Health care among priority issues for Queens-Shelburne MLA
Health care is a priority issue for opposition member Kim Masland going into the spring setting of the legislature.
“My job in opposition is to point out what is not working,” said Masland, Queens-Shelburne MLA. “In my constituency there are two ERs. One in Queens that never closes its doors and the one at Roseway which sadly is not working,” logging 71 days of closures last year.
Masland said the last time money was invested in the health-care budget it “does not seem to be translating on the ground."
"I get the feeling from what I see and hear Nova Scotians don’t feel they have a $4.10 billion health-care system here in Nova Scotia,” she said. “I hear from constituents weekly, even daily, they don’t have access to primary health care, they don’t have a family doctor.”
“My job in opposition is to point out what is not working,”
Kim Masland
Masland said the great thing about the spring budget session is that it gives MLAs the opportunity to sit down with minsters and ask questions.
“It’s a great time to ask a lot of questions,” she said. “I would like see the government be accountable and transparent in their budget. They need to realize and identify where the money is not translating on the ground. There needs to be accountability.”
Mental health service delivery, aging long-term care facilities, rural internet and transportation concerns are also on Masland’s radar.
“I was delighted when the government put $11.7 million into the mental health budget, but sadly we’re still seeing people sitting in emergency waiting 12 hours in an emotional crisis and leaving because they feel like no one cares or they’re told to go home with pamphlets or seek counselling. It's not working," she said. "If you’re going to put $11.7 million into the mental health care budget show us where the results are coming. Where is the money working?”
Masland also said she has met with the Tri-County Women’s Centre.
“Here is a group that had had tremendous success with therapeutic treatment and counselling for victims of sexualized violence and this program has been incredible but every year they are going hand out, hoping the government is going to give them funding to keep going. They have 25 people right now they are servicing and another 12 on a wait list.”
Masland notes similar centres in Colchester and Antigonish have three-year funding agreements.
“Here we have a group that is underfunded and not fairly funded.”
Concerns with Roseway Manor and Queens Manor long-term care facilities are also top of mind for Masland.
“I know the government has been working on long-term care strategy, but I would like to see money in this budget where the government can show to Nova Scotians, they have a plan that there will be adequate long-term care beds and facilities when we need them.”
Masland said she would also like to see an increase in the Transportation and Infrastructure (TIR) Renewal budget, which has been set at $120 million for the past 12 years.
“The cost of materials, employees, repairs to equipment are all increasing so how can we continue to maintain our road system?" she said. "We have a lot of back roads in rural Nova Scotia. We’ve seen they have been neglected for years with band-aid after band-aid. How can we continue to expect to maintain the roads without a budget increase?”