Leaders talk immigration, free hospital parking on Day 12 of N.S. election campaign

Nova Scotia’s population growth has become a hot topic in the ongoing provincial election campaign. Liberal Leader Zach Churchill has taken a stand, arguing that immigration levels need to be reduced until the province can adequately provide housing and health-care services for its residents.

During a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Halifax, Churchill criticized the Progressive Conservatives’ plan to double the province’s population to two million people by 2060, calling it unrealistic and unsustainable. He highlighted the strain on resources such as housing, healthcare, infrastructure, and the impact on residents, including young people and seniors.

Churchill, who comes from a family of immigrants from Lebanon, emphasized the value of immigration to Nova Scotia but stressed the need for a responsible approach. He criticized the Tories for surpassing immigration targets set by the province’s Department of Labour, Skills, and Immigration, exceeding the limit by more than 4,000 immigrants in the last fiscal year.

In response, Progressive Conservative leader Tim Houston defended his population growth goal as a “stretch goal” and justified the need for skilled trade workers and healthcare professionals to support the province’s growth. He also took a swipe at Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, accusing him of planning to send 6,000 asylum seekers to Nova Scotia, a claim refuted by the federal government.

Meanwhile, NDP Leader Claudia Chender highlighted the need for more healthcare workers, skilled tradespeople, and affordable housing in Nova Scotia. She announced her party’s plan to remove the province’s portion of the harmonized sales tax from grocery, cellphone, and internet bills, as well as heat pumps, to help families save an estimated $1,300 annually.

On a different note, both the Progressive Conservatives and Liberals pledged to make parking free at all Nova Scotia hospitals and healthcare centers, acknowledging the financial burden it poses on patients and healthcare workers.

As the election campaign unfolds, the debate over Nova Scotia’s population growth, immigration policies, and key issues such as healthcare, housing, and taxation continues to shape the discourse among political leaders and voters.