Federal money is on the table. Why not provide free birth control for Nova Scotians?

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : Manitoba has made history as the first province to sign the federal pharmacare agreement. Manitoba will now get $219 million over the next four years to cover medications like birth control. Providing free birth control would save Nova Scotians money. It would help address the gender-based violence epidemic. We have reminded this government about this opportunity countless times but we have yet to see any action. Why is Nova Scotia dragging its feet on signing this deal and giving Nova Scotians access to the medications they need?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON « » : Again, I'll answer the question that we are in active negotiations with the federal government regarding the deal. We need to make sure that this is a financially sustainable approach. We appreciate the opportunity that is before us, but we also have economic realities here that we need to ensure that if that money sunsets - and we expect that after three to five years it will - that we are going to have the capacity to continue to provide the same amount of coverage. In order to do that, we need to look at how we look at the natural resources in this province, how we generate economic development, how we do all of these things; but the Opposition have had nothing good to say about it since we started. I am very committed to looking at this deal and negotiating, but we need to look at the economic opportunities in this province.

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : I know the minister knows this, but reproductive health is an economic opportunity for Nova Scotians. It's all connected. Manitoba didn't wait for the federal money to come in. The province started covering birth control in the Fall because it knew it was the right thing to do, and it was economically sound. We are telling the government that there is money for them on the table right now and every day they delay, Nova Scotians are forced to spend more of their own money to cover this medication. My question is: Will the government ensure that Nova Scotians will have access to the medications they need?

MICHELLE THOMPSON « » : Again, there are a number of ways that people can access birth control through this province. We've talked about them before. Certainly if there is a financial barrier, through the Department of Opportunities and Social Development people have access to birth control. We have the Nova Scotia Family Pharmacare Program. Some people have private insurance - all these different ways to support people who require birth control. We are actively negotiating with the federal government. We cannot rush this negotiation. We cannot get a bad deal for Nova Scotians. We've seen that in the past with other deals when they've been rushed. We need to take our time. We need to ensure that we're doing the right things, that there is economic stability moving forward when and if that money sunsets, which we expect it will.

Free access to birth control would reduce reproductive coercion

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : The Transition House Association of Nova Scotia recently released a research brief, Reproductive Coercion and Intimate Partner Violence, and I'll table it. This is a form of gender-based violence that involves controlling another person's reproductive rights. The document recommends implementing access to universal, no-cost coverage of prescription contraception. Knowing that having free access to birth control can reduce reproductive coercion in this province, why does this government refuse to provide free birth control to its citizens?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON « » : We currently have programs that are available to people who are seeking birth control. We have our Family Pharmacare Program, people who also have private insurance. There are also some individuals who require additional support and through the Department of Opportunities and Social Development there are opportunities for people to access birth control. We know it's an important issue. We'll continue to work throughout government to best understand how to serve Nova Scotians.

SUSAN LEBLANC « » : All of those things are true but there are lots of people who are still falling through the cracks. That is why there is a massive call across the province and across the country for barrier-free, complete access to free birth control, so that the people who don't have those opportunities are able to access birth control. There's federal funding on the table right now to provide free birth control for all Nova Scotians. This is an important and simple step for us to take to help reduce the impacts of reproductive coercion in this country. We have yet to hear a good reason as to why the government has not taken this step. I'll ask again: Why won't this government work with the feds to provide Nova Scotians with free birth control to help address the epidemic of gender-based violence?

MICHELLE THOMPSON « » : We really are currently in negotiations with the federal government. The two departments are speaking about how best to serve Nova Scotians, what the negotiations may look like. It's not a straightforward negotiation. We have to make sure that it is a program that is sustainable when the money sunsets. It's great to get the money upfront, but eventually that money will go away. We need to make sure that we make the appropriate choices. We need to make sure that it's financially sustainable moving forward when the money sunsets. We continue to be in active negotiations. I'm very hopeful that we'll have more information soon.

Why is there no funding for birth control in the budget?

Yesterday I asked the Minister of Health why this year‘s budget didn’t include funding for free birth control. Below is our exchange:

SUSAN LEBLANC : Speaker, programs that offer free birth control have been shown to be revenue-positive, even in provinces that are funding these medications independently. The cost of providing free birth control is considerably lower than the costs associated with unintended pregnancy, and I can table that. Reproductive rights include access to birth control, and at a time when Nova Scotians are struggling financially, eliminating barriers to birth control is key to ensuring equal access and choice.

