It’s hard to believe that November 26, 2025 marks my first anniversary as MLA for Sackville–Cobequid. One year ago, in an election where healthcare, housing, and affordability dominated the concerns of Nova Scotians, you chose me to represent you in the provincial legislature.
A year later, those same issues remain the focus of our conversations at the doorstep. Many of you ask how we can make real progress together. It’s a great question, and a recent example from Inverness County shows what is possible when a community pushes back.
The Case of West Mabou
Residents there discovered that Premier Houston and former Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton had agreed to consider proposals from an American developer to build an exclusive golf course on provincially-owned land in West Mabou Provincial Park. Adding to community frustration, former PC Premier Rodney MacDