledges that Education has been severely underfunded such that there is a desperate need for improvement of classroom and school conditions to increase the well-being of learners, teachers, and all school-based personnel.- acknowledges that education is not just training for future jobs but an opportunity for all students to realize their unique learning drives, goals, strengths, and needs to develop into citizens who participate fully in society.
– recognizes that the education system requires diverse programming to facilitate development of skills in critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creative problem-solving, and citizenship, as well as in computer and digital technologies.

Culture, Arts & Tourism

That party states that it:
– understands ‘cultural heritage’ to include buildings, architecture, monuments, historical communities, books, works of art, as well as folklore, traditions, language, and local knowledge, and natural features such as parks.
– recognizes that Nova Scotia is richer for the art and cultural heritage of all its people including First Nations, Acadian settlers, those brought by displacement and force, immigrants past and present, and supports measures that strengthen and enrich Nova Scotia’s cultural development.
– recognizes that Nova Scotian communities and individuals benefit immensely from the presence, preservation, and promotion of arts, crafts, cultures, and heritage.
– supports measures that enable creative individuals and industries to establish and thrive in Nova Scotia as well as policies which facilitate public engagement with the Arts.
– recognizes the limitations and inequity of having one official language and supports a review of provincial status for non-English languages in Nova Scotia.
– supports the revitalization of Nova Scotia’s culture and efforts to facilitate the development and production of cultural products such as cuisine, written works, music, film, fashion, and public art.

Role of and Support for the Family

Childcare
The party states that:
– in order to promote sustainable economic growth, provincial families need access to larger numbers of childcare spaces.
– of 5,000 new daycare spots in non-profit daycares claimed to have been established by the current government, almost half—2,165 spaces—are actually before and after school program spaces, while 1,187 spaces have closed. This means that only 1,680 new, full-time, non-profit daycare spaces have been opened by the current government.
– in order to create more spaces, it is necessary to expand the provincial agreement with the federal government to allow private daycare operators to access funding. Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick all have agreements that allow for some level of private expansion.
– the party advocates aggressive negotiation with the federal government to allow private daycare operators to expand, spurring the creation of more affordable childcare spaces and allowing more Nova Scotians to enter the workforce if they want to.

Child Poverty
The party states that:
– the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, and its purpose to protect and promote the well-being of all children, received renewed global direction in 1989 through the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child.
– a 2023 Report Card on Child and Family Poverty in Nova Scotia (the “Report”) states that Nova Scotia has the highest rate of child poverty among the Atlantic Provinces, and the second highest in Canada, highly impacting racialized and immigrant children in particular.
– the UN’s definition of “child poverty” extends beyond monetary deprivation and encompasses a multidimensional scale citing “well-being” as the positive opposite of poverty.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
The party states that it:
– supports organizations and individuals committed to raising awareness about diseases, conditions and illnesses that affect all Canadians.
– Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is the most common neurodevelopmental disability in Canada, and yet it remains highly misunderstood by the general population.
– this lack of understanding can lead to the exclusion of individuals with FASD from community and peers, and result in social isolation for children and parents and tremendous inequities in supports for children, youth, adults and families.
– FASD diagnosis is not specific to a particular population or group of people, and is a lifelong disability that impacts the brain and body of someone who was exposed to alcohol during fetal development.
– children with FASD often have issues with learning, attention, memory, and problem solving, along with poor coordination, impulsiveness, and speech and hearing impairments, as well as emotional, behavioural, and social problems, which get worse as they age, which exacerbates the mental health challenges they are predisposed to.
– FASD is an “invisible disability” the stigma and lack of empathy experienced by families are accompanied by a general lack of understanding of the effects by service providers, educators, family members and caregivers.
– society improperly ascribes blame and shame to mothers, families and communities without giving consideration to the multiple factors that can contribute to Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (“PAE”), which results in a person being born with FASD.
– people with FASD have the same rights as all others; the right to identity, culture, connection and safety; the right to access education, health care and disability supports; and the right to be heard and be free from discrimination.
– such rights are not being upheld by service providers and systems currently in place to support children, youth, adults and families with FASD.
– when unsupported, 90% of people with FASD will experience mental health issues and they are over 20 times more likely to face substance use challenges.
– 35% of teens with FASD report suicidal ideation, with 13% reporting at least one serious suicide attempt in the past year.
– individuals with FASD are also disproportionately represented in the child welfare and criminal justice systems.
– early assessment, diagnosis, and intervention are critical protective factors against adverse outcomes.
– section 96A of the Liquor Control Act, which requires the posting of warning signs, is outdated and has never been enacted.
– it recognizes the need to eliminate stigma and blame directed at biological mothers for FASD and the need to support birth moms and families with compassion and empathy.

The party advocates:
– legislation to provide for the education of first responders, health care providers, service providers, educators, family members and caregivers on the harm and cost of PAE.
– affirming the need to eliminate stigma and blame directed at biological mothers and the necessity of embracing birth moms with understanding and empathy.
– affirming that people with FASD have the same rights as all other Nova Scotians; the right to identity, culture, connection and safety; the right to access education, health care and disability supports; and the right to be heard and be free from discrimination.
– taking legislative steps to provide dedicated support to Nova Scotians with FASD and their families.
– taking steps to update and enact Section 96A of the Liquor Control Act, including detailed instructions for the design and locations of signage warning of the harms caused by PAE.
– supporting Bill S-253 The National Framework on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Act.

Foster Families
The party advocates introduction of a retirement saving plan for foster families, providing financial support after age 65, to ensure that foster families can afford the cost of living after their many years of service caring for the province’s most vulnerable.

 Youth Programs
The party:
– states that organizations like BGC Canada run youth programming that keep at-risk youth engaged, out of trouble, and out of the provincial justice system. These programs save lives and save our justice system resources in the long run.
– advocates investment of $4M in ongoing operational funding to expand these programs and ensure that they can serve their communities.

Health Care & Elder Care

The party states that:
– there is a need to rethink how healthcare is approached within the province, from increasing the availability of primary care providers to keeping hospitals and emergency rooms open.
– it proposes to fundamentally change the NSHA business practices to increase availability of Collaborative Care and Primary Care Clinics embedded in communities.
– in order to fix healthcare, focusing on health more broadly, including broader access to preventative screening, more gyms, recreation centers, and parks, a focus on anti-poverty and housing-first policies to keep people healthy and out of the ER, closing the gap on women’s health, supporting chronic care and home care, and making more investments in health research and the health economy.

Collaborative Care
The party states:
– the province has a shortage of family doctors. The Municipality of Clare has a phenomenal primary care model that is fully staffed with healthcare professionals eager to work there.
– Healthcare professionals have indicated interest in working in collaborative settings, which improve working conditions, reduce administrative burden, and keep doctors in the province.  Emulated province-wide, the model can end the family doctor waitlist and attach patients to primary care providers.

The party advocates:
– implementing a collaborative care model province-wide by building and expanding 40 collaborative health care clinics across the province, including working closely with existing clinics to make sure they’re running efficiently and are able to take on more patients.
– increasing the annual incentive for physicians from $5,000 to $10,000 if they agree to join a collaborative care practice and increase their patient rosters, and introduce bonuses and incentives of up to $15,000 for allied health professionals who commit to working at a collaborative health clinic for a minimum of 5 years.
– beginning with areas of the province that have the highest percentage of their residents currently waiting on a family doctor, including New Glasgow, Yarmouth, Bridgewater, Bedford, Amherst, Sackville, Halifax Penninsula, Clayton Park, Middleton, Sydney, and Dartmouth/Cole Harbour.

Primary Care
The party advocates:
– to help address the family doctor waitlist, expanding the number of training positions for family doctors, accelerating pathways for international medical students, and reducing the administrative burden for family positions; and forgiving up to 20% of health professional student’s loans for up to 5 years.
– recruiting more physician assistants.
– investing to reopen emergency rooms, build collaborative care clinics, and build a new hospital in the Annapolis Valley Region.

Women’s Health
– to address significant challenges faced by women, the party advocates naming a Minister of Women’s Health to ensure that a gender lens is applied to the delivery of health care, and a blueprint adopted for improving women’s health.
– to ensure that an appropriate amount of research funding is put toward women’s health, the party further advocates requiring that 50% of all research funding in the province be used to study women’s health, including establishment of an Atlantic centre of excellence for women’s health.
– to relieve the burden of their cost, the party advocates providing free menstrual products in all provincial buildings accessible to the public.

Mental Health
The party advocates investing in mental health walk-in clinics, equitably distributed throughout the province, to give Nova Scotians more access to mental health care, the clinics to be attached to proposed collaborative care centres.

 Preventative Care
To promote healthier choices, the party advocates:
– expanding early screening for preventative health, improving health data collection, including updating family doctor waitlists monthly.
– expanding access to gyms, recreation centers, parks, trails, and public programming, to ensure that there are no barriers to anyone, no matter their level of ability, who wants to make healthier choices, including improvement of 100 trails and community recreation infrastructure projects, removing HST from gym memberships, and piloting a project to evaluate the effect of free recreation center memberships.

Hospice & Palliative Care
The party states that:
– Canada has one of the highest costs for care during the last three to six months of life compared with other high-income nations (Canada (US$21,840), England (US $9352), the Netherlands (US $10,936) and the US (US $18,500) due mainly to the high use of hospitals to deliver end of life care.
– enhancing end-of-life care services outside of hospital sites would make urgent care in hospitals more available to patients requiring treatment for illness or prolongation of life.
– end-of-life care in a hospice setting has been proven to be a more cost-effective and patient-centred approach to providing quality palliative care than in a hospital acute care setting.
– Nova Scotia has the lowest resident-to-hospice bed ratio in the Maritime provinces, and is not equitably available to its residents.
– among its four top priorities is improving access to healthcare by building and expanding 40 collaborative healthcare centres across the provinceto attach people to primary care providers, reduce wait times, and keep people out of emergency rooms.

 The party advocates:
– promoting the provision of palliative end-of-life care in a variety of settings, including residential hospices, to be consistently and adequately funded across Nova Scotia, as a cost-effective, compassionate alternative to acute care in a hospital setting.

Elder Care

The party states that:
– prioritizing person-centered care, accessibility, affordability, and comprehensive support helps create a society that values and supports the well-being and dignity of our senior population.
– collaboration among stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, community organizations, and elderly individuals themselves, is crucial to the development and implementation of effective policies to meet the diverse needs of our aging population.
– such policy frameworks aim to optimize and improve the quality of care extended to Nova Scotia seniors, ensuring dignity, respect, and well-being, in alignment with its principles.

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to prioritize person-centred care, by implementing approaches that prioritize the unique needs and preferences of each elderly individual, promoting autonomy, choice, and independence; developing and enforcing guidelines and standards for long-term care facilities and home care services to ensure a safe, supportive, and respectful environment for the elderly; and by enhancing training programs for healthcare professionals and caregivers, focusing on compassionate and empathetic care, communication skills, and recognizing and addressing the diverse needs of the elderly.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance accessible and affordable care, by increasing investments in home care services, enabling elderly individuals to receive necessary care and support within the comfort of their homes, while alleviating the burden on long-term care facilities; expanding the availability of affordable and accessible respite care services to support family caregivers, ensuring they have the opportunity to take breaks and maintain their own well-being; and by implementing measures to address wait times for long-term care placements, ensuring timely access to appropriate care for elderly individuals in need.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to prioritize age-friendly infrastructure and housing, by collaborating with municipalities to develop age-friendly communities with accessible infrastructure, including sidewalks, public transportation, and public spaces that accommodate the needs of elderly individuals; encouraging the development of affordable housing options that are suitable for the elderly, including accessible design, proximity to essential services, and social amenities; and by providing financial incentives and support for retrofitting existing housing to make them more accessible and age-friendly.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to prioritize comprehensive health and wellness, by increasing funding for geriatric healthcare services, including specialized medical care, rehabilitation, and mental health support for the elderly; strengthening community-based programs promoting healthy aging, including physical activity initiatives, nutrition support, and preventive healthcare services; and by enhancing collaboration between healthcare providers, social workers, and community organizations to ensure holistic care and support for elderly individuals, addressing their physical, mental, and social well-being.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote the prevention of elder abuse by: implementing comprehensive elder abuse prevention programs, raising awareness and providing training to professionals and community members to identify and address elder abuse cases; enhancing support services for elderly individuals who have experienced abuse or neglect, ensuring they have access to legal assistance, counseling, and protection measures; and by strengthening enforcement and penalties for elder abuse, working closely with law enforcement agencies and justice systems to protect the rights and well-being of the elderly.

Seniors’ Social Isolation
The party states that:
– seniors constitute 20% of Nova Scotia’s population, a percentage that is projected to grow in the years ahead.
– many of Nova Scotia’s seniors are isolated within their communities and have a low quantity and quality of relationships with others.
– keeping older adults socially connected has been described as a major emerging issue facing seniors in Canada.
– supportive services that prevent isolation are a key determinant of seniors’ quality of life, health and independence.
– promoting the sustained public awareness of programs and services available to counteract social isolation and loneliness will mitigate seniors’ isolation and promote the social fabric of Nova Scotia’s communities.

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to launch and maintain an ongoing public awareness campaign to inform all Nova Scotians of the social inclusion programs and services available to counteract social isolation and loneliness (including 211, the annual Aging Directory, the Continuing Care program, Age Friendly Communities, outreach programs of long term care facilities, and many distinctive socially oriented groups across the province).
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to mandate the Minister and Department of Seniors and Long-term Care to continually monitor and update programs and services available to counteract social isolation and loneliness, and by promoting social inclusion, particularly of seniors and those living in rural areas and those belonging to marginalized and racialized communities.

Education & Young Workers 

The party:
– states that one of the provincial government’s primary responsibilities is providing children with a safe, productive place to learn, where each student gets the attention they need to succeed.
– to improve the provincial education system, it advocates (i) initiating a proactive, long-term strategy for building schools across the province that accounts for the future growth of  communities; (ii) hiring more educational staff to ensure schools have the personnel they need to run smoothly and provide a high quality education; (iii) investment in professional development for existing school staff and new hires, increasing their capacity to support students who have complex needs; (iv) implementing a provincewide strategy to address violence in schools following the recommendations outlined in the 2024 Auditor General’s report; (v) implementing the Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies educational curriculum in all elementary schools to help all students improve their emotional and social competency, and (vi) implementing a course with a focus on developing strategies and skills for building and maintaining mental health in all high schools.

To advance equality and eliminate racism in Nova Scotia, the party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote education and public awareness on this issue by: implementing anti-racism education programs in schools and educational institutions, fostering understanding, empathy, and cultural competence; developing comprehensive curricula that include the history, contributions, and experiences of diverse communities, promoting inclusivity and combating stereotypes; and by providing resources and training for educators to address and challenge racial bias in classrooms.

Culture, Arts & Tourism
To advance equality and eliminate racism in Nova Scotia, the party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster community engagement and collaboration by: fostering partnerships with community organizations, advocacy groups, and ethnic associations to develop and implement strategies for combating racism; establishing advisory committees or task forces to provide input and guidance on policies and initiatives related to racial equality; and by amplifying the voices of racialized communities through inclusive consultation processes and community forums.

Multilingualism & Cultural Diversity
The party states that:
– implementation and fostering of language education, accessible language services, cultural exchange, anti-discrimination measures, and economic integration initiatives, create an inclusive and welcoming society that values and celebrates cultural diversity.
– collaboration among community organizations, cultural groups, and individuals from diverse backgrounds, is essential to designing and implementing effective policies that reflect the needs and aspirations of Nova Scotia’s multicultural communities.
– public policy that promotes and celebrates multiculturalism and multilingualism in Nova Scotia aligns with the guiding principles of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party (“NSLP”), and emphasizes inclusivity, diversity, and equality.

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster multilingual education and support by developing programs that support the teaching and preservation of Indigenous languages, ensuring their revitalization and transmission to future generations; increase funding and resources for language instruction programs in schools, community centers, and adult education institutions, offering opportunities to learn and maintain languages spoken by diverse cultural communities; and by establishing language proficiency assessment and certification programs to recognize and validate language skills, facilitating employment opportunities, and promoting cultural diversity in the workforce.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster cultural exchange and integration by encouraging cultural exchange programs that facilitate interactions between different cultural communities, fostering understanding, respect, and appreciation for diverse backgrounds; supporting community-led initiatives that promote multicultural events, festivals, and exhibitions, celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Nova Scotia’s various communities; and by supporting multicultural community centers to serve as hubs for cultural activities, language classes, and social integration programs, providing spaces for interaction and learning.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster accessible language services by increasing the availability of interpretation and translation services in public institutions, healthcare facilities, and other essential services, ensuring equitable access for individuals with limited English or French proficiency; collaborating with community organizations and language professionals to provide training and certification programs for interpreters and translators, maintaining high standards of quality in language services; and by promoting the use of multilingual signage and information materials in public spaces and government offices, improving accessibility and inclusivity for individuals with diverse linguistic backgrounds.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster inclusion and anti-discrimination by strengthening anti-discrimination legislation to protect individuals from discrimination based on language, ethnicity, or cultural background, ensuring equal opportunities for all residents of Nova Scotia; establishing a Multiculturalism Advisory Council comprising representatives from diverse cultural communities to advise the government on policies, programs, and initiatives related to multiculturalism and multilingualism; and by implementing public awareness campaigns to promote the importance of cultural diversity, challenging stereotypes, and fostering a culture of inclusivity and acceptance.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster economic integration and entrepreneurship by: providing support and resources to facilitate the economic integration of immigrants and newcomers, including language training, job placement services, and entrepreneurship support; broadening mentorship programs that connect newcomers with established members of the community or business professionals, fostering networking opportunities and facilitating their successful integration into the workforce; and encouraging the development of culturally diverse businesses and markets, recognizing the economic benefits of multicultural entrepreneurship and promoting cross-cultural economic partnerships.

Animal Welfare
The party states that:
– enhancing animal welfare standards and promoting responsible stewardship of animals in Nova Scotia contributes to a compassionate and ethical society, and promotes environmental sustainability.
– climate change represents a serious threat to wildlife and habitat conservation and protection.
– animal adoption shelters and agencies in Nova Scotia are increasingly reporting capacity challenges due to inflation and the increased cost of living, the surrender of animals brought into homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as staff shortages.

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to advance animal protection and welfare by strengthening animal protection laws and regulations to ensure comprehensive coverage for all animals, including domestic pets, livestock, wildlife, and animals used in research and entertainment; establishing a dedicated Animal Welfare Enforcement Unit within the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to enforce animal welfare laws, investigate complaints, and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to address cases of animal cruelty and neglect; and by promoting the adoption of animal-friendly practices in agriculture, fishing, and other industries involving animals, ensuring their well-being, and minimizing unnecessary suffering.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance animal rescue and shelter support by: increasing funding and resources for animal shelters and rescue organizations to improve the quality of care provided to abandoned, abused, and neglected animals; promoting the adoption of shelter animals by raising public awareness about the benefits of adopting from shelters and encouraging responsible pet ownership; and by establishing a network of foster homes to provide temporary care for animals awaiting adoption, reducing the strain on overcrowded shelters.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote animal rights and ethics, by: advocating for the recognition of animals as sentient beings, ensuring their protection from unnecessary pain, suffering, and exploitation; prohibiting cruel practices such as cosmetic testing on animals, fur farming, and the use of animals for entertainment purposes where it involves unnecessary harm or distress; and by promoting alternative methods to animal testing, encouraging the development and use of non-animal testing alternatives in research and product development.

Role of the Family

As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no complete statement of its proposed policies in a form that can be downloaded or saved by voters in easily-accessible and persistent form for use as a comprehensive and enduring record of the commitments and undertakings the party has made in seeking election. Instead, the party has published a series of “commitments” accessible only online, in a format which can easily be edited by the party at any time, and which can be viewed by voters at any time only in a piecemeal fashion.

As of November 16, the party’s online commitments include a statement that its priorities in improving public services include:
– delivering more childcare where needed, by establishing a pilot program with four new publicly-owned and operated child care centres in underserved areas, and providing capital funding to schools for more child care spaces closer to home for parents, and make child care opportunities fairer for all through a centralized waitlist.

Health Care & Elder Care

As of November 16, the party’s online commitments include statements that:
– provincial health care continues to fall apart.  The wait list for people trying to get a family doctor keeps getting longer and longer. Many have been on the list for more than three years with no end in sight.
-the situation could get even worse as a quarter of the province’s doctors are over age 60 with retirement looming. The total number of doctors in Nova Scotia isn’t keeping up with demand.
– the most recent accountability report shows the number of hours Emergency Rooms were unexpectedly closed jumped 32% in just a year.
– Nova Scotia now has the longest wait time for medically necessary care in the country, at 56.7 weeks.

Its online commitments include:
– building family doctor clinics across the province, including opening 15 collaborative family clinics within one year, to connect every Nova Scotian on a waitlist to primary care.
– continuing to open 15 clinics per year over three years to ensure doctors and patients can choose where to provide and receive care.
– to connect patients to doctors faster, moving to automatic, location-based attachments.
– attracting, training, and retaining more doctors, nurse practitioners, and other health professionals by offering new recruitment and retention incentives for long-term commitments.
– providing a $1400 refundable tax credit for family and friend caregivers.
– reducing the cost of prescriptions by providing free contraceptives, eliminating Seniors’ Pharmacare premiums, waiving family drug deductibles, making HIV prevention medication universally available to anyone who needs it.
– lowering the cost of home cancer care and covering home cancer drugs through Pharmacare.
– removing expensive parking fees at hospitals for families of those needing care.
– defending and expanding access to reproductive health care by making surgical abortion procedures available in underserved regions and addressing delays to abortion access by increasing the number of sonographers.
– reducing the stigma of abortion by regulating anti-choice pregnancy centres and making health-focused information more available.

Long-Term Care
The party’s online commitments include a statement that its priorities in improving public services include:
– to improve public long-term care services for seniors, fast-tracking long-term care beds for senior to address a shortage of around 2,000 single rooms for seniors needing long-term care. The party undertakes to build a single long-term care room for every senior who wants one, remove the profit from long-term care by prohibiting public money from being spent to fund new beds in for-profit homes.  In addition, more well-trained care staff will be hired, to increase the minimum daily hours of direct care in every part of the province.

Mental Health Care
As of November 16, 2024, the party’s online commitments include:
– delivering supportive, safe, quality care to when mental health crises are reported to 911, by fast-tracking the expansion of civilian-led and health-focused crisis response teams across the province, freeing up police resources and helping remove stigma for those suffering from mental illness.

Health Care and Elder Care

Housing
The party’s online commitments include statement(s) that:
– a good home is the foundation of Nova Scotians’ lives. It’s at the centre of childrens’ futures, parents’ security, and communities’ heart and soul.
– for too many Nova Scotians, housing has become a source of anxiety and insecurity, with doubts about making next month’s rent, the future of their leases, and eviction for sake of higher rents.
– the spiraling cost of rent is hurting people across the province, from young families trying to get ahead to seniors on fixed incomes – and everyone in between.
–  home ownership has become a pipedream for most first-time buyers.
– renters under the current government are vulnerable through no fault of their own.
– one-sided manipulation of the rental market and the housing crisis it’s created must end.

Education & Young Workers

The party’s online commitments include a statement that its priorities in improving public services include:
– to make schools work better for students, teachers, parents and staff, enforcing indoor air quality standards, requiring regular water quality testing, and providing capital funding to improve student safety and comfort, and acting act immediately on the Auditor General’s recommendations to reduce school violence which has increased an alarming 60% over the past seven years.  In addition, reducing class times to provide one-on-one help for more students.  This will include accelerating new school construction in high-growth areas and using factory construction to build and add entire new, comfortable and energy-efficient classroom wings to existing schools.

Culture, Arts & Tourism

The party has published no current statement regarding its policies concerning:
• Culture, Arts & Tourism

Families & Education

The party states that as of November 19, 2024:
– it is building seven new replacement schools across the province.
– it is building four new schools to address growth in the Greater Halifax / Dartmouth area and surrounding communities.
– offered, during its current term in office, new teaching jobs to every Bachelor of Education graduate in the province.
– introduced cell phone restrictions in all schools.
– reduced daycare fees by 50%, with a plan to reduce fees to an average of $10/day by March 31, 2026.
– in order to keep schools safe, it will: ensure that a new Code of Conduct gives school administrators the power they deserve, including power of suspension and addressing problem behaviours, using their professional judgement to balance individuals’ rights to education with the broader right to learn; and hire two police officers to work within the Department of Education to focus exclusively on supporting school teams with security protocols, incident prevention, and incident response.

Health Care & Elder Care

 Prior to forming the current government, the party stated that:
– Nova Scotians agreed that the province has incredibly dedicated health professionals, and that once a patient was in the system, they did receive extraordinary care.  The trouble  was getting in.
– to its mind, timely access to the healthcare they need was not politics, but personal.

To promote healthcare in rural Nova Scotia, to embrace modernization, and to ensure that health professionals are available when needed; and to ensure that healthcare professionals feel respected and valued, and are empowered to make decisions at the local level rather than waiting for someone in Halifax to make a decision, the party advocated a practical plan for primary health that included:
– telehealth/virtual care for everyone on the waiting list for a primary care provider.
– opening operating rooms so that surgeons could operate outside of Monday to Friday, 9-5, to address the backlog.
– working to meet the benchmark standards for wait times established by the Wait Time Alliance.
– improved recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, including improved salaries for family physicians and increased local decision-making.
– establishing a clinical health services plan in every region.
– putting a team lead in place to be accountable for recruitment on a local level.
– creating mentoring relationships for new graduates.
– increased residency seats and supports for foreign-trained physicians.
– modernizing the system by expanding the existing virtual care framework to allow specialists to see patients virtually, and to other healthcare providers (physiotherapists, occupational therapists, etc.)
– to address chronic illnesses, establishing a Chronic Illness Treatment and Prevention program for in-home treatment focusing on those with chronic illnesses.
– to promote preventive healthcare, making physical education mandatory in the grades 10-12 curriculum; working with schools and local community organizations to institute a healthy eating course for every grade 12 student; establishing a virtual smoking cessation program through virtual care.
– to improve administrative efficiency, enabling decisions to be made as close to the patient as possible and driven by patient behaviours; moving from process-centred decisions to patient-centric decisions, focused on results; and consolidating the Department of Health and Wellness and the NSHA with a reoptimized structure; and establishing a culture of continuous improvement by appointing a healthcare auditor.

The party states that during its current term in office it has:
– established a new medical school at Cape Breton University to train 30 new doctors for Nova Scotia each year.
– opened an International Medical Graduate Assessment Clinic to license about 45 new doctors for Nova Scotia each year.
– opened 31 primary care clinics at pharmacies, to enable pharmacists to diagnose, treat, and prescribe for some illnesses.
– hired 265 net new doctors, and more than 1,750 net new nurses, and established a pension plan to help retain doctors in Nova Scotia.
– extended virtual care to everyone in the province.
– provided new services for keeping of health records, cardiac catheterization, and diabetes patients.
– established 2, 200 new long term care beds, and workng to open more than 5,700 replacement long term care beds.
– established new mental health hospitals in Halifax, Sydney, and Kentville.

In addition, the party has undertaken to:
– establish an internal travel nursing team, to end the need to hire external companies.
– implement a universal, no-cost shingles program for Nova Scotians 65 and older, including free access to the vaccine to everyone.
– to support women’s health, create a new Menopause Centre of Excellence.
– provide free parking at all Nova Scotia Health facilities and the IWK.

Seniors’ Care
Prior to forming government after the most recent election, the party:
– acknowledged a federal government statement that the provision of long term care is a provincial responsibility.
– stated that in Nova Scotia, over the prior decade, long-term care operating budgets had been slashed with no new beds had been built, with a result that thousands of vulnerable Nova Scotians having mobility and cognitive difficulties were stuck on waitlists for needed care; and that the only option to home care was nursing home or residential care. More incremental options were required.
– it was up to government to acknowledge that, as home care expanded, there remained a large gap in the range of options available for seniors and their families.

To better serve seniors, the party proposed:
– building more single bedrooms.
– addressing human resources challenges in the provincial system by normalizing the workload of staff and making training more accessible.
– creating a new option of care between home and nursing home, called “Supportive Living,” to allow seniors and their families with more choice and control over care options.

To that end, it:
– committed to building at least 2,500 new single rooms, including a total capital investment (without federal support of: $465,750,000.
– submitted a more ambitious proposal to the Federal Government to seek infrastructure dollars and support for a total project of 3,500 new single bedrooms, meaning an extra 1,000+ single bedrooms if the Federal Government agreed to invest alongside the Province (for a total capital investment,with federal support, of $821,000,000).
– committed to hiring 2,000 health professionals with skills appropriate for supporting the changing health and social care needs of residents, by reinstating the CCA training grant, resuming accredited CCA training programs hosted by long-term care properties, ensuring properties with 30% of unaccounted staff absences for a period of two consecutive months to an administrative audit.
– proposed preparing the long-term care system for the future by working with communities to establish new care options for providing seniors with expanded housing options, while reducing the stigma attached to seniors with limited resources; ensuring that seniors have a comfortable, safe living environment that is truly home.
– committed to ensuring strict regulation and accreditation.
– opening up government-owned spaces to allow expanded facilities and infrastructure.

Mental Health Care
Prior to forming the current government, the party stated that:
– mental health concerns were of even greater concern coming out of the COVID pandemic than they were going in.  The province had seen job losses, financial uncertainty, reduced social interactions, increased substance abuse, domestic violence, and many other pressures and situations piling on to people.
– statistics suggested that at least one in five individuals experienced issues related to their mental health – and that the numbers were climbing.
– although many of the mental conditions experienced by Nova Scotians were likely manageable, had proper support been available, support was too often elusive, due to a failure of government.
– for the party leader, ensuring that Nova Scotians have access to regular, reliable, publicly-funded mental health and addictions support was not politics, but personal.
– the party was committed to modernizing provincial mental healthcare, including both with the services provided and the approach taken in providing them.

To modernize both the services provided and the approach taken to provincial healthcare, the party proposed:
– a separate department dedicated to mental health and addictions.
– opening of billing codes to allow private practitioners to deliver their services to everyone.
– 24/7 mental-telehealth service.
– a 9-8-8 mental health crisis line, separate from 9-1-1.
– attracting new mental health professionals to Nova Scotia.
– increased training options for health professionals and educators.

2024-25 Budget
In its 2024-25 budget, the party:

states that in 2023-24, out of a budgeted total of $14,820,301,000 which it estimates will close at actual expenditures of $15,531,008,000, it spent:
– an estimated $1,396,735,000 for Community Services.
– an estimated $1,877,523,000 for Education and Early Childhood Development.
– an estimated $5,231,929,000 for Health and Wellness.
– an estimated $453,303,000 for Public Service.
– an estimated $1,439,246,000 for Seniors and Long-term Care.
– an estimated $253,047,000 for Service Nova Scotia.

has allocated, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, of a budgeted total of $16,518,722,000 (a 6% increase):
– $1,579,169,000 for Community Services (an increase of 11%).
– $1,999,180,000 for Education and Early Childhood Development (an increase of 6%).
– $5,536,898,000 for Health and Wellness (an increase of 6%).
– $413,429,000 for Public Service ( a decrease of 9%).
– $1,362,710,000 for Seniors and Long-term Care (a decrease of 5%).
– $181,457,000 for Service Nova Scotia (a decrease of 28%).

The party has published no further current specific statement concerning its policies relating to:
– the role of or support for families
– education or young workers
– culture arts or tourism

An Economy at the Service of All People

The party’s constitution lists, among the purposes and objectives of the party, fostering a sustained political institution that reflects the Six Principles of the Charter of the Global Greens, including: social justice and sustainability, and and in so doing to consider the interests of all Nova Scotians, their future generations, and the biosphere.
 