My question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness: Why is there no funding for birth control in the budget tabled yesterday?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON : Certainly, we currently have a number of programs in Nova Scotia. We offer support through the Family Pharmacare Program. Also, for those who have financial challenges, through the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, there is opportunity to cover birth control, as well as a variety of other ways. We appreciate the question. There has been a lot of advocacy done in regard to birth control. We continue to look at the program available through the federal government and negotiate our deals. Perhaps, there will be more to say in the future.

SUSAN LEBLANC: We need barrier-free access to birth control now. Another initiative that is good for women's health and good for our health care system is take-home HPV test kits. But again, there was no money in the budget for this. This is despite the fact that Nova Scotia Health Authority has said, "We are actively planning the introduction of HPV cell screening, but I understand that this program has not been funded yet by the government." I'll table that. My question for the minister is: Where is the funding for the take-home HPV test kits?

MICHELLE THOMPSON : Again, we are looking at a program for take-home HPV kits. We're working with clinicians to understand how best to roll out that program. There's nothing being held back. That program is not fully realized yet. We are working with the clinicians, who will look at that program and understand how it's best suited to the Nova Scotian environment.

Why won’t the Health Minister help Jennifer Brady get the care she needs?

On September 19th I asked the Minister of Health if she would end the government’s legal battle against Jennifer Brady and allow Ms. Brady to receive the care she needs. Jennifer Brady has a debilitating lymphedema, and there is no treatment currently available in Nova Scotia. The department of health is saying it won’t cover out of province expenses without a specialist referral made in the province, but no specialist exists here. Jennifer has applied for medically assisted death earlier this year. We must not allow Jennifer Brady to die or live in pain when treatment is available. Below is our full exchange:

SUSAN LEBLANC : Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness. The minister's department has been fighting Jennifer Brady in court for two years over a procedure that is covered by MSI. My question is: Why? Ms. Brady has debilitating lymphedema and there is no treatment currently available in Nova Scotia. The department is saying it won't cover out-of-province expenses without a specialist's referral made in the province, but no specialist exists here. Will the minister end this legal battle and allow Jennifer Brady to receive the care she needs?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: I certainly know that this is a very difficult situation for Ms. Brady. This matter is before the courts, and I will not comment.

SUSAN LEBLANC: The matter is in the courts; it's also on national news as Ms. Brady has shared her story with the CBC. Without access to the care she needs, Ms. Brady applied for MAID earlier this year. The head clinician who reviewed her application found that it met all criteria except that the condition cannot be treated. There is treatment available. As the clinician told the minister's department in his letter: Your office can make that happen. We know it is within the minister's ability to help Ms. Brady and many others like her. Will she do that?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: Again, I appreciate that this is a very difficult situation. Ms. Brady is free to share her personal health information. I, however, am not, and so I will not be able to comment any further on this situation.

Asking Government about Seniors Pharmacare

I asked the Minister of Health and Wellness what the government was doing to ensure seniors can afford the prescriptions they need. Here is our full exchange.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, last week, the Minister of Health and Wellness stated that this government is very focused on the Seniors’ Pharmacare Program, and I will table that. Despite this focus, the number of late enrolment penalties being applied are rising at a startling pace. Last year, there were over 2,500 late enrolment penalties compared to just 1,452 three years earlier. These penalties are, in part, because seniors can’t afford Pharmacare. What is the minister doing to ensure seniors can afford the prescriptions that they need?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: We are very watchful of our Pharmacare programs. We certainly know that there are seniors we work with on a regular basis to support them in having access to medications. Over the last three years, we have absorbed over $9 million, not only in additional medications added to the formulary but also in order to keep completely the same our co-pay and premium payments. We know that some seniors are experiencing cost of living issues, which is why we’ve introduced the Seniors Care Grant. We are looking at innovative ways to support seniors, not only through the Pharmacare program but through other programs in government.

SUSAN LEBLANC: The Seniors Care Grant, while it is helpful, does not cover the cost of medication. Too frequently, Nova Scotians are faced with a trade-off between either paying for food or prescriptions. In 2023, the government’s own Housing Needs Assessment Report found that one in four people do not take their medication as prescribed because they can’t afford to. Feed Nova Scotia has reported that 56 per cent of food bank clients surveyed have had to sacrifice buying food to pay for prescriptions. When will the government support the health of Nova Scotians by ensuring that all can access the medication they need?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: As I’ve indicated before, the Pharmacare programs in this province are very important to all of us. Certainly, we support seniors. I would like to say, as an example, we recently introduced the Sensor-based Glucose Monitoring Program, which is an incredible investment in Nova Scotia. We also extended and expanded the Insulin Pump Program as well. I have heard from individuals who said that this program alone - those two things, those two investments - have increased their household income by $600 per month. When we look at these programs, we look at very innovative ways in order for us to make sure that Nova Scotians who need the care that they deserve will get it, and we’ll continue to do that.

