Congratulations 2024 graduates!

THE BEDFORD BASIN REPORT

Congratulations 2024 graduates!

Dear Friends,

For me, June is always a time to look back.

Over the past 15 years as your MLA, I’ve loved attending the graduations and concluding ceremonies (such as the 81st annual 342 Bedford Lions Air Cadets’ Ceremonial Review, which I attended earlier this month. It was so good to see this organization continuing to thrive and grow – the Wing is the biggest I’ve seen in years).

In fact, this month, more than 700 high school students will graduate from schools in the Bedford area. These students should be celebrated. They’ve faced unique circumstances in their education; most of us did not attend school during the middle of a pandemic. Some of our grads lost their homes to floods or fires. Some dealt with difficult personal circumstances – health challenges and more. Some started their education in other countries -- even in war zones. Others left school without graduating, only to return months, years, or even decades later.

All of them persevered. They overcame their obstacles.

To all of our grads from every educational program: I wish you all the best on your new path.

I’m rooting for you!

You’ve got this.

Highway 107- Highway 102 Interchange Update

Earlier this month, I shared information that I’d received a heads up from Public Works about road construction happening in the weeks ahead. As I noted earlier this month, Highway 102 will see major construction through Bedford until the fall.

There is no way to sugar-coat this: it’s going to mean slow commuting throughout our community at times, and this will go on until the autumn. There won’t be lane closures every day. But they will be regular occurrences.

We can expect these lane closures and construction on Highway 102, near exit 4C, to continue until Saturday, August 31, for the Highway 107-Highway 102 interchange project. Work will take place weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the northbound lanes and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the southbound lanes, with traffic control on-site. Both lanes will be open in the evening and overnight. Motorists should expect delays and use alternative routes when possible.

We have urged Public Works to provide advance warning to motorists to allow for alternate route planning. The Department has agreed to send lane closure information to the offices of affected MLAs. We will do our best to keep commuters informed promptly.

Additionally, we have requested signage to alert drivers of lane restrictions before they enter Highway 102. Although nighttime work is not feasible due to workforce constraints, increased costs, safety concerns, and potential noise complaints, we continue to advocate for improved communication and infrastructure planning as our province grows.

Healthcare Crisis

🛑 You may have seen graphics produced by Nova Scotia Health about the progress being made by our health system. However, some of the data in these graphics can be misleading. For instance, the promise of 24/7 surgeries has not yet been fully realized. Additionally, the Need a Family Practice Waitlist in our area has increased by over 400 percent since September 2021. Read more...

⚠️ Glucose Monitor Announcement not exactly as advertised: In the provincial budget, the government announced they would now cover continuous glucose monitors for Diabetics. This was a welcome announcement that we’d been advocating for over the past few years. Unfortunately, the hype didn’t match the reality. Read more...

Escalating Poverty Crisis

📉 Food Banks Canada is reporting that 1 in 4 Canadians are living in poverty, and here in Nova Scotia, the rate of poverty is higher than any other province in Canada. Earlier this year, Statistics Canada reported the poverty rate was 13.1 per cent in Nova Scotia. According to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, the rate increased by 52 per cent between 2021 and 2022 (from 8.6% to 13.1%). This is the highest rate among the provinces, surpassing pre-pandemic levels in Nova Scotia. Read more...

WHAT'S HAPPENING

Community Spotlight

Scott Manor House.

Scott Manor House is a registered provincial and municipal heritage property. It’s owned by the Halifax Regional Municipality and managed by the Fort Sackville Foundation, a registered charity that focuses on sharing Bedford’s local history .

This home is the only full two-and-a-half story gambrel-roofed colonial building in Nova Scotia, and possibly in Canada.

The Manor House, as it was initially known, was built circa 1770 as the family home for Joseph Scott and his wife Margaret (nee Cottnam). It’s located beside the former Fort Sackville, a British Army fortification that overlooked the Bedford Basin, the Sackville River, and what was then the main overland route into the interior of Nova Scotia.

Today, the Manor House offers tours and engaging programming all summer long, as well as special events and concerts. You can also visit daily for afternoon tea, featuring Scott Manor’s famous oatcakes. Admission to the house and museum is free, although donations are gratefully accepted.