We know that childcare fees cost families thousands of dollars each year and have been a consistent barrier for parents, and disproportionately women, who wish to pursue an education or seek to enter the workforce.

Happy Holidays!

Christmas is right around the corner, and to kick off the season I attended the Evergreen Festival last night at the New Glasgow Farmers Market organized by Destination Eastern and Northumberland Shores Association.

Families shouldn’t have to choose between keeping their kids warm in the winter and keeping them fed before school.

We know life is getting expensive, and a lot of families have shared with me the challenges they’re living through with the rising costs of everything from groceries, rent, education, power bills, cell phone bills, child care, and more.

Everyone should have access to dental coverage - regardless of their family’s ability to pay.

Unfortunately, for many families, this is not the case.

We are helping make life more affordable and taking action to fight climate change.

We recently announced a $250 Million fund to help families transition away from home heating oil by adopting greener heating sources, like heat pumps.

We’re implementing a few measures to help make life more affordable for families who are struggling.

We announced that we will double the GST tax credit for six months for those who receive it.

I was honoured to be outside the former Roseland Theatre to formally recognize Viola Desmond as a person of National Historical Significance.

This formal designation included the unveiling of an official Government of Canada plaque that is affixed to the building, and Viola’s courageous stand against racial inequality will forever be included as part of Parks Canada’s collection of National Historic People, Places, and Events.

When I was in Port Bickerton I had the privilege of meeting the Shvedas.

Misha, Oksana, Rodion, Illia and Zakharii arrived in Port Bickerton last may from Ukraine thanks to the generosity of Dennis and Katherine Johnston, as well as an outpouring of support from the community of Port Bickerton.

I had the chance to announce that we’re making a federal investment of $6 million for the creation of a new culture hub on the site of the deCoste Centre in Pictou!

This funding will expand the deCoste Centre to include a new modern public library, a fully renovated theatre, visual arts and exhibition facilities, and meeting space for other culture and community groups.

After two long years the Jubilee is back!

The arts contribute so much to our local economies but over the past two years, events like the jubilee have struggled. Event organizers have done all they could to ensure that they would be around for years to come and our government has been there to support them along the way.

I had the chance to visit with some community members in Musquodoboit and receive an update on some projects that received federal funding.

Harbour Lites Seniors Club received $17,727 from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund to replace the front entrance and the deck, improving safety and accessibility.

I had the privilege to attend the grand opening of the new affordable housing units on Appleseed Drive in Antigonish alongside my colleague, the Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion.

Green energy is the future and that is why the federal government is investing $255 million to increase wind energy generation and develop one of the largest green energy battery storage projects in the country, right here in Nova Scotia.

I had a fantastic visit to Summer Street with my colleague, Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor, where we gained a better understanding of Summer Street’s work to provide life skills programming and social opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Antigonish is truly becoming a leader in green technology!

In July I announced a federal investment of $9.5 million dollars in two projects in Antigonish county to support energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy generation.

It was great to have my friend and colleague, Minister Ginette Petitpas Taylor in town to announce over $760,000 for 11 projects across Pictou and Antigonish Counties on behalf of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.

The New and improved Trenton Park is finally open!

After a lot of hard work and dedication from the folks with the Hemlock Group, and an investment of $2.2 million from the federal government, the upgrades to Trenton Park are now complete.

The weather was perfect this year for Canada Day!

I had the chance to attend the Westville Canada Day Parade with some folks from our constituency office. It was awesome to see some many people come out to enjoy the floats and displays put on by those in the parade!

The Little Harbour Community Centre recently upgraded their pickleball court with $50,000 in funding from the federal government's New Horizons for Seniors Program, in addition to $65,000 that they've fundraised themselves.