Opposition focuses on affordability
“Everybody notices the price of groceries, everybody notices at the end of the month that they have less money and we need this government to start to address it as a real issue.” Claudia Chender NDP Leader
Opposition parties intend to lay affordability issues directly at the feet of the governing Progressive Conservatives when the Nova Scotia legislature opens its spring session Tuesday.
“We are going to be focused on some key areas for Nova Scotians, particularly around affordability and housing,” said Liberal Leader Zach Churchill, surrounded by the majority of his party’s 15 members for a news conference at Province House on Monday.
“Nova Scotia has gone from being one of the most affordable places to live in this country, to one of the most expensive in the last two years,” Churchill said.
Churchill said the province has the highest inflationary costs on goods and services in the country, the highest rent increases and the cost of electricity has gone up more than 14 per cent.
“On top of that, we have the highest sales and income taxes in the country,” he said. “It’s never been more expensive to live here in Nova Scotia, whether I’m talking to a fixedincome senior or a working family or a young person coming up trying to carve out a life here, everybody is saying the same thing.”
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said her caucus members are hearing the same complaints.
“Everybody notices the price of groceries, everybody notices at the end of the month that they have less money and we need this government to start to address it as a real issue,” Chender said.
BUDGET COMING THURSDAY
The PCS, who hold 33 of the 55 seats in the House with the recent defection of Brendan Maguire, the MLA for Halifax Atlantic, from the Liberals to the governing side, will deliver their third budget since being elected in August 2021 on Thursday.
“What we hope to see is some tax relief to Nova Scotians like we’ve been advocating for,” Churchill said of the budget, coupled with the Liberals’ vow to cut the HST by two percentage points if elected.
“We’ve been pushing every single session to index income tax to inflation, we’re the only single province that doesn’t do that,” he said.
“This would be a good time to provide some income tax relief for Nova Scotians who are paying the highest income tax in the country.”
Chender said first and foremost, the NDP would like budget funding to reinstate the $1,000 heating assistance rebate.
“Energy poverty is a huge issue in Nova Scotia, bills are skyrocketing, we need people to get the help that they need to pay those bills,” Chender said.
“We need to finally see an increase in income assistance. We have an exploding homeless population despite the most housing starts ever here in HRM, the Houston government’s housing plan is not working. We need income assistance, we need people who are struggling to be able to stay housed and to eat.”
Chender said the budget must allot funding for a real plan on health care, including waiving Pharmacare fees for seniors so people can afford their medication and stay out of the hospital.
Both opposition leaders said it is time for the province to introduce a universal school food program.
‘QUID PRO QUO MENTALITY’
The Liberals are left with 15 seats after the aisle hop by Maguire but Churchill said the move doesn’t impact the passage of legislation.
“Obviously, there’s been an impact on our team but I can think about this and I do think the whole situation does say more about the Houston government than it does about our (party),” Churchill said.
“Premier Houston is someone who governs with a quid pro quo mentality, he strikes deals with people. I think he has shown a lack of loyalty to his own caucus and folks who have worked very hard with him for a number of years and we’ll see how that all plays out this session but in terms of practicality, the government still has a majority and they’ll be able to pass whatever legislation they can and our group is still strong and we commit to fighting for the things that matter to Nova Scotians right now and that’s having a more affordable life here.”
Maguire was instated as the Community Services in the crossover and Chender said he will have to take responsibility for what the government puts forward in the budget, despite the fact that he likely had no influence on the budget details.