It was a big year for Nova Scotia’s NDP party.
They beat the Liberals in November’s election to become the official opposition, with party leader Claudia Chender becoming the first elected female leader of the opposition.
On their social media page, they pointed out some important things they accomplished.
They helped ban childcare waitlist fees, she said, which are banned under the child-care operating fund for 2024-25.
And they pushed to get a school lunch program in the province, which came from federal legislation.
The account points out that they also worked to expand the Down Payment Assistance Program, boosting the amount of money people can get from loans and the max price of eligible houses.
Working on similar issues in 2025
Next year, Chender hopes to do more work related to their key issues, like housing, the cost of living, and health care.
“We are nothing if not consistent. Our work is always about advocating for the issues that impact Nova Scotians, putting forward policies and proposals that we believe would benefit our province and the people who live here,” said Chender.
Chender and the party has been quite critical of Houston’s government, but now that they are the official opposition, Chender said they ‘ll do it even more.
‘Turning up the heat’ on the PCs
A few times in the year, the PCs buckled to public criticism.
The town and county of Antigonish nearly merged into one, until the Premier met with some residents and members of Let Antigonish Decide. The community group advocated to avoid the merger. And a few days later, the provincial government announced the merger would not go through.
And when the NDP tabled a bill to declare domestic violence an epidemic, it appeared it would not go through. But after some advocates cornered the premier outside the legislative chamber, he later came back to support the bill, which went on to be passed by all parties.
“When they really feel the heat, you know, they may make a change. And so it’s certainly our job as official opposition to turn up that heat where it serves Nova Scotians and in those important spaces,” said Chender.
More work needed, especially on housing
Chender emphasized that with housing especially, the government is not doing enough.
“When it comes to housing, this government is barely lifting a finger to address the real issues that Nova Scotians are having around housing affordability and availability.”
It’s been an honour for Chender to serve as a MA for Dartmouth South, she said, and as leader of the party.
“But at the end of the day, it’s all about what we can do to make Nova Scotians lives better. And so it’s wonderful to have more, I think, of an opportunity and voice to continue that work,” she said.