Pressing the Government About Shannex-Hogan Court Spending

On September 10 I asked the Minister of Health and Wellness to tell us what the public is getting for the $120 million thee government is spending on the Shannex Hogan Court facility. Below is our exchange:

SUSAN LEBLANC : My question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness. In March of this year, representatives from the Nova Scotia Health Authority said that agreements with Shannex over the sale of the Hogan Court hotel were ongoing and that it would be finalized in a matter of weeks. At the time, full costs were still unknown. Shannex's rate was being negotiated and consultants were still being paid for the work on the project. My question is: Can the minister confirm if a final agreement is in place and what is the total cost to Nova Scotians?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON : Certainly, we continue with this exciting project that we are happy to partner with Shannex on: Parkland West Bedford , a state-of-the-art transition to care facility. While they have taken over the property itself, we continue to work with them and more details will be available.

SUSAN LEBLANC: That's a disappointing response, actually. The Auditor General's February report on the facility raised serious questions about this government's use of untendered agreements, even with Shannex themselves, and despite this criticism, the government's tender database shows a June 13th approval of a startling $120 million untendered contract to Shannex. My question is: Can the minister tell us what this $120 million is getting us, and why, despite the warnings and criticisms from the Auditor General, this government is still spending massive sums of taxpayers' dollars in the dark?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: The building and the model that has been innovated and imagined in Nova Scotia at West Bedford is something that we should all be very proud of. We have world-class experts who are going to be providing care to frail, elderly people who are in hospital currently, who are transitioning to a home that is going to provide state-of-the-art elder care, which we need in this province. We are so fortunate to have that and we will continue to work on innovative ideas. It does happen through an alternative procurement offer which allows us to be nimble. We are either too fast or we are too slow, but on this deal, I think we are just right.

Asking about the Lack of Need a Family Doctor Registry Information

On September 5 I asked the Minister of Health and Wellness why the Houston government won’t release an update to the list of people waiting for a Doctor or Nurse Practitioner:

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, here we are embarking on yet another month without any update to the Need a Family Practice Registry. In June, when the list was last updated, 16.2 per cent of the population - more than 160,000 Nova Scotians - were on the waiting list, waiting to be attached to primary care. I can table that. This government can play around with the data all it wants, but the fact remains that the health care crisis in this province is worsening, and people want to know when things will get better. We didn't hear an answer from the Premier, so I'm going to ask the Minister of Health and Wellness.

To the Minister of Health and Wellness: Why won't this government release an update to the Need a Family Practice Registry?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: As we did last Summer, we have undertaken a validation exercise. The people who are currently on the Need a Family Practice Registry are now being called to have their information validated. We want to understand whether they have already been attached, because the functionality of that list needs to be improved. We continue to do that. We're understanding their health status. We're understanding all the situations that lead them to be on that registry. It is moving from a list that was never looked at or managed to a registry that allows people to connect to primary care, to connect to chronic disease management and pre-natal care. It cannot be rushed, and we're doing a wonderful job through the Nova Scotia Health Authority. When those numbers are ready, they will be released.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Last Spring, the Premier indicated his government might scrap the Need a Family Practice Registry altogether. Now the Nova Scotia Health Authority has been reviewing the registry for months, trying to remove people from the list. The last time this government reviewed the registry, most were removed because of invalid health cards, and many others were mistakenly removed. Can the minister explain why this government is spending more time hiding and downplaying the list than it is working to attach people to care?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: I don't think calling all the individuals who are on that registry to find out more about their health care is hiding. I would say that is patient-centred care, and I'm very proud of the work that's happening around validating that list. What's important to understand about that list - to quote the honourable Dr. Jane Philpott again, "Nova Scotia leads the way on access to primary care, literally calling everyone on the registry to validate details, assess risk, provide interim measures as they recruit and build primary care teams with the end goal of a health home for every community. Other provinces take note."

