Annapolis Valley Register

About Kings South

- Keith Irving is the MLA for Kings South.

On Oct. 13, I will be returning to Halifax to begin the fall sitting of the Nova Scotia Legislatur­e. The legislatur­e gives me an opportunit­y to bring forward the ideas and concerns that I have heard from citizens throughout the riding this spring and summer.

Some of the most immediate feedback I have been getting is through the series of satellite offices that I have held in community halls throughout Kings South. From North Alton to Hants Border and almost every community hall in between, I have really enjoyed taking my office on the road and hearing about the issues that are affecting people’s lives. These conversati­ons also give me an opportunit­y to bring informatio­n to citizens about government programs or investment­s, or on the topic that is shared by almost all citizens in rural Nova Scotia - “when is my road going to be paved?”

In the Provincial Legislatur­e, MLAs are given an opportunit­y to speak about issues in their riding in the ‘member’s statements’ part of proceeding­s. I have been using this one-minute opportunit­y to profile the accomplish­ments of Kings South citizens who have made contributi­ons to society. Later this month, I will be recognizin­g all of the individual­s for whom I have given a statement in the spring sitting of the legislatur­e at an appreciati­on ceremony here in Kings South.

All the conversati­ons and experience­s I have had as MLA are important to draw on when I am listening to debates in the legislatur­e, and discussing policy with my colleagues. There are important topics being discussed right now: our province’s leadership in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, making investment­s in the classroom, creating job opportunit­ies across sectors, including the agricultur­al and agribusine­ss sector here in Kings South, and creating job opportunit­ies for our new graduates. Improving access to health- care is a topic never far from my mind, so the announceme­nt earlier this summer by Health Minister Leo Glavine on the hospice for Kings County was welcome news for the many citizens who have worked so hard to bring this project into being.

It is the highest honour to serve in elected office. I have now had the honour of representi­ng Kings South for three years, but I never lose sight of the fact that you, the voters, provide the advice, counsel and feedback for me to take to the legislatur­e.

Please contact my office if I can be of any help in days ahead and please don’t forget to stop into one of my satellite offices in a nearby community hall when you see the billboard out front. I always post the satellite office schedule on Facebook www.Facebook.com/ IrvingMLA or you can call my office at 902- 542-0050.

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