Housing & Poverty Reduction
That party states that it:
– recognizes that poverty is a complex systemic problem that arises from poor policy decisions which then reverberate through society leaving large segments of the population in a cycle of impoverishment.
– recognizes that impoverished communities have long been targeted for development projects that pollute the land, water, and air.
– recognizes that provincial and federal governments have often offloaded their responsibilities related to poverty alleviation to non-profit organizations without providing appropriate or consistent funding, thereby resulting in an inequitable distribution of available services across the province.
– supports legislation and funding which facilitate equitable access to poverty reducing factors such as healthy homes, free or affordable education, and jobs that pay a living wage.
– supports renegotiation of Federal equalization payments to ensure adequate funding for the prevention and elimination of poverty.
– advocates for universal needs supports, such as a Guaranteed Liveable Income, to help people not only survive, but thrive, in their vocation of choice within their home communities as much as possible while being fairly remunerated with the opportunity for a healthy work-life balance.

Housing

The party states that it:
– believes that housing is a human right, as acknowledged in the UN Declaration of Human Rights, and supports changes to provincial legislation to protect this right and prevent discrimination based on housing status.
– acknowledges the requirement for urgent measures that address poverty, financial insecurity, health and wellness, and systemic barriers.
– recognizes that 20% of Nova Scotia’s housing stock is currently owned by the corporate sector.
– acknowledges that the continued appropriation of residential housing for investment purposes can be detrimental to improving availability and access to affordable housing, especially when there is a lack of strong legislation protecting tenants’ rights.- supports access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing options that benefit everyone including people who are students, refugees, newcomers, migrants, immigrants, and temporary workers.
– supports a housing first model that provides people who are homeless or vulnerably housed with access to housing and necessary social supports.
– supports measures to increase the availability of and access to affordable, environmentally friendly and energy efficient housing, including public housing.
– supports federal, municipal, and provincial partnerships for investment in upgrading and renovating existing private, non-corporate owned, housing stock to meet 21st century energy efficiency standards.
– recognizes municipal jurisdiction over zoning and supports incentives to modernize zoning to address sustainability and equitability.
– supports strong legislation protecting tenants, including against unhealthy accommodations and unfair evictions for renovations.
– supports increased investment in construction and maintenance of new and existing public housing to meet current and future demands across the province, conveniently located near public transportation, schools, employment opportunities, etc.

Labour, Unions & Employment

The party states that it:
– recognizes that employment must provide sufficient income to survive but should also allow people to enjoy a satisfying life.
– recognizes that many workplaces limit participation through inequitable practices, such as systemic prejudices, inadequate accessibility, and unsafe conditions.
– supports legislation of minimum-wage levels above the poverty line, labour standards which enhance equitable hiring, promotion and compensation practices, safety on the job, accessibility and reasonable accommodations, union rights, whistle-blower protection, and work-life balance.

Corporations, Competition & Consumers

Transportation
The party states that it:
– supports an expansion of affordable public transit within and between communities.
– supports investment in livable neighbourhoods that promote walkability, cyclability, and other diverse forms of mobility, to facilitate safe travel and the reduced need for private vehicles for health, environmental, economic, and social benefits.
– supports reducing emissions from privately and publicly owned vehicles through measures to facilitate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, including comprehensive and equitable access to charging infrastructure.

Agriculture
The party states that it:
– recognizes that less than 10% of the food in Nova Scotia is grown on local provincial farms, farmland is under threat by developers, and some ‘conventional’ and ‘industrial’ agricultural practices deplete soil health, pollute the environment, and are cruel to animals.
– supports legislative and financial measures for:

1. regenerative land management and agriculture,
2. protection of farmland to secure the local food supply,
3. investment and research into climate-friendly agricultural techniques, practices, and food production systems that make our food supply more resilient,
4. investment to assist farmers in moving from conventional to regenerative production systems that do not require the use of artificial agents,
5. enhancement of small-scale farming and community gardening initiatives that support local and sustainable food security systems in urban and rural settings and
6. the development of local markets and distribution systems to support small scale, local producers.

Forestry

The party states that it:
– recognizes that the types of forestry practices used can either harm or aid our biodiverse ecosystems.
– supports stronger legislation in favor of sustainable practices to facilitate systemic change in the forestry industry and towards an ecological forestry approach noting reports on best practices such as the 2018 Lahey report.
– supports measures to ensure forest and ecosystem protection including, for example:

1. the legislated elimination of clearcutting forestry practices,
2. the facilitation of best practices silviculture on public and private land forestry and for old-forest restoration,
3. full implementation of the Endangered Species Act on public and private land,
4. legislation preventing toxic agents, such as glyphosate, from being applied to fields and forests, and
5. legislation preventing the use of forest biomass for the purpose of electricity generation both domestically and abroad.

– supports measures that contribute to carbon sequestration and climate resilience, such as fire-risk criteria and incentives, to conserve old-growth and Acadian forests on public and private land.

Fisheries

The party states that it:
– recognizes that inappropriate fisheries’ practices can severely harm aquatic ecosystems as well as the biodiversity of our waters, and can also affect the safety of the products for consumers.
– supports legislation to facilitate sustainable fisheries, such as ensuring areas of no-take zones and continued legislation for periods of no-fishing.
– supports funding for research into fishing methods which minimize negative ecological impacts and develop uses for bycatch and waste products.
– supports close coordination with Federal counterparts and measures to ensure that fishery operations and disputes are handled equitably.
– supports the diversification of fisheries’ species in Nova Scotian waters to avoid overfishing and potential extirpation of fish populations while providing livelihoods for local fishers.

Aquaculture
The party states that it:
– recognizes that inappropriate aquaculture practices pose risks to native aquatic populations, the health of exploited species, and to consumers.
– supports ecologically safe aquaculture practices, such as land-based operations, to support the economy of Nova Scotia with minimal ecological harm.
– supports monitoring of identified commercial species for potential threats such as disease, illegal harvesting, and invasive species.
– supports research efforts in the identification of species which are good candidates for sustainable aquaculture.

Mining & Extractive Industries
The party states that it:
– recognizes that extractive industries, such as mining, while currently necessary, can interfere with the rights of Nova Scotians and the ecosystems upon which we all depend.
– supports legislation and monitoring to ensure that industries operate without their wastes interfering with ecosystems or people’s health, employment prospects, or recreational enjoyment of the natural environment.
– it further supports legislation and monitoring to ensure that industries are held responsible for all cleanup and restoration, and are subject to steep and prohibitive penalties for noncompliance or for environmental accidents that should have been prevented.
– supports measures to assist in just transitions for former employees leaving harmful extractive industries or when industries close or relocate.

Diverse and Sustainable Economy

The party states that:
– a healthy, productive and inclusive society promotes anti-racism and anti-discrimination, and upholds principles of equality, equity, equal access to opportunity, and dignity and safety of person.
– embracing renewable energy sources can drive economic growth, create sustainable jobs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen energy independence in and for Nova Scotians.
– progressive energy public policy will ensure Nova Scotia remains at the forefront of clean energy innovation, while prioritizing the well-being of our communities and environment.
– it seeks a comprehensive strategy that fosters a profitable renewable energy transition economy in Nova Scotia.

Among its four top priorities the party includes:
– making life more affordable for all Nova Scotians, through targeted actions to provide immediate relief addressing the current affordability crisis, including lowering HST and income taxes by $3,000 for the average family, lowering your power bills, and lowering grocery prices.
– making housing more affordable and accessible by building 80,000 new homes by 2032, protecting renters, and fixing the broken property tax system.
– stopping the current government’s efforts to double the population, by limiting population growth to in-demand workers and their families until the province has enough housing, healthcare, and schools to support more growth.

Cost of Living
The party:
– states that the first major step it proposes in addressing the cost of living crisis is to implement a package of tax cuts that will save the average family $3,000 each year, including a 2-point HST cut—saving individuals an average of $700 a year, and changing income taxes so that thousands more of taxpayers’ income will no longer be taxed—saving hundreds more each year at tax time.
– the party also advocates moving moving to stabilize electricity prices with legislated standards for clean energy and power rates.

In particular, the party states that:
– it advocates cutting the HST from 15% to 13%.  Nova Scotians pay the highest sales tax in the country, while provincial revenues have increased significantly over the past two years.  Taxpayers deserve to get some of that money back.
– Nova Scotians pay some of the highest income taxes in the country, with an extremely low personal basic exemption amount that hasn’t been indexed to inflation. It advocates a one-time increase to the personal basic exemption to $15,705 and ensuring it remains indexed to inflation; and doubling the benefit currently received by earners under $75,000.  These changes would result in Nova Scotia having the lowest personal income taxes in Atlantic Canada.
– it also proposes eliminating the Carbon Tax.  While it is important that the province do its part in the fight against climate change, the federal carbon tax isn’t the right fit for Nova Scotia. From 2017-2022, under the previous Liberal government, a Cap and Trade model worked to reduce emissions without punishing Nova Scotians. The party advocates working with other Atlantic Provinces to establish a Cap and Trade program that will reduce large industrial pollution.
– to reduce power rates and thereby lower electricity bills, more competition is needed for power generation. The party proposes expanding the ability of renewable energy companies to provide power directly to Nova Scotians and aggressively holding Nova Scotia Power responsible for meeting legislated performance targets.
– it advocates expanding the Heating Assistance Rebate Program to help low-income earners with their energy bills, saving them $1,000 a year.
– it further advocates investing in Energy Efficiency Programs, including heat pump and weatherization programs, to help middle class Nova Scotians save money on power and help the environment.  Specifically, it advocates (i) eliminating the fee for the Home Energy Assessment for all Nova Scotians, (ii) increasing rebates for heat efficiency programs such as the heat system rebates, and (iii) ensuring that renters and small landlords can benefit from energy efficiency upgrades and savings.
– in addition, the party advocates redouble provincial efforts to get Nova Scotia off coal without simply substituting fuel oil in power plants, including (i) investing substantially in renewable generation with in-province wind, solar, and battery farms, and (ii) ensuring that the sites in Nova Scotia with the best wind power generating potential are being used.
– it advocates regulating Nova Scotia land leasing, water access, and energy generation capacity to ensure that all Nova Scotians are benefitting from provincial resources.
– to make the provincial power grid must more reliable, the party advocates working with the federal government to advance interregional electricity transmission planning and coordination to stabilize energy costs.
– although consumers currently do not pay HST on basic groceries like fruit, flour, and milk, many foods that families rely on are still subject to a 15% HST, including foods like granola bars, pre-made salads, and sandwiches at the grocery store.  The party advocates removing the provincial sales tax from all food in grocery stores.
– when local grocers can compete with the big stores, prices go down, people buy more local products, and money stays in local communities.   To improve competition in the grocery market, it advocates (i) banning restrictive covenants that determine where grocery stores can be built. This will increase competition and improve availability of grocery stores, especially in rural areas, and (ii) investment in independent grocery stores through grants and loans for expansion and improved service.
– in order to support Buying Local, it advocates immediately halting all payments to Sobeys for the Nova Scotia Loyal program, and instead investing that money in developing a comprehensive marketing and growth plan for local products.
– it advocates investing $10M to expand affordable food programs across the province by building new food hubs, expanding programs that buy excess food from farmers to sell directly to Nova Scotians, and investing in mobile food markets.
– it advocates making public transit free across Nova Scotia, thereby eliminating barriers to transportation and providing up to $5,000 per year in savings for those who switch from driving to commuting by public transit, investing in rural community transport, to make it the most effective in Nova Scotia’s history, ensuring that community transportation organizations can lower costs and increase services.
– to help seniors stay in their homes longer, stay healthy, and live better lives, it advocates doubling the tax-free seniors care grant to $1,500 each year, and increasing program eligibility so that households with up to $50,000 in annual income are eligible.
– the current social safety net is trapping Nova Scotians in intergenerational poverty, requires significant bureaucratic overhead, and often disincentivizes working. The party advocates transforming the various social assistance programs to ensure that people who are struggling can afford the basic necessities and not find themselves on the streets. It proposes doing that by spearheading an all-party committee to overhaul the existing provincial social assistance model and examine alternatives, including a guaranteed basic income.
– non-profit and service delivery organizations are not able to appropriately deliver for their communities or plan for the long term when they must apply for provincial funding on an annual basis. Not only do they not know what funding is coming from year to year but, once approved, the delivery of funding is often delayed by as much as 9-10 months into the fiscal year, leaving organizations in the lurch. It proposes to prioritize multi-year funding agreements for successful organizations that have a proven track record of providing core programming for their communities.