Pressing the Minister about accessing primary care

On April 4, 2024 I asked the Minister of Health and Wellness about people’s troubles accessing primary health care in Nova Scotia:

SUSAN LEBLANC: Our offices hear regularly from people who are struggling to have their needs met without attachment to primary care. One told us, “I live with some chronic ailments, and I have no support to properly manage them. My partner is in a similar position. I have three children, and there are many things I would like to have support with from a primary care provider.” Another person said, “Both of us have multiple disabilities. My spouse’s health needs constant monitoring. We have no continuity of care, and it is stressful.” My question to the Minister of Health and Wellness is: Can the minister assure these and all 160,000 Nova Scotians on the Need a Family Practice wait-list that they will have attachment to a primary caregiver?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: I do want to assure folks who are on the Need a Family Practice Registry that one of the most important things and options available is to update their health information. Recently, as a result, people living with chronic conditions such as diabetes have actually been attached to a clinic to support their health care needs. Also, they’ve been scanning for people who have time-limited conditions such as pregnancy to make sure that people have access to the care they need. There are a number of ways in which people can access, and it also speaks to the necessary and important step of making sure that every individual in Nova Scotia has access to their health care records to ensure continuity of care.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Not sure how those two things line up, but let’s go on to the next question. Another person told us: “I can utilize services like Maple for refills, but no one is consistent. When my mental health is worse, I don’t have anyone to provide support and help change my meds if needed.” Another said: My 77-year-old father has been without a family doctor for several years now and has been waiting the whole time. He’s getting his prescriptions refilled by phone appointments but has had several health issues that need a primary care doctor as a main point of contact. He’s dealing with prostate cancer, high blood pressure, joint issues, and all the things that go hand in hand with getting old, all without a family doctor. Are these the people whom this government thinks are managing just fine with virtual care?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: Again, I go back to how important it is for individuals to work either through 811 or online in order to update their information. We know that there are people who do require complex care. In some cases, that can be handled through a pharmacy, as an example - cardiovascular health, there’s some diabetic care that can happen through there. There are a number of different avenues. We are looking at attaching people to a family practice. A family physician is very important, but there are other primary care providers who can support people in a healthhome environment. I would encourage people to make sure their information is updated on the Need a Family Practice Registry, and also to look at other avenues in which they can get support. We are scanning that Need a Family Practice Registry on a regular basis to look for people with chronic conditions and attach them to appropriate chronic care.

Asking the Minister of Health About Nova Scotians' Personal Health Information

SUSAN LEBLANC: Late last night, under the cover of darkness, government members discussed at length the mounting concerns about this government’s proposed new approach to the disclosure of personal health information, which physicians have warned will fundamentally change the nature of the patient-doctor relationship and potentially break people’s trust in their physicians by allowing unrestricted disclosure of deeply private information. Can the Minister of Health and Wellness explain: What is so important that requires this government to play with fire with our personal information?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: As I said yesterday, there are already requirements in place for the Minister of Health and Wellness that that individual has to meet under the Personal Health Information Act already. This is about getting information in the hands of Nova Scotians so that they can have their record in their hands and they can navigate the health care system. We have seen this be hugely successful in other jurisdictions. We have a responsibility to manage the health care system. We receive aggregate data from our hospitals, from our clinics, from all over, but we don’t have aggregate data from our primary care. That’s what this is about: managing a system, managing it well, managing it appropriately, and giving people access to their patient records.

SUSAN LEBLANC: The government has indicated that these changes are needed to advance the work of the YourHealthNS app - has anyone heard of that app, by the way? - which in part is being run by an Ontario-based company that was awarded this work in an untendered $50 million five-year contract last year. It’s recently come to light that this company has been facing financial challenges and was recently acquired by an investment firm. Last week in Estimates, I asked the minister about the sale and was told by the minister that the contract would be assumed by the buyer. Can the minister confirm: Has anyone from the department been in contact with the new owner of people’s private health information, and what does all this mean for Nova Scotia’s health data?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: I want to assure Nova Scotians that we are absolutely in compliance with all of the privacy laws that are in place. We want people to have access to their health records. We want people to be able to be their advocates in the health care system. People are saying, as we hear all the time from the feedback on the app, We want more. We want to know where our records are. We want to know what our bloodwork says. We want to know about our diagnostic imaging. People are asking for this information. Through this legislation and through the work that is happening with the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the individuals who are responsible for privacy to support us in granting that request, there is nothing to fear for Nova Scotians.

Question Period: 156,000+ on the doctor waitlist. Why is gov dismissing them?

