March 12, 2021
Nova Scotia Legislature
Mr. Speaker, Dartmouth North is a vibrant community that is home to many people facing systemic discrimination and marginalization, including a historical African Nova Scotian community. Our beautiful community has some of the lowest incomes and some of the highest levels of social deprivation, food insecurity, and rates of mental health and addiction disorders in the province. Dartmouth North also has no publicly funded mental health and addictions clinics. From people who access these services, they currently get themselves to downtown Dartmouth to one of the three locations there. Many people walk or use mobility aids to get to their appointments, some take transit and some drive. Later this Spring, Mental Health and Addictions will be closing all downtown Dartmouth locations and moving to a new building in Portland Hills - an increased distance of almost seven kilometres for people in Dartmouth North. This new location is difficult to access by foot, mobility aid, or public transit for people in my community and may mean the difference between getting and not getting mental health services. Mr. Speaker, I am calling on the government to support the call from members of my community and ensure stable and permanent satellite mental health services in accessible locations in Dartmouth North.