Sustainable Economy
The party states that:
– growth is critical to the province, but it must be sustainable.
– the party proposes immediately to reduce the current government’s unsustainable immigration levels until sufficient housing and services are available to support more newcomers while focusing on economic growth driven by increased productivity.
– it further advocates increasing workforce participation by making more affordable childcare spaces available, and driving innovation and job creation by cutting the small business tax for income under $700k, making Nova Scotia the best province in the country for small businesses.
– it also advocates supporting communities with a comprehensive infrastructure development strategy.

Immigration & the Economy
The party states that:
– as the provincial population is grown to support a growing economy and an aging population, the province must also plan for community infrastructure including roads, schools, doctors, and hospitals. The province needs an infrastructure plan to keep up with—and continually manage—such growth in order to ensure that sustainable levels are maintained.
– to that end it advocates ensuring that immigration targets are focused on growing the number of professionals needed in critical areas, including but not limited to: (i) physicians and healthcare professionals; (ii) teachers and early-childhood educators; (iii) construction workers and skilled tradespeople; and (iv) agriculture and aquaculture workers
– it further advocates development of a comprehensive infrastructure development strategy based on population growth and immigration patterns for education, transportation, healthcare infrastructure, and social programs.

Diversity & the Economy
The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote diversity and inclusion by: encouraging businesses, organizations, and public institutions to adopt diversity and inclusion policies, ensuring fair representation and equal opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities; implementing programs to support minority-owned businesses, providing access to resources, mentorship, and funding; and by celebrate and promoting cultural events, festivals, and initiatives that showcase the diversity of Nova Scotia’s population.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to set ambitious renewable energy targets in Nova Scotia, aiming to derive at least 80% of provincial energy from renewable sources by 2030, and by continuously reviewing and updating these targets based on technological advancements, market dynamics, and environmental considerations.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote investment in renewable infrastructure by implementing financial incentives, tax breaks, and grants to attract private sector investment in renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, tidal, and biomass; and by establishing partnerships with local and international investors to leverage funding opportunities and enhance the economic viability of renewable energy initiatives.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to encourage research and development in the renewable energy space by allocating public funds toward research and development programs that focus on advancing renewable energy technologies, energy storage solutions, and grid integration systems; and by fostering collaboration between academia, industry, and government, to drive innovation, develop intellectual property, and attract clean-tech companies to Nova Scotia.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to support local renewable energy businesses by creating a dedicated support program to assist local businesses in adopting renewable energy technologies, encouraging them to transition away from fossil fuel-based energy sources; and by facilitating access to financing, grants, and technical expertise to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in developing and implementing renewable energy projects.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance skill development and job creation by investing in education and training programs to equip Nova Scotians with the skills required for the renewable energy sector, such as engineering, project management, and maintenance of clean energy infrastructure; collaborating with community colleges, universities, and industry leaders to develop curriculum and apprenticeships tailored to the needs of the renewable energy
industry; and by promoting job creation by partnering with renewable energy companies and ensuring that project contracts include requirements for local employment.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance energy storage and grid modernization by prioritizing investments in energy storage technologies to enhance the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources into the power grid; by supporting research and development efforts focused on developing cost-effective and efficient energy storage solutions, such as battery technologies and pumped hydro storage; and by upgrading and modernizing the power grid infrastructure to accommodate increased renewable energy capacity, improve reliability, and enable two-way energy flows.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to prioritize environmental considerations, including by implementing strict environmental regulations and standards to ensure that renewable energy projects minimize adverse ecological impacts, such as wildlife disruption and habitat destruction; encouraging the use of environmentally friendly construction practices, materials, and technologies throughout the lifecycle of renewable energy projects; and by promoting public awareness and education campaigns to highlight the benefits of renewable energy and foster a culture of environmental stewardship.

Housing & Poverty Reduction
The party states that:
– a significant number of Nova Scotians are living in a period of economic insecurity.
– an unprecedented number of Nova Scotians are experiencing inadequate housing, or are unhoused, and experiencing food insecurity.
– the current provincial government is experiencing unprecedented increases in new revenues while simultaneously cutting back core supports for marginalized Nova Scotians.
– in 2022, Nova Scotia was reported to have the fourth-highest child poverty rate in Canada, and the highest in Atlantic Canada, the rate of racialized children in poverty being nearly double that of non-racialized children, and the rate of and immigrant children was more than double that of non-immigrant children.
– the poverty rate in Nova Scotia in 2021 was 8.6%.
– in the past, provincial and municipal housing policies have acted to restrict the growth of our housing supply (and in some instances, discourage that growth).

In order to eliminate poverty in Nova Scotia and create opportunities for economic advancement, the party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to expand education and skills development by increasing investments in early childhood education, ensuring access to quality education for all children, regardless of socio-economic background; enhancing vocational training and apprenticeship programs to equip individuals with the skills needed for emerging industries; and by providing support for adult education and lifelong learning programs to enable individuals to develop new skills and adapt to changing job markets.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to foster economic growth and job creation by encouraging entrepreneurship and innovation by providing financial support, mentorship, and streamlined regulatory processes for small businesses and startups; by collaborating with industries to attract investment, promote economic diversification, and create new job opportunities; and by establishing partnerships with educational institutions and industry leaders to align training and education programs with the needs of the job market.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to strengthen social safety nets by reviewing and reforming social assistance programs, implementing a universal basic income to ensure an adequate safety net while also incentivizing employment and self-sufficiency; by increasing access to affordable housing initiatives, such as rent subsidies and social housing, to reduce housing insecurity and homelessness; and by enhancing access to mental health care and addiction treatment programs to address underlying factors contributing to poverty.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to promote income equality by advocating for fair wages and support policies that ensure a living wage for all workers; by implementing progressive taxation measures to reduce income inequality and redistribute wealth; and by encouraging corporate social responsibility by promoting ethical business practices, fair labor conditions, and responsible wealth distribution.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to strengthen community support systems by better supporting community organizations and non-profit organizations that focus on poverty reduction, providing funding, resources, and capacity-building opportunities; fostering partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society to develop comprehensive poverty reduction strategies; and by promoting initiatives that address systemic barriers, discrimination, and social exclusion faced by marginalized communities.
– introduction of legislation and regulations to end low-density zoning and regulations that exclude affordable and social housing in residential areas, and to promote and allow mixed-use development and high-density residential development.

Basic Income
The party advocates:
– working with the Government of Canada toward developing and implementing a Guaranteed Basic Annual Income (“BIG”) policy for Nova Scotia, drawing on information from BIG programs being implemented in other jurisdictions (including PEI).
– assessing BIG research for Nova Scotia as an economic stabilizer for families and local businesses, and in the context of complementing related supports by other orders of government, and to complement other programs aimed at providing adequate housing and social support needs.

Affordable Housing
The party states that:
– there is a lack of affordable housing in Nova Scotia.
– there is an extremely low vacancy rate of all housing in Nova Scotia.
– the rate of homelessness in Nova Scotia doubled between 2021 and 2022, to critical critical levels, posing a severe challenge to the well-being of its citizens and the overall stability of communities.
– a collaborative and sustainable solution to this issue is imperative, requiring the active participation and collaboration of all three levels of government and the private sector.
– the need for deeply affordable housing is paramount to ensuring vulnerable populations have access to safe and dignified living spaces.
– “deeply affordable housing units” equates to no more than 30% of an individuals’ gross income.
– the encouragement and fostering of diversity in neighborhoods is essential for creating inclusive and vibrant communities;

The party advocates:
– implementing a comprehensive plan to increase the supply of affordable housing units across Nova Scotia; collaborate with developers, non-profit organizations, and community groups to expedite the construction of affordable housing projects; and streamline the approval process, reducing bureaucracy and ensuring efficient construction timelines while using climate-friendly building code, including building 80,000 new homes by 2032 to eliminate the housing shortfall, aiming for a rate of 11,000 new homes per year.
-establishing increased minimum density standards across the province that take into account proximity to transportation and services, and ensuring appropriate zoning to encourage density near universities so students have a place to live.
– eliminating any cases of restrictive covenants or exclusionary zoning that prevent housing from being built.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to protect residential tenants by: implementing strict rent control measures to prevent excessive rent hikes and protect tenants from unaffordable increases; and by strengthening tenant rights by implementing regulations that safeguard against unfair evictions and provide legal recourse for tenants facing housing-related issues.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to incentivize affordable housing by: increasing financial incentives, such as tax breaks and grants, to encourage developers to include affordable housing units in their projects; and by fostering partnerships with private sector entities to create affordable housing opportunities through joint ventures and public-private partnerships.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to support non-profit and co-operative housing by increasing funding and resources, such as low-interest loans and grants, to non-profit organizations and housing co-operatives to develop and maintain affordable housing units and to support their initiatives.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to address homelessness by: developing a comprehensive strategy to address homelessness, focusing on prevention, outreach, and support services; and by fostering collaboration with community organizations and service providers to ensure vulnerable individuals have access to safe, affordable housing options.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to adopt a “Housing First” approach, which prioritizes stable housing for individuals experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness, and to provide supportive services, including mental health support, addiction counseling, and employment assistance, to help individuals maintain their housing stability.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster public-private sector collaboration to address the affordable housing crisis including by establishing an arms-length Housing entity, independent of government, consisting of an inclusive board of directors made up of key stakeholder groups, industry experts, and community organizations to focus on action and delivery.
– investing in new ways of house building, like tilt-up construction, modular housing, mass timber, and factory built housing.
– modernizing the Condo Act to streamline construction of condo developments, encourage more innovative housing solutions such as building rent communities that allow for a mix of ownership and rental units within the same developments, and establishing a fast track approval process for developments that build rental communities.