My exchange with Health Minister Michelle Thompson about the Need a Family Practice wait list:

Last week, the Premier said: “There are different reasons people are on the list. Some actually have a doctor, but they don’t like their doctor, or they’re worried the doctor might retire, but they have access to care.” I can table that. I find this puzzling. The government actually publicly reports people’s reasons for joining the Need a Family Practice wait-list, which I will table: 54,708 are on the list because they’re new to the area; 15,672 have not needed a provider until now; 39,060 say their provider closed their practice; 31,092 said their provider had retired; and 15,256 say their provider is retiring. None of these are what the Premier said. My question is: Why is this government trying to detract from the very real experience and anxiety of the thousands of Nova Scotians without attachment to primary care?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: We do continue to use the Need a Family Practice registry as one of the indicators that is important, but it’s not the only one. We do have to look at the accessibility of health care. People languished on that list for a long time before we formed government, and there was no other access point for them, other than waiting at the emergency department. We have created 60,000 new appointments per month - that’s 720,000 per year - in order for people to access health care. We are working with the list. We understand who’s on that list. We are finding different pathways for individuals who have a variety of different concerns, and we will continue to attach and provide access to people in Nova Scotia.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Also last week, the Premier told us that only some Nova Scotians need a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and that for others, virtual is working just fine. I just tabled that. These certainly aren’t the people we speak to, who without attachment to care live in constant fear of getting sick: people with young children; people who need controlled medications prescribed or titrated; people with complex health needs. Can the minister tell the 156,000 people who are waiting which one of them doesn’t need a doctor?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: It is very important that if individuals are on that list, they do update their information. Recently, we’ve been able to attach 13,000 people. Some of those people were pregnant, for example. We know they have a time-sensitive condition that requires them to be attached to a primary care provider. We were able to attach a number of individuals directly to diabetic education centres. There are other people who can look after complex needs, like our pharmacists who can manage chronic disease, and we’re seeing that through the pilot that we have across the province. There are many ways to access care. We have also given over 10,000 patients access to their information, so that they can be better advocates for themselves in accessing and attaching for health care.

Kerian Burnett MSI Congratulations

I gave the following members statement in the Nova Scotia Legislature on March 22, 2024:

Speaker, Kerian Burnett, a migrant worker from Jamaica, got very good news recently. She finally got her MSI card in the mail. This was the result of a multi-year fight to get health coverage in the wake of her 2022 cervical cancer diagnosis. As a migrant worker in the strawberry fields, Kerian was not eligible for MSI, and her two surgeries cost $81,000. In 2023, Kerian was approved for the Interim Federal Health Program. In January of this year, she was granted a work permit through to July 2025. That work permit made her eligible for MSI. Though Kerian now has medical coverage, many migrant workers do not, as their work permits are not long enough to qualify. Kerian and No One is Illegal, Halifax/Kjipuktuk, which has supported her through her treatment and fight for coverage, are calling on the provincial government to immediately provide migrant workers with MSI coverage when they arrive in Nova Scotia. I congratulate Kerian on receiving her MSI card. I wish her good health, and I stand in solidarity with No One is Illegal and migrant workers, and their call for MSI for all.

Susan Leblanc Asks What will Goverment do to Ensure Measles Vaccine Supply

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang recently urged Nova Scotians to check their immunization status, and for many to update their measles vaccination. Now we’re hearing that pharmacies and primary care providers are overwhelmed by demand. There are simply not enough doses of the vaccine. Kari Ellen Graham, a pharmacist in Halifax, has said, “The bottom line is you could try your pharmacy, although most pharmacies are out . . . a lot of doctor’s offices are now out.” How are Nova Scotians supposed to protect themselves and follow the advice of the Chief Medical Officer if there are no shots available?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: First of all, I want to clarify and go on the record that there are shots available. There is MMR vaccine in this province. There is no shortage. Because of the demand, the orders that physicians and pharmacists have, they’ve gone through those orders more quickly. It’s simply reaching back out to the BioDepot, explaining that they are out of the vaccine, and ordering more.

SUSAN LEBLANC: It would be great if people could access the vaccine through mobile health units in cases where pharmacies and primary care providers are not a viable option, but according to Nova Scotia Health Authority’s website, many parts of Nova Scotia do not have mobile immunization clinics scheduled until April, and many are not even offering the measles vaccine. Measles cases across Canada are on the rise- we’ve heard this. Nova Scotians should not have to wait several more weeks to access the recommended vaccination. What is this government doing to ensure that all Nova Scotians have access to the vaccinations they need when they need them?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: Nova Scotians have a variety of different ways in which they can access vaccines. They can access them through the mobile clinics, they can access them through primary care providers, they can access them through pharmacists. There are a variety of different ways. There is no shortage. There is high demand, which has caused offices and folks to go through their supply, but there is no shortage of the vaccine. If individuals require more vaccine- whether they have a pharmacy or whether they have an office- they simply need to reach out to the BioDepot and increase their supply.

