As we enter a new calendar year, we look toward a new fiscal year that will start on April 1st, and that means the NS Government wants to hear from Nova Scotians like you about priorities for the upcoming budget.
The Department of Finance and Treasury Board has launched the pre-budget consultation ahead of the 2023-24 provincial budget. They are asking Nova Scotians to share their thoughts on solutions in areas like healthcare, housing, the economy and other priority areas.
As MLA for Dartmouth North, I hear from many people each week about issues and concerns residents have about our community. The main issues we hear about are:
Health care, especially access to primary care.
Housing, especially the cost and availability of rental housing.
Cost of living/inflation, especially the rising costs of food and power.
Our community of Dartmouth North has a growing number of people on the 811 Need a Family Practice Registry, and we know that there are many people in need of a primary care provider who are not on the list. We also know that there are many doctors in Dartmouth planning to retire in the next several years.
We need the province to invest in collaborative, primary care in Dartmouth North so that the community can be more healthy and resilient. We also need more investment in deeply affordable housing in the area so that everyone has access to a safe and healthy place to live that they can afford.
The residents of Dartmouth North are some of the most vulnerable in the province. There are high numbers of people on social assistance, high unemployment or underemployment, and a significant number of families that struggle to afford groceries. Many of these issues can be directly related to the social determinants of health, including adequate and affordable housing, food security, employment, education, gender and race equity, etc.
I encourage you to tell the government your priorities for the upcoming budget. Voices from the community are very important when budget decisions are being made, and this is a way to have your say.
Please contact the Department of Finance and Treasury Board through one of the ways listed below to make your voice, as a resident of or advocate for, Dartmouth North as soon as possible. The deadline for submitting your opinion is Feb 3rd, 2023.
Twitter: @NSFinance
Email: budget@novascotia.ca
Mail: Department of Finance and Treasury Board, PO Box 187, Halifax NS, B3J 2N3