Deeply Affordable Housing
The party advocates:
– allocating a minimum of 10-15% of all future developments in Nova Scotia to constitute “deeply affordable housing units”, including residential, commercial retrofits, and mixed-use projects.
– sharing financial responsibility for ensuring the sustainability of deeply affordable housing units collaboratively among the private developer and all three levels of government and other stakeholders as appropriate (CMHC and other investors).
– designing the collaborative funding model (formula) to cover the costs of deeply affordable housing units in perpetuity, ensuring long-term affordability and stability.
– implementing a range of incentives for developers to encourage and reward their active participation in providing deeply affordable housing, including tax incentives, expedited permitting processes, and other relevant measures.
– designing and planning deeply affordable housing units within developments to prioritize integration, avoiding concentration and fostering a diverse socio-economic environment.
– ensuring that the development process involves comprehensive community engagement to address concerns and promote understanding, ensuring that the inclusion of deeply affordable housing units contributes positively to the overall community.
– promoting establishment of relationships with reputable not-for-profit organizations (United Way, Shelter NS e.g.) to oversee the “leased units from the developer”, to create a supportive housing continuum path for the chosen residents (criteria to be decided through consultation), to monitor and report back system to track the progress and impact of deeply affordable housing initiatives, ensuring accountability and transparency.
– communicating the deeply affordable housing resolution to relevant housing agencies, and developers involved in housing and real estate projects across Nova Scotia.
– as a funding partner for 110 organisations that control over 3,000 housing units, building enough units to more than double the existing stock, including 4,000 additional units by 2032, by investing in non-profit organizations and creating a trusted non-profit developer program that will fast track applications from organizations who have experience building housing.
– recognizing that housing insecurity disproportionality impacts marginalized communities, ensuring that there is specific funding for seniors housing and housing for women fleeing domestic violence, including working with African Nova Scotian groups and Mi’kmaq communities and prooviding more housing for Nova Scotians with disabilities, to ensure that all Nova Scotians have access to affordable housing.
– to help speed the process of building houses, investing $10M CAD in training for women at NSCC in trades directly related to housing, with a goal of doubling the number of women trained over five years.

Tent Crisis
The party advocates:
– addressing the immediate tent encampment issue by procuring 500 mini-home shelters, at an estimated cost of $10M by purchasing the homes through tender from Nova Scotian companies rather than from the America supplier used by the current government.
– being transparent with communities about the locations of such emergency shelters and ensuring that those housed have access to wraparound supports, transit, and community services.

Co-Op Housing
In order to further address the housing crisis, the party advocates significant investments in co-op housing, with a goal of creating 2,000 new co-op units by 2032. This includes:  (i) offering grants and low-cost loans to build new co-ops and expand existing ones; (ii) opening up the Community Housing Acquisition Program to fund projects that add units to existing co-op projects or building new buildings, where currently the fund can only be used to purchase existing residential properties; and (iii) investing $20M in additional grant funding streams to build new co-ops, expand existing co-ops, and fund co-op repairs.

Labour, Unions & Employment

Labour Shortage
The party states that:
– by 2030, over a quarter of the population of Nova Scotia will be over 65 years of age, and the senior dependency ratio in Nova Scotia is projected to remain well above the national average over the long term.
– fewer workers will slow provincial economic growth, shrink its tax base, put pressure on health care, pension funds and social infrastructure.
– labour shortages cost Nova Scotian businesses $1B in missed opportunities in 2022.

The party advocates:
– promoting expansion and increased funding to programs that recruit and retain skilled workers from international markets (at a level that reflects the urgency of the crisis), including an increase in the tax rebates to workers under the age of 30 in specific trades, and that Nova Scotia negotiates for higher immigration quotas to offset the growing number of retired workers in this province.

Non-Competition Clauses in Employment Agreements
The party:
– advocates banning the use of Non-Compete Clauses to attract workers in high-growth sectors, including the technology industry, in order to encourage competitiveness and innovation by prohibiting unfair non-competes, which are used to restrict work opportunities and suppress salary increases.
– states that in 2021, Ontario became the first Canadian province to prohibit employers from entering into employment contracts or other agreements with an employee that include a non-compete agreement.

Corporations, Competition & Consumers

Small Businesses
The party advocates:
– reducing the small business tax to 1% and raising the income threshold for this preferential rate from $500k to $700k, making Nova Scotia the best province in the country for small business.

Craft Breweries
– supporting craft breweries by following recommendations from the Craft Breweries Association of Nova Scotia to improve the NSLC tiered mark-up Better Deal for Nova Scotians and removing the benefit cap, including work with craft brewers and the NSLC to ensure that local breweries receive the support they need to grow, and aren’t punished for their success. It also undertakes to ensure that the NSLC is highlighting local products and supporting local businesses.

Nova Scotia Wineries
The party:
– states that Nova Scotia produces world class wines and investments in the provincial wine industry pay dividends for the local economy.
– advocates supporting provincial wineries with a direct agriculture subsidy to ensure that they can stay competitive with their international competitors, including the sustainability of farm wineries by developing a provincial replanting and management strategy.
– in addition, it undertakes to reinstate the Wine Development Board to build and maintain a strong relationship between government and industry, and support the sector’s continued success.

Agriculture
The party:
– states that farms are essential for Nova Scotia communities.
– advocates, in order to ensure that provincial farms remain sustainable, development of a Centre for Agriculture Ventures and Enterprises that will bring together different levels of government, post-secondary institutions, and farmers to find innovative ways to support them. One of the first priorities would be to help provinical farms adapt to climate change.
– developing a mental health plan for farmers, who are known to be twice as likely to experience suicidal ideation.

Fisheries
To discourage and prevent illegal fishing, the party advocates (i) an an inquiry into illegal fishing in Nova Scotia; (ii) introduction of a no-tolerance policy for illegal fishing, including introduction of mandatory fines and revocation of licenses for repeat offenders; (iii) modernizing the provincial department of Fisheries and Aquaculture by creating an office responsible for working with the other levels of government to protect provincial fisheries, and (iv) creating a dedicated fisheries enforcement unit to ensure enforcement officers have the resources and focus necessary to protect this essential industry.

Transportation
The party states that:
– a 2017 study identified Nova Scotia as having the most dangerous driving outcomes in Canada; including 76 road fatalities occurred on Nova Scotia roads in 2021 and a further 69 fatalities occurred in 2022.
– rural and suburban areas in Nova Scotia lack accessible, reliable and affordable transportation options, isolating residents in their homes and communities.
– the province established the Joint Regional Transportation Agency (“JRTA”) to address the issue of transportation options for areas within an hour of Halifax Regional Municipality (including Bridgewater, Kentville, Musquodoboit, Truro, and others), with a mandate to review active transportation, bus, and rail options for residents in those communities.
– multiple jurisdictions in Nova Scotia have updated their road design standards to prioritize safety and transportation options, which aim for the reduction of road fatalities to zero (also known as “Vision Zero”).

The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to mandate the Department of Public Works to adopt province-wide road design standards and implement widespread safety improvements on provincially owned roads.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to expand the mandate of the JRTA in phases to improve transportation alternatives across all of Nova Scotia.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to work in collaboration with municipalities to adopt improved road design standards and safety guidelines on municipally owned roads, and hasten the process of adopting improved transportation options, offering financial and expertise support where possible.

MacKay Bridge
The party states that:
– the MacKay Bridge in Halifax is at the end of its life span. It opened in 1970 with a 50-year service life and it is experiencing increasing failures that lead to frequent closures and terrible traffic. A recent study showed that even with increased maintenance, the bridge needs to be replaced or significantly refurbished by 2040. This is a problem contributing to congestion problems today, and is rapidly becoming an issue of public safety. Work needs to begin now.
– the party advocates working with the Halifax Dartmouth Bridge Commission to build a new, six lane bridge with active transportation infrastructure and bus lanes to support rapid transit in Halifax. This will reduce congestion and protect the people and goods that travel that bridge every day.

An Economy at the Service of All People.

As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no comprehensive, downloadable platform or policy documents.  Instead, the party has published a constitution listing its fundamental principles and internal procedures, and a series of non-downloadable online “Commitments” viewable at their website.

The partcy’s constitution states that the social, economic and political progress of Nova Scotia can be assured only by the application of social democratic and egalitarian principles to the governance and administration of public affairs; and the Principles of Social Democracy can be briefly described as including:
(1) That the production and distribution of goods and services shall be directed to meeting the social and individual needs of people within a framework that sustains the environment while maximizing the economy now and in the future;
(2) That the dignity and freedom of the individual is a basic right that must be maintained and extended to all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability;
(3) That the abolition of poverty and the elimination of exploitation are achievable goals and must be the priority of any thinking and compassionate government; and

Housing & Poverty Reduction

Housing
As of November 16, the party’s online commitments include statement(s) that:
– a good home is the foundation of Nova Scotians’ lives. It’s at the centre of childrens’ futures, parents’ security, and communities’ heart and soul.
– for too many Nova Scotians, housing has become a source of anxiety and insecurity, with doubts about making next month’s rent, the future of their leases, and eviction for sake of higher rents.
– the spiraling cost of rent is hurting people across the province, from young families trying to get ahead to seniors on fixed incomes – and everyone in between.
–  home ownership has become a pipedream for most first-time buyers.
– renters under the current government are vulnerable through no fault of their own.
– one-sided manipulation of the rental market and the housing crisis it’s created must end.

The party’s online commitments include:
– establishing rent control that cuts in half the currently allowable rate increase (2.5% from 5%)
– closing the fixed-term lease loophole that has allowed landlords to exploit Nova Scotia’s tight rental market and charge double-digit rent increases.
– implementing a new rent and mortgage tax rebate for low- and middle-income households, to help hundreds of thousands of renters and homeowners by providing an average annual rebate of $900 when their household incomes are under $70,000 a year.  This will benefit approximately half of all Nova Scotia households.
– reversing the current government’s loosening of eviction rules, establishing eviction and renoviction protection that works for both tenants and landlords, and creating a new Residential Tenancy Enforcement Unit, as was recommended by the government’s consultant.
– creating a path to home ownership through a rent-to-own starter home program that combines more home construction with lower up-front costs for first time buyers, working with the growing factory-built home construction industry to deliver high quality, energy effiicent, affordable homes to first time buyers with incomes of less than $100,000 per year, and using public land.
– building 30,000 new affordable rental homes by leveraging federal funding; working with municipalities to identify land they can commit to needed housing construction and to speed up and standardize construction planning and approval timelines; enabling municipalities to levy a tax on vacant lots that are zoned for residential development but where developers are delaying builds; and cutting red tape and encouraging more development across all non-market housing.