Susan Leblanc asks the Minister to address nursing burnout and add locums

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness. This province spent $126 million last year on travel nurses who work for private agencies. I can table that. Despite this large sum, our nursing shortage is not going away. The Nova Scotia Health Authority continues to have over a thousand nursing vacancies. Too many of our nurses are having to work 24-hour shifts, while others have to work up to six days a week. This is leading to burnout and nurses leaving the line of work. The travel nurse program is making it worse. On top of burnout, local nurses are working next to travel nurses who are making much more money. Why is this government continuing to throw money at private nursing agencies when the perceived solution is clearly not working?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: We know that there is a provincial and national nursing shortage. We have to use travel companies right now. There is no other alternative. It allows us to keep beds open. There has been an underinvestment in nursing education for a number of years, which has resulted in this nursing shortage. We are raising the number of seats. We are recruiting. Our Patient Access to Care Act is bringing people in from all over the country. If we were to walk away from travel nurses, we would have to close beds in this province, which we’re not willing to do. What I can tell the member is that we’re one of the first jurisdictions in Canada to actually limit the use of travel nurses, and we’re anxious to see what that will result in as the time moves on.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Janet Hazelton, the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses’ Union, has presented a clear solution to this government. She would like to see a nurse locum program in place of their reliance on agency nurses. In a committee earlier this week, she said, “It’s very doable. All it’s going to take is for the unions and the employer to sit down and negotiate this. We just have to do it.” I can table that. When asked about such a program, the department said talks have been limited. Will this government listen to what nurses are saying and implement a provincial nurse locum program?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: Moving the same number of people around in a different way in the province is not going to help our nursing shortage. We have done a number of things. We’ve increased the number of seats. PACA - which that member voted against - will bring nurses from all over this country to Nova Scotia, enabling them to work within five days. We are looking at immigration strategies. We have to raise the supply of nurses. We need to train them. We need them to come and move and live and work here. We have a competitive contract. We are an incredible environment to work in. There are a number of things that are happening through the new collective agreement and by the employers to improve conditions for nurses, and I am confident in our ability to address the nursing shortage.

Fixing Healthcare Fast Enough?

These are some of the statements I made recently about the state of Healthcare in Nova Scotia at the March 19, 2024 Health Committee meeting:

I have to say that the people who have been waiting for Primary Care who end up getting their Primary Care from a you know a doctor with a text message in Calgary or standing in line for 3 hours at a walking clinic or going to a mobile clinic and hoping to God that they're going to get there in time. It's not good enough and for a government that's been elected to fix healthcare to not be able to say by the next election this is going to be what we've done or this is where we want to be and then you can vote to tell us if you think we did a good job or not. I just find it, I find it unreal actually and I I just like it's not good enough. I know that everyone is working so hard but it feels like to the people who aren't attached or don't have like you know a a when someone feels sick that they make a choice not to contact, not to try to get an appointment because they know they're going to be waiting for hours and hours and hours or whatever. Oh we'll just see how I feel tomorrow. That's not a good state.

Couch of HOPE

I gave the following members statement in the Nova Scotia legislature on March 6, 2024:

Speaker, in the absence of a truly universal mental health care program in Nova Scotia, accessing timely and affordable or free mental health care is a significant challenge for Nova Scotians -a challenge that is being alleviated in part by a not-for-profit in Dartmouth, the Couch of HOPE. In 2020, when founding counsellor Michelle Labine and her colleagues noticed that their sliding-scale counselling spots were all full, it became clear that more radical action was required. At the same time, Michelle’s group practice was hearing from Master’s of Counselling students who needed clinical practicum hours, and that’s when Couch of HOPE was born. Clients dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, relationship issues, grief, life transitions, and more meet with a counselling therapist intern who is supported by a practicum supervisor and professor. In 2023, Michelle was named the United Way Invisible Champion for her work with Couch of HOPE. Recently, Couch of HOPE partnered with the North Grove to offer appointments to people there on site.

I ask the House to join me in expressing my deep gratitude to Michelle and the whole Couch of HOPE team for doing their part in making mental health care truly accessible in Nova Scotia.

