By Hon. Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament
March Break is around the corner – a much appreciated pause for families across Halifax West. This year, I’ll be supporting Brain Fair 2024, where the Brain Repair Center in Halifax will be hosting games, experiments, interactive displays, and the chance to read your own brain waves for people of all ages! I encourage everyone to join us Thursday, March 14 between 10:00am and 2:00pm at the LSRI Atrium (1348 Summer Street) for a day of educational fun!
CHILD CARE
Last month, I joined the announcement of our new Early Learning and Child Care Action Plan. Through a $440 million investment, the plan will make equitable, high-quality, and affordable childcare a reality in Nova Scotia. With this support, we’re on our way to achieving $10/day child care over the next two years, while creating 9,500 new spaces in the system, and improving compensation and income security for our Early Childhood Educators.
HOME HEATING AFFORDABILITY
Switching from home heating oil to a cold climate heat pump is a fantastic way to lower your yearly heating costs, and your family’s greenhouse gas emissions. Thanks to the newly strengthened Oil to Heat Pump Affordability program, households that make under the median income ($105,000 for a family of four) can now access up to $30,000 in funding to cover the full cost of switching to a heat pump. If you’re eligible, don’t wait to access OHPA by contacting Efficiency Nova Scotia at 1-877- 999-6035.
DENTAL CARE
The roll out of the new Canadian Dental Care Plan is in full swing! This month, the program’s eligibility expands to include seniors aged 70 and older. I’m thrilled that more than 1 million Canadian seniors have already been approved for the CDCP and will start benefiting from dental care this spring. If you’re a senior aged 70 years or older, keep an eye on your mailbox as invitations to sign up will be arriving by mail.
BUYING YOUR FIRST HOME FASTER
Keeping home ownership in reach for families is a critical priority for me. That’s why we’ve launched the Tax-Free First Home Savings Account (FHSA)—a new type of savings account that is tax-free in, tax-free out, and can help you save thousands on your taxes to help with the purchase of your first home. Visit canada.ca, navigate to the “taxes” page, and click “savings and pension plans” to calculate how much you could save towards a downpayment by starting a FHSA.
Thank you for your continued support!
