Nova Scotia House of Assembly, Friday 11 September 2026
On Friday, September 11, 2026, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly marked the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks with statements from the Premier, the Leader of the Official Opposition, and the Leader of the Liberal Party. Routine proceedings included a petition on rural cellphone infrastructure, government resolutions thanking emergency responders for recent Cape Breton flooding, the introduction of five bills, and members' statements honouring local athletes, volunteers, museums, and flooding victims, including a moment of silence for Stephanie Comeau. Oral Questions addressed housing affordability, rents, budget cuts, health care redevelopment in Cape Breton, the Nappan Research Farm closure, and the Seniors Care Grant, before the House rose at 12:21 p.m.
Members' Statements
Richmond County: Impacts of Extreme Flooding
Hon. Trevor Boudreau
The member for Richmond reflected on the devastating flooding in Richmond County, thanked first responders and community groups, and paid tribute to Stephanie Comeau, 46, who tragically lost her life in the storm, leading the House in a moment of silence.
Frances MacLeod: U20 3,000m Steeplechase Champion
Claudia Chender
The member for Dartmouth South congratulated Frances MacLeod, who won the Canadian U20 3,000-metre Steeplechase title with a time of 10:36.51 at the Canadian Track and Field Championships.
Emilie Botma: Successful Thesis Defence
Hon. Iain Rankin
The member for Timberlea-Prospect congratulated Emilie Botma, a Liberal caucus office staffer, on successfully defending her Master of Arts thesis examining incel communities and the mainstreaming of misogyny online.
September 11, 2001: N.S. First Responders
Hon. Tory Rushton
The member for Cumberland South recognized a Cumberland County high-angle rescue team of firefighters who travelled to Ground Zero after 9/11, honouring first responders who answered the call.
Fultz House: Local Museum
Paul Wozney
The member for Sackville-Cobequid recognized the Fultz House Museum and its president Joanne Boudreau, noting the museum preserves local Mi'kmaw, Acadian, and African Nova Scotian histories and has lost thousands in recent budget cuts.
Karen Field: Senior Liberals' Commission
Hon. Derek Mombourquette
The member for Sydney-Membertou recognized Karen Field, Chair of the Senior Liberals' Commission, for her advocacy for seniors and her role in developing policy for the bill tabled earlier that day.
Rick Horsman: Local Trainer
Hon. Leah Martin
The member for Cole Harbour recognized Rick Horsman ('RickMyTrainer'), a personal trainer and community leader who organizes cleanups and fundraisers in Cole Harbour.
Rosh Hashanah: Jewish New Year
Lisa Lachance
The member for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island recognized the start of the Jewish High Holidays with Rosh Hashanah, celebrating Halifax's vibrant Jewish community and wishing all Shana Tova.
Sean MacDonald: Birthday
Hon. Derek Mombourquette
The member for Sydney-Membertou wished a happy upcoming birthday to his friend Sean MacDonald, a Sydney lawyer, soccer coach, and community volunteer.
Chip In Fore St. Martha's: Annual Golf Tournament
Hon. Michelle Thompson
The member for Antigonish recognized the Chip In Fore St. Martha's Golf Tournament at the Antigonish Golf & Country Club, which supports the St. Martha's Regional Hospital Foundation.
New Waterford & District Sports Heritage Hall of Fame: Local Inductees
Kendra Coombes
The member for Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier congratulated the 2026 inductees, including Bobby Aucoin, Rayonie Pasher Ferreira, the late Ambrose White, the late Mello Nearing, the late Sandy Burns, and the Scotchtown Sabres hockey team.
Hon. Kent Smith: Upcoming Wedding
Hon. Brendan Maguire
The member for Halifax Atlantic congratulated the member for Eastern Shore (Hon. Kent Smith) on his upcoming wedding to Kelly this weekend, wishing the couple a lifetime of happiness.
Dave Aalders: Local Volunteer
Lina Hamid
The member for Fairview-Clayton Park recognized David Aalders, co-founder of the Fairview Food Pantry Project and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal, for his humanitarian work.
DesBrisay-Wile Carding Mill: Local Museum
Hon. Becky Druhan
The member for Lunenburg West recognized the DesBrisay Museum's 'Powered by Water' exhibit on the Wile Carding Mill and expressed concern over government funding cuts closing 12 Nova Scotia museum sites, including the Wile Carding Mill.
International Dory Races: Local Events
Hon. Susan Corkum-Greek
The member for Lunenburg recognized the historic 75-year International Dory Races between Canadian and US rowers, congratulating winning teammates and highlighting cross-border friendship.
Halifax Backpackers: Local Hostel
Suzy Hansen
The member for Halifax Needham recognized Michelle Strum and the Halifax Backpackers hostel, a Futurpreneur 30th Anniversary Award finalist celebrating 25 years as a community hub.
Owen Mahar: Local Racer
Hon. Iain Rankin
The member for Timberlea-Prospect recognized Owen Mahar of Hubley, a third-generation racer, on entering his first Pro Stock Tour race at Riverside International Speedway.
Alex McCully: Schulich Leader Scholarship Recipient
Hon. Scott Armstrong
The member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley congratulated Alex McCully of Brookfield, a South Colchester Academy graduate who received a $100,000 Schulich Leader Scholarship to study chemistry at the University of Ottawa.
September 11, 2001: Stand Up for Democracy
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
The member for Cumberland North recognized the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, remembering the nearly 3,000 victims and first responders and the Nova Scotians who welcomed stranded travellers.
Routine Proceedings
Retraction of unparliamentary language
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
The member for Cumberland North apologized for and retracted the word 'bloody' used the previous day in reference to the House; the Speaker accepted the retraction while noting the phrase should not have been repeated.
Petition on rural cellphone infrastructure
Krista Gallagher
The member for Halifax Chebucto tabled a petition with approximately 35 signatures calling on the Government of Nova Scotia to urgently invest in rural cellphone infrastructure so rural communities have reliable connectivity.
Statements by Ministers: 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001
The Premier
The House reverted to Statements by Ministers so the Premier could deliver a tribute marking 25 years since 9/11, recalling that over 8,000 stranded travellers were welcomed into Nova Scotia and affirming Canada would do the same again despite current Canada-US tensions. The Leader of the Official Opposition (C. Chender) and Leader of the Liberal Party (Hon. I. Rankin) also spoke, honouring victims, first responders, and the Nova Scotians who opened their homes.
Resolution No. 524 - Office of the Fire Marshal joins Department of Emergency Management
Hon. Kim Masland
After introducing Acting Fire Marshal Jamie Young and Deputy Fire Marshal Gary O'Brien, the Minister moved a resolution welcoming the Office of the Fire Marshal into the Department of Emergency Management and thanking its staff; passed on waiver without debate.
Resolution No. 525 - National Air Ambulance Week
Hon. Michelle Thompson
The Minister of Health and Wellness moved a resolution recognizing National Air Ambulance Week (September 7-13) and the 30th anniversary of EHS LifeFlight; passed on waiver without debate.
Resolution No. 526 - Thanks to Public Works staff for flood response
Hon. Fred Tilley
The Minister of Public Works moved a resolution thanking hundreds of Department of Public Works staff, contractors, first responders, and municipal partners for their response to extreme Labour Day weekend flooding in Cape Breton and Eastern Nova Scotia; passed on waiver without debate.
Resolution No. 527 - Thanks to DEM and Emergency Management partners for flood response
Hon. Kim Masland
The Minister of Emergency Management moved a resolution recognizing municipal leaders, emergency managers, first responders, the Nova Scotia Guard, REMOs, REOCs and PEOC staff for their response to the recent flooding emergency; passed on waiver without debate.
Introduction of Bills
Multiple
Five bills were introduced: Bill No. 278, African Nova Scotian Heritage Act (S. Hansen); Bill No. 279, Seniors Centres Support Fund Act (Hon. D. Mombourquette); Bill No. 280, Nappan Agricultural Land and Research Protection Act (E. Smith-McCrossin); Bill No. 281, amendments to the Labour Standards Code and Remembrance Day Act (Hon. B. Druhan); and Bill No. 282, Seniors Advocate Act (Hon. B. Druhan).
Notice of Motion No. 528 - Remembrance Day as general holiday
Hon. Becky Druhan
The member for Lunenburg West gave a notice of motion urging that Bill No. 281 be called for second reading forthwith to make Remembrance Day a general holiday; a request for recess and waiver was denied by several Noes and the notice was tabled.
Continued impacts from budget cuts
Iain Rankin
The Leader of the Liberal Party pressed the Premier on which organizations and programs would face the projected $300 million in further cuts, citing impacts on rural libraries, foster families, and arts programs, and questioned spending on a political ally's salary; the Premier defended the budget process as transparent and blamed the previous government's Bill No. 148.
Unaffordable new housing supply
Susan Leblanc
The member raised soaring rents in Dartmouth and pushed for permanent rent control; Minister John White cited the $1.7 billion housing investment and criticized the Opposition over the Mount Hope special planning area.
Fixed-term lease loophole increasing evictions
Suzy Hansen
The member described a teacher, Katie, who lost her affordable apartment when her fixed-term lease was not renewed and asked when the government would close the loophole; Minister White pointed to rent subsidy successes and testimonials rather than closing the loophole.
More affordable housing supply required
Paul Wozney
The member cited a single mother in Sackville forced into far higher rents after a fire and argued the housing plan is not working; Minister White cited $340 million invested in 4,000 affordable units and a new 22-unit modular build in Sackville plus Build Canada Homes commitments.
New Cape Breton health facility build delayed
Derek Mombourquette
The member said the Glace Bay and New Waterford health redevelopment was being paused, jeopardizing jobs and services; Minister White cited $1.5 billion invested in Cape Breton health care and Minister Thompson stated there is no reduction and the project is being re-scoped with a PET scanner and cath lab added.
Reversing Nappan Research Farm closure
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
The member asked what the government has done to save the 139-year-old Nappan Research Farm from federal closure; Minister Greg Morrow said he wrote to and met with the federal minister and Atlantic colleagues, but noted Nova Scotia is not in the same position as Saskatchewan to take the farm on itself.
Residents being priced out of community
Krista Gallagher
The member described a woman demovicted after 43 years in her community and asked how seniors on fixed incomes can afford rising rents; Minister White expressed sympathy and pointed to historic construction levels and rising vacancy rates.
Rampant demovictions circumventing law
Lina Hamid
The member described Shailagh Benteau's unlawful demoviction while her case was before Residential Tenancies and called for a residential tenancies enforcement unit; Minister Jill Balser acknowledged the contract violation, said her team worked with HRM, and highlighted program improvements including expedited emergency hearings.
Cape Breton public housing wait-list growing
Kendra Coombes
The member said the Cape Breton public housing wait-list grew by 142 people to 1,234, and asked why no progress has been made; Minister White cited 515 new public housing units and said the agency moves 100-120 households a month off the list, sharing his own experience living in public housing.
Seniors Care Grant application window shortened
Becky Druhan
The member asked whether the Seniors Care Grant application deadline was shortened from March 31 to December 1 to save money and urged restoring it; Minister Barbara Adams defended the grant and said the application process is simple and the budget has not changed.
Development of middle housing lacking
Lisa Lachance
The member called for missing-middle housing such as duplexes and townhouses instead of expensive shoebox apartments; Minister White defended the supply-and-demand-based housing plan and touted Mount Hope and construction cranes in Halifax.
Lack of housing affecting health staff retention
Rod Wilson
The member said the housing shortage, including an 8x10 on-call room in Canso, is hampering recruitment of rural health care workers; Minister White cited $45 million invested in health care worker housing and Minister Thompson pointed to recruitment efforts and community grants.
Seniors being priced out of housing
Rod Wilson
The member said high rents and repair costs leave seniors, including retired civil servants, unable to downsize or maintain their homes; Minister White reiterated 'more housing equals lower rent' and cited home-buying programs, while Minister Adams listed three senior benefit programs worth about $100 million.
Other business
Adjournment
The Speaker
The House rose at 12:21 p.m.
This is Tabled's summary of the sitting, written from the official record; Hansard is only ever quoted at the link above. Search Nova Scotia Hansard for the words themselves, or read this sitting in the archive.