Dense breast screening

On March 6, 2024 I spoke in the Nova Scotia Legislature about the need for follow up screening for people with dense breasts. Here’s what I said:

Mme Speaker, I rise today to call on the government to change the policy regarding follow up breast screening for people with dense breasts. Currently in Nova Scotia, people with breast density category C or D (that is, the densest breasts), are made aware of their breast density rating. That means, that when they get a regular mammogram, any signs of cancer or other issues could be obscured by the dense breast tissue. The problem is that in NS, if someone has dense breasts, they don’t have access to screening that could detect cancers accurately and prevent spread of the disease. I represent a women, and probably many women, in this situation. Women whose cancer was undetected because they couldn’t get access to follow up breast screening, and was in stage 4 before they were diagnosed. Cancer, if detected early, has a much better chance of being defeated. A person’s quality of life is generally going to be better with less treatment. Cancer is cheaper to treat if detected early. It only makes sense that we offer followup screening to all people with breast density C and D. I urge the government to change this policy as soon as possible.

IWK's Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Clinic

SUSAN LEBLANC: I want to introduce a few people from the Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Clinic at the IWK Health Centre who have joined us today. They’re over in the gallery opposite, and as I say their names, I’ll ask them to rise. Dr. Allanna Munro is an anaesthesiologist who specializes in chronic pelvic pain. Leah Pink is a nurse practitioner who works in the clinic. Linda MacEachern is a social worker who provides pain education and counselling at the clinic. Kathryn Hawkins is a pelvic floor physiotherapist who provides pain education and treatment in the clinic. Also working in the clinic but not present today are two gynecologists who specialize in endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain: Dr. Elizabeth Randle and Dr. Brigid Nee. Also, we would like to welcome today Maggie Archibald and Faith Lamoureux, who have shared their stories of accessing care for endometriosis in Nova Scotia. Of course, all of this is in light of the fact that today, March 1st, marks the beginning of the very first Endometriosis Awareness Month in Nova Scotia. I would like everyone to welcome our guests.

THE SPEAKER: Welcome, and thank you for being here and for all that you do. The honourable member for Dartmouth North. IWK CHRONIC PAIN CLINIC: IMPORTANT WORK -THANKS

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, I rise today to recognize the work of the IWK Health Centre’s Endometriosis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Clinic. In 2021 the clinic opened, the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada, thanks to the hard work and advocacy of clinicians and the public. When it opened, nurse Leah Pink said: “Drawing on the expertise of multiple health care professionals and by using innovative strategies to provide care we will better meet the needs of this underserviced patient population.” This interdisciplinary care model is the gold standard. Endometriosis costs our medical system in ER visits and many often-unnecessary tests, due to a lack of understanding and the long delays people face in getting diagnosis and treatment. It also costs those who suffer from endometriosis in wages lost while unable to work, and time away from family and friends, and pain and money for physiotherapy, and other out-ofpocket expenses to manage chronic pain. Thanks to this clinic, more Nova Scotians have access to the treatment and support they need as well as qualified support. I ask the House to join me in thanking Dr. Allana Munro, Leah Pink, Linda MacEachern, Kathryn Hawkins, and their colleagues for their work in expanding badly needed endometriosis care in our province.

Government Must Fund More Midwives in Nova Scotia

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, midwifery-led births account for only 5 per cent of total births in Nova Scotia, far below the national average of 14 per cent, and I can table that. This is a disservice for expectant mothers in Nova Scotia, given many positive health outcomes associated. Midwifery support leads to more natural births, a decrease in C-sections and surgical interventions, easier breastfeeding initiation, and it decreases the chance of having a pre-term birth. Not only does it take the stress off new moms, but it also takes stress off our hospitals. Does the Minister of Health and Wellness recognize the importance of midwifery care in our health care system?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: I spoke about this yesterday in the Chamber. Certainly, midwives have a role to play in prenatal, obstetrical, and gynecological care. In fact, there are things that they can do around supporting women’s wellness. We have a couple of areas outside of the city. IWK has some midwives, and we do have some areas. It certainly is not easy to maintain the staffing complement in those areas. We’re also making sure that midwives are part of a team. We need to ensure that they have nurses who are around them. We need to make sure they have primary care physicians who do obstetrics. We need to make sure they have specialty services to support them. Yes, many deliveries are usual and regular, but we need to make sure that they have the infrastructure around them. We do continue to look at women’s health issues, and we’ll continue to assess the situation as we move forward.

