NDP promises something better for people in Cape Breton

Sydney – Today, NDP Leader Gary Burrill talked with Shawna Wilson about how regular people are being left behind by eight years of Liberal decisions, and the NDP plan to deliver something better for Cape Breton.

“Emergency rooms that can’t stay open, cuts to long-term care, closing local hospitals, a waitlist for family doctors that keeps growing and long wait times for surgery and mental health: this is the Liberal record in Cape Breton,” said Burrill. “The choices made by the Liberal government over the last eight years have left real people behind, especially here.”

Two years ago, Wilson’s mother's health reached a point that she required full-time care. Wilson made the choice to move her family into her mother’s home so she could give her the care she needed. As the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Nova Scotia Wilson’s mother passed away leaving Wilson the house and $30,000 in debt.

“I had no job and CERB was not enough for my family to live on, bills started to pile up and before too long we were on the verge of losing our house,” said Wilson. “I searched for any programs or help I could find but we didn’t qualify for anything. I started a GoFundMe page and my community stepped up and really helped us survive.”

The people of Cape Breton rallied around the Wilson family. But many families find themselves in a similar situation -- drowning in debt, no job that pays a living wage, one missed payment away from losing their home, and facing the stress of not being able to support their family.

“The NDP has a plan to invest in Cape Breton that is based on the real needs of the people here,” said Burrill. “The people of Cape Breton are strong for one another, but they deserve a government that is going to be strong for them as well. Today, the NDP is proud to launch our key commitments to the people of Cape Breton.”

In Cape Breton an NDP government will:

• Keep hospitals in New Waterford and North Sydney open;
• Build 400 long-term care beds;
• Open 2 same-day, next-day mental health clinics;
• Create a Cape Breton mobile mental health crisis team;
• Invest $150-million in direct stimulus to CBRM;
• Provide free universal school-based before and after school care, helping about 1,900 children; and
• Implement permanent rent control and a $15 minimum wage to help alleviate child poverty.

The NDP commitments include $66.1 million in capital costs, $55.8 million in operating costs, and $150 million in direct stimulus for a total of $271.9 million for Cape Breton.

Burrill will campaign today in Glace Bay-Dominion, Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier, and Sydney-Membertou.

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