Lowering Household Costs
The party’s online commitments include statement(s) that:
–  for three years Nova Scotians have suffered sharp increases in interest rates and the cost of living.  The current government has taken no action.
– Nova Scotia’s poverty rate skyrocket by 52% in the first year of the current government’s term in office, 13.1%, higher than any other province or territory in the country, across the board- for children, people of working age, and seniors.
– rents in Halifax have jumped by a record-setting 18% over three years, and reliance on food banks increased by 14% in just a year.
– reductions in HST offered by other parties benefit those who can afford to buy new things, and do virtually nothing for the 57% of Nova Scotia’s single parents who are classified as food-insecure and trying to simply afford fruits and vegetables for their kids.

The party’s online commitments include:
– an immediate gas tax holiday, to save drivers you 15.5 cents per litre at the pump as long as inflation remains high.
– reducing monthly costs for all Nova Scotians, particularly seniors on fixed incomes and young parents, by removing the provincial portion of HST from phone bills, internet, and groceries.
– implementing a recommendation of the Nova Scotia Energy Poverty Task Force suggesting a bill assistance discount for income-qualified households of 50% for both electricity and fuel oil, saving the average household $1000 annually.

Labour, Unions & Employment  | Corporations, Competition & Consumers

As of November 16, 2024, the party’s online commitments include statements that:
– a strong economy is one where everyone is not just getting by but getting ahead, where life gets a little easier each month, not harder. Where people are rewarded for working hard, with good wages, job security and a safe place to work. That means working with local communities, labour, and First Nations as partners in economic growth and sustainability – because it’s the right thing to do, and because without partnership and reconciliation, uncertainty will continue to delay investment in rural economies and across Nova Scotia.

The party’s online commitments include working to help Nova Scotia small businesses succeed, expand, and create jobs by:
– cutting the small business tax rate to 1.5%, so that businesses can invest more in their growth and hire more workers to take advantage of opportunities.
– creating real incentives to support local businesses, through a buy local program that is inclusive and allows entrepreneurs, rather than corporations, to thrive.
– investing more in training and apprenticeships to help make sure Nova Scotia has the highly trained and well-qualified workers businesses are looking for.

Economy at the Service of All People

 Prior to forming the current government, the party stated that:
– the provincial economy would not truly grow unless provincial workers and the middle class grow with it.
– tired ideas of the past would not get the job done.
– it proposed a “Better Pay Cheque Guarantee,” including:

• giving businesses flexibility to grow and expand, and employees wages that keep up with the high cost of living.
• attracting businesses and workers to the province.
• allowing businesses who employ workers in Nova Scotia to pay their taxes to their employees in salary, rather than paying it to the government, specifically allowing businesses to put 50% of their taxes towards a wage subsidy for employees, or allowing them to choose to spend $100,000 on hiring new staff. Employees earning in the top 20% of a companies payroll would not be eligible for this wage subsidy. The money must be reinvested in the people, working in Nova Scotia.
• through the growing workforce, putting money back into their communities and public services like healthcare and education.

– in order to compete with Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec for industry, skilled workers, and for jobs, incentivizing hiring that is out of reach for many buainesses, and normalizing good-paying jobs.
– for employees that elect to pay taxes rather than workers, it undertook to put money into healthcare, with “no in between.”

Cost of Living
The party states that in order to help families struggling with the cost of living, it:
– is cutting the HST for the first time in Nova Scotia history.
– provided a tax break by indexing tax brackets and increasing the basis personal amount.
– created a seniors care grant.
– implemented an income tax exemption of $50,000 for high-demand trades workers under the age of 30.
– established a province-wide free school lunch program for every student.
– is implementing the highest minimum wage increase in provincial history.
– will cap power rate increases to the Canadian average increase.

Housing
The party states that during its current term in office it:
– established a down payment assistance program to help Nova Scotians buy their first home, by lending up to 5% of the purchase price of the home as a down payment.
– developed a plan to create conditions for building of 41,200 new homes.
– created conditions to support 17,250 more affordable housing units.
– built two new community college residences, with 5 more underway.
– amended the HRM Charter to shorten the approval process for residential housing developments.
– launched a secondary and backyard suite incentive program to make the addition of housing more affordable.
– purchased modular transitional housing for healthcare workers and coverted the Wheelhouse Motel in Lunenburg into new housing for healthcare workers.
– extended rent caps on residential units, to protect renters.

To continue opening new housing options and make it easier to buy a first home, the party undertakes to:
– create a first-time owners program through the Credit Union to decrease the required down.
– make vacant land parcels available to communities for $1, condition on development into affordable housing options.

Transportation for Workers
The party undertakes to:
– eliminate tolls on the Macdonald and MacKay Bridges.
– make the largest ever investment to improve HRM roads, to ease congestion.
– conduct a feasibility study for light rail, starting with Windsor to Mill Cove, Bedford, and in CBRM.

Industries and Corporations
The party states that in order to create conditions for businesses to thrive, it:
– is decreasing the small business tax rate from 2.5% to 1.5%.
– is increasing the small business taxable income threshold from $500,000 to $700,000.
– will focus on smart development of provincial energy, to provide more opportunities for families and result in fewer workers going west for work.
– will make Nova Scotia a world class energy producer in hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.

2024-25 Budget

The party’s 2024-25 budget proposes:
– continued strategic and necessary investments to transform healthcare, build more housing, help families, and grow the economy. Nova Scotia is continuing to grow with more people living and working here, and with increasing opportunities for the province’s young people.
– to continue work accomplished so far while preparing the province to seize future opportunities, maintaining key priorities of:

• Supporting Nova Scotians and Building Communities: helping Nova Scotians to meet the costs of living, including indexation of tax brackets and the basic personal amount, a Supportive Housing Action policy, province-wide school lunch program, a Human Rights Remedy to help people with disabilities better meet their needs, and helping to build resilient communities.
• Key investments in housing and strategic infrastructure are critical to build a strong green economy of the future.

In its 2024-25 budget, the party:
states that in 2023-24, out of a budgeted total of $14,820,301,000 which it estimates will close at actual expenditures of $15,531,008,000, it spent:
– an estimated $57,520,000 for Agriculture.
– an estimated $95,597,000 for Economic Development.
– an estimated $17,046,000 for Fisheries.
– an estimated $233,488,000 for Labour, Skills, and Education.
– an estimated $712,947,000 for Municipal Affairs and Housing.
– an estimated $157,664,000 for Natural Resources and Renewables.
– an estimated $720,621,000 for Public Works.
– an estimated $57,739,000 for Pension Valuation Adjustment.

has allocated, for the 2024-25 fiscal year, of a budgeted total of $16,518,722,000 (a 6% increase):
– $46,682,000 for Agriculture (a decrease of 19%).
– $96,782,000 for Economic Development (an increase of 1%).
– $15,951,000 for Fisheries (a decrease of 6%).
– $241,644,000 for Labour, Skills, and Education (an increase of 3%).
– $680,055,000 for Municipal Affairs and Housing (a decrease of 5%).
– $141,588,000 for Natural Resources and Renewables (a decrease of 10%).
– $716,170,000 for Public Work (a decrease of 1%).
– $66,639,000 for Pension Valuation Adjustment (an increase of 15%).

Responsibilities:  Participation & Subsidiarity

The party states that it understands that:
– that the future of Nova Scotia is dependent on there being justice brought for the climate, the economy, languages, and for the racialized, Mi’kmaq, African Nova Scotian, Acadian, 2SLGBTQQIA+, women, children and youth, children in care, those living with disabilities, and migrant communities, such that communities care for each other and every resident has the means to not only survive, but to thrive.
– true democracy requires evidence-informed policy development in consultation with all individuals, communities, organizations, and affected stakeholders such that all peoples feel welcome and supported in participating in social, economic, environmental, and political decision making that takes into account the knowledge and priorities of all Nova Scotians.
– it supports Participatory Democracy in which everyone in Nova Scotia has the right to express their views and can directly participate in the decisions which affect their lives.
– regards access to safe and nutritious food as a human right.
– regards access to dignified housing as a human right.

Civil Liberties

The party states that:
– all individuals have the right to dignity and to enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms without distinction of race, colour, or national origin.
– despite race being a long-recognized ground protected from discrimination at Canadian law, the historical and current scourge and effect of racism and racial bias continue to taint Nova Scotian institutions and communities, harming and putting at risk racialized persons.
– a healthy, productive and inclusive society promotes anti-racism and anti-discrimination, and upholds principles of equality, equity, equal access to opportunity, and dignity and safety of person.

To advance equality and eliminate racism in Nova Scotia, the party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote education and public awareness on this issue by: implementing anti-racism education programs in schools and educational institutions, fostering understanding, empathy, and cultural competence; developing comprehensive curricula that include the history, contributions, and experiences of diverse communities, promoting inclusivity and combating stereotypes; and by providing resources and training for educators to address and challenge racial bias in classrooms.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to review and strengthen anti-discrimination laws and policies to ensure it effectively protects individuals from racial discrimination across all sectors, including employment, housing, and public services; establish clear guidelines and protocols for reporting and addressing incidents of racism, ensuring a timely and effective response by relevant; and collaborating with community organizations to create safe and accessible reporting mechanisms for instances of racial discrimination.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote diversity and inclusion by: encouraging businesses, organizations, and public institutions to adopt diversity and inclusion policies, ensuring fair representation and equal opportunities for individuals from marginalized communities; implementing programs to support minority-owned businesses, providing access to resources, mentorship, and funding; and by celebrate and promoting cultural events, festivals, and initiatives that showcase the diversity of Nova Scotia’s population.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to foster community engagement and collaboration by: fostering partnerships with community organizations, advocacy groups, and ethnic associations to develop and implement strategies for combating racism; establishing advisory committees or task forces to provide input and guidance on policies and initiatives related to racial equality; and by amplifying the voices of racialized communities through inclusive consultation processes and community forums.
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to address systemic racism by: conducting comprehensive reviews of provincial government policies, practices, and institutions to identify and eliminate systemic racism and biases; implementing strategies to increase representation of racialized individuals within public sector employment, ensuring diversity at all levels of governance; and investing in research and data collection to identify gaps and disparities, guiding evidence-based policy decisions to dismantle systemic racism.

Animal Welfare
The party advocates:
– urging the Government of Nova Scotia to promote animal rights and ethics, by: advocating for the recognition of animals as sentient beings, ensuring their protection from unnecessary pain, suffering, and exploitation; prohibiting cruel practices such as cosmetic testing on animals, fur farming, and the use of animals for entertainment purposes where it involves unnecessary harm or distress; and by promoting alternative methods to animal testing, encouraging the development and use of non-animal testing alternatives in research and product development.

Women in Trades
The party:
– states that as of 2022, less than 9% of trades apprentices in Nova Scotia were women. The province will never overcome the current labour shortage and get more housing built if it is only training half of the available workforce.
– advocates investing $10M to increase training for women at NSCC in trades directly related to housing, with a goal of doubling the number of women being trained over five years.

Domestic Violence
The party:
– states that Nova Scotia is facing a domestic violence epidemic, and more needs to be done to ensure that those fleeing domestic violence have a safe place to stay.
– proposes to work with non-profit organizations to ensure they have the resources they need to continue to staff their shelters, especially considering the increased pressure of the cost of living crisis; beginning with reinstating the approximately $4M that the federal government is no longer providing to women’s shelters in Nova Scotia.

Pay Equity
The party:
– states that as of 2023, women are paid on average 16% less than men for the same work in Canada, according to the OECD.
– it advocates passing both vertical and horizontal pay transparency legislation to increase equity and fairness in the workplace.

Responsibilities:  Participation & Subsidiarity

Non-Government, Community, and Non-Profit Organizations
The party advocates:
– as a part of its plan to eliminate poverty in Nova Scotia and create opportunities for economic advancement, urging the Government of Nova Scotia and the Government of Canada to strengthen community support systems by better supporting community organizations and non-profit organizations that focus on poverty reduction, providing funding, resources, and capacity-building opportunities; fostering partnerships between the government, private sector, and civil society to develop comprehensive poverty reduction strategies; and by promoting initiatives that address systemic barriers, discrimination, and social exclusion faced by marginalized communities.
– to promote animal welfare within the province, urging the Government of Nova Scotia to enhance public education and awareness by collaborating with animal welfare organizations and community groups to organize awareness campaigns, workshops, and seminars to educate the public about proper care, humane treatment, and the importance of spaying/neutering pets; and by fostering partnerships with veterinary clinics and animal shelters to provide low-cost or subsidized spay/neuter programs, reducing the population of stray animals and preventing animal homelessness.
– to promote climate resilience and adaptation, urging the Government of Nova Scotia to provide funding and resources for community-led initiatives that enhance resilience, such as flood management, shoreline protection, and emergency preparedness.

Civil Liberties  |  Human Rights  |  Responsibilities:  Participation & Subsidiarity

As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no comprehensive, downloadable platform or policy documents.  The party has published a constitution listing its fundamental principles and internal procedures, and a series of online “Commitments” viewable at their website.

The party’s online commitments include a statement that its priorities in improving public services include:
– standing up for equity-seeking groups by fully funding the 2SLGBTQIA Action Plan in order to fight stigma and discrimination particularly for 2SLGBTQIA youth and funding organizations that fight Intimate Partner Violence and support Nova Scotians experiencing gender based violence to ensure that survivors of sexualized violence have access to trauma-informed counselling. The party further advocates ending misuse of Non-Disclosure Agreements protect victims of sexual assault from personal and institutional cycles of abuse, bullying, and bad behaviour.

The party’s constitution includes statements that that it believes that the social, economic and political progress of Nova Scotia can be assured only by the application of social democratic and egalitarian principles to the governance and administration of public affairs; and that the Principles of Social Democracy can be briefly described as:
(2) That the dignity and freedom of the individual is a basic right that must be maintained and extended to all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability;
(3) That the abolition of poverty and the elimination of exploitation are achievable goals and must be the priority of any thinking and compassionate government; and
(4) That the people have a right to a meaningful voice in public policy through consultation and participation in all levels of public decision-making.
(5) As an organization existing on the unceded and unconquered territory of the party is committed to the principles of truth and reconciliation and living as treaty people in Mi’kma’ki, and shall take guidance from the Calls to Action in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

Civil Liberties  |  Human Rights  |  Responsibilities:  Participation & Subsidiarity

The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to:

• Civil Liberties
• Human Rights
• Responsibilities:  Participation & Subsidiarity.

Indigenous Peoples

The party acknowledges that its members operate and live on the unceded land of the Mi’kmaq and that Nova Scotians have a responsibility as settlers and signatories of the Peace and Friendship Treaties to actively work toward Truth and Reconciliation to create a society where we learn from their wisdom as stewards of the land and are truly living in peace and friendship with the Mi’kmaq.

Decolonization and Reconciliation

The party states that it:
– supports and recognizes the rights of Mi’kmaq people to the use, protection, and stewardship of land vital to their cultures, health, and well-being.
– acknowledges the historic and current imbalances in the relationship between Mi’kmaq and non-Mi’kmaq people in Nova Scotia and the need to secure the basis for an improved quality of Mi’kmaw life.
– supports healthcare services incorporating traditional practices.

– recognizes the importance and role of extended families and elders, and ancestors.
– supports investment in public education to build awareness about the history, culture, and wisdom of indigenous peoples in Mi’kma’ki.
– supports government investment in preservation and revitalization of the Mi’kmaw language.
– supports collaboration with the federal government to implement the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Missing and Murdered Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit Peoples report, and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
– supports and acknowledges the right of Mi’kmaq people to have decision-making authority over the use of land and resources covered by the Peace and Friendship treaties. The treaties were reinforced in Nova Scotia by the Supreme Court Marshall decisions recognizing their rights to resource extraction.
– supports and acknowledges the co-management of all Crown and other publicly managed land, where no decision on the use or disposition of said land is made, without prior informed consent of Mi’kmaq people.
– supports collaborating with Mi’kmaq leaders to create a Land Back program to return the management and stewardship of all Crown lands to Mi’kmaq communities.

With the Marginalized

Mental Health & Addictions
The party states that:
– the ongoing challenges associated with substance use disorder demand a compassionate, holistic and effective approach to promote physical and mental health and well-being among individuals struggling with addiction.
– it recognizes the success of comprehensive programs in other jurisdictions, particularly the innovative model implemented in Portugal, which has demonstrated positive outcomes in reducing harm and fostering recovery.

The party advocates:
– encouraging the provincial government to establish a comprehensive and evidence-based substance use disorder program through an inclusive, evidence-based, and compassionate approach, which draws inspiration from successful models, including the harm reduction strategies implemented in Portugal.
– integrating harm reduction measures such as supervised consumption sites, needle exchange programs, safe supply and outreach services, to minimize the negative consequences associated with substance use.
– ensuring a continuum of accessible and culturally sensitive treatment services, including detoxification, rehabilitation, counseling, and mental health support, to address the diverse needs of individuals seeking recovery.
– working with other orders of government to create collaborative policies that prioritize a public health approach over criminal, punitive measures, as demonstrated by the successful decriminalization model in Portugal, to create a campaign to reduce stigma and encourage individuals to seek help without fear of legal repercussions.
– promoting the development and implementation of community education programs to raise awareness about the risks of substance use and promote preventive measures. Emphasize evidence-based education in schools and community settings.
– promoting the integration of peer support programs within the continuum of services to leverage the power of shared experiences in aiding recovery and promoting a sense of community.
– promoting the establishment of a robust system for collecting data on substance use trends, treatment outcomes, and the effectiveness of harm reduction measures, and support ongoing research to inform program enhancements and policy adjustments.
– promoting responses that foster collaboration with healthcare professionals, law enforcement, community organizations, and affected individuals to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery.
– promoting approaches that recognize the interconnection between substance use and mental health and ensure the inclusion of mental health services as an integral part of the comprehensive program.
– establishing mechanisms for ongoing program evaluation and adaptability, ensuring that the comprehensive substance use disorder program evolves based on emerging evidence and the evolving needs of the community.
– coordinating responses with other orders of government and relevant stakeholders, urging their commitment to the implementation and funding of this comprehensive substance use disorder program.

Immigrants and Newcomers

The party states that among its four top priorities it includes:
– stopping the current government’s efforts to double the population, by limiting population growth to in-demand workers and their families until the province has enough housing, healthcare, and schools to support more growth.
– as the provincial population is grown to support a growing economy and an aging population, the province must also plan for community infrastructure including roads, schools, doctors, and hospitals. The province needs an infrastructure plan to keep up with—and continually manage—such growth in order to ensure that sustainable levels are maintained.
– to that end it advocates ensuring that immigration targets are focused on growing the number of professionals needed in critical areas, including but not limited to: (i) physicians and healthcare professionals; (ii) teachers and early-childhood educators; (iii) construction workers and skilled tradespeople; and (iv) agriculture and aquaculture workers.
– it further advocates development of a comprehensive infrastructure development strategy based on population growth and immigration patterns for education, transportation, healthcare infrastructure, and social programs.

Rural Communities

The party states that as a first major step in addressing the cost of living crisis, it advocates:
– it advocates making public transit free across Nova Scotia, thereby eliminating barriers to transportation and providing up to $5,000 per year in savings for those who switch from driving to commuting by public transit, and investing in rural community transport to make it the most effective in Nova Scotia’s history, ensuring that community transportation organizations can lower costs and increase services.

Cape Breton
The party advocates:
– investing $300M over four years to spur economic development and infrastructure growth in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, using the funding to address (i) improving the CBRM’s infrastructure, (ii) growing the CBRM’s economy, (iii) improving opportunities for CBRM workers, (iv) alleviating the CBRM’s housing crisis, (v) improving transit in CBRM, and (vi) building capital projects that will have a long-term impact on Cape Breton.
– the party also commits to one-on-one negotiations with the CBRM regarding a CBRM municipal charter, which takes into account the region’s unique economic, social, and equalization circumstances.

The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to solidarity with:
• Indigenous Peoples

With the Marginalized  |  Indigenous Peoples  |  Rural Communities  |  Immigrants & Newcomers

As of November 16, 2024, the party has published no comprehensive platform or policy documents.   The party’s constitution states that it believes that the social, economic and political progress of Nova Scotia can be assured only by the application of social democratic and egalitarian principles to the governance and administration of public affairs; and that the Principles of Social Democracy can be briefly described as:

(1) That the production and distribution of goods and services shall be directed to meeting the social and individual needs of people within a framework that sustains the environment while maximizing the economy now and in the future;
(2) That the dignity and freedom of the individual is a basic right that must be maintained and extended to all persons regardless of race, ethnic background, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, or disability;
(3) That the abolition of poverty and the elimination of exploitation are achievable goals and must be the priority of any thinking and compassionate government; and
(4) That the people have a right to a meaningful voice in public policy through consultation and participation in all levels of public decision-making.
(5) As an organization existing on the unceded and unconquered territory of the party is committed to the principles of truth and reconciliation and living as treaty people in Mi’kma’ki, and shall take guidance from the Calls to Action in the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

The party has published no current specific statement concerning its policies relating to solidarity with:

• Those living with Disabilities or Addictions
• Rural Communities
• Immigrants and Newcomers

With the Marginalized  |  Indigenous Peoples  |  Rural Communities  |  Immigrants & Newcomers

The party has published no current statement concerning its policies relating to solidarity with:

• Indigenous Peoples
• Rural Communities
• Immigrants & Newcomers