SUSAN LEBLANC: As the minister’s response shows, it’s hard to ignore the benefits of midwives that they add to our health care system. Investment in midwives is simply a smart policy, yet there are only 16 funded positions and 3 practices in the province. Many communities across Nova Scotia, as the minister said, lack essential midwifery care. The budget yesterday was a missed opportunity for this government to address the critical shortage. Why is this government not investing in midwives? MICHELLE THOMPSON: Nova Scotians are not missing out on good, quality, excellent obstetrical and gynecological care in this province, and midwives are a part of that team, but they are not the only members on that team. We know that midwives play a role. We have 16 positions. To date, they have been very difficult to date to fill. We continue to work with Nova Scotia Health and IWK to better understand how to support them.

THE SPEAKER: Order. The time allotted for Oral Questions Put by Members to Ministers has expired.

Question to Minister: Why did gov pay developer’s tax bill on Hogan Court?

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Health and Wellness. In the Auditor General’s report on the Hogan Court hotel deal, it was revealed that the highly unusual and concerning transaction was negotiated with a developer who didn’t even own the property and then included $500,000 to cover the developer’s deed transfer tax after they bought and flipped the hotel to the Province. My question is -and I think we would all like to know this -why is the government paying this developer’s tax bill?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: We continually talk about Hogan Court, and I’m so pleased to be able to stand up and talk about that first-in-the-province transition-to-care facility. This is a monumental change. I can appreciate that they’ve . . . (interruption).

THE SPEAKER: Order. We’re all a little bit too loud in here today. We’re going to start again. The honourable Minister of Health and Wellness.

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: Thank you. I’d like to thank the members opposite for just helping me prompt my response there. I might have missed that opportunity if they hadn’t said something. We are really pleased with this development. There was a right of first refusal that informed how we proceeded with the project. We bought this facility so that we can get more care faster to Nova Scotians, particularly our seniors who are waiting in hospital. There are things we can absolutely learn from the Auditor General’s report. We have accepted them. Certainly the last Auditor General’s report had said that I was going too fast and doing too much, and I will take that any day over other . . .

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, many may find it hard to believe, but despite spending a massive amount on this shell of a hotel, the government missed a pretty important part: the driveway. Shockingly, the government’s new overpriced hotel doesn’t even have road access. Instead, this government had to negotiate service and access agreements with the developer to make up for the omission. Why did the purchase of this hotel fail to include a driveway, and how much are we paying the developer for road access to our own building?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: If the only thing the member opposite can find wrong with Hogan Court is that it doesn’t have (interruption). The only thing we’re talking about today is a little driveway. I feel confident in our ability to put in an adequate driveway that will help families pick up their loved one and take them home after they receive excellent care in a transition-to-care facility.

Susan Leblanc Asks Government About Careless Spending on Hogan Court

SUSAN LEBLANC: Speaker, the government’s approach of “going like hell” -and I’ll table that -has proven to be high-risk but not high-reward. In fact, care seems to be missing entirely from the government’s approach to health care spending. Carelessly handing out untendered contracts has resulted in out-of-control costs, and a decrease in the promised number of additional health care beds. My question for the Minister of Health and Wellness is: When will the government take responsibility for its poor decision on the Hogan Court project?

HON. MICHELLE THOMPSON: There have been historic investments to date with a new budget coming. We have made incredible decisions. We have made incredible investments -60,000 more primary care appointments per month. We’ve invested in 60 new and strengthened primary care clinics across this province. We are finally using pharmacists to the fullness of their scope, resulting in 95,000. We are working with seniors in long-term care with the Nova Scotia Health Authority to transition seniors in this province in a respectful way to appropriate places for them to recondition and finally get home. We have a new Cape Breton Medical Campus. We have a surgical wait-list that has reduced by 27 per cent since April 1, 2022. I have about six more pages . . .

SUSAN LEBLANC: Money is tight these days. Nova Scotians go to the grocery store and compare costs before deciding what items to buy because they understand the importance of getting value for what they are spending. On the other hand, this government -as we have heard from the Auditor General bought a $35 million hotel without even a proper appraisal. While many Nova Scotians are scrounging to save a few cents, the government is recklessly throwing around millions of dollars. Will the government apologize to Nova Scotians for taking such a careless approach to health care spending?

MICHELLE THOMPSON: What I really want Nova Scotians to know is that this is a government that fully invests in their health, in their wellness, and in their ability to transition, based on the stage of their life, to an appropriate place where they can live. We did not buy a hotel; we bought a transition-to-community facility. When you have people who are world-class clinicians -like Dr. Christine Short and Dr. Rockwood excited about the prospect of the ability to care for our elders in this type of environment, it is more than value for money. Nova Scotians should be very proud that this government has their shoulders to the wheel, and that we show every day how we value them, because nobody on that side did for the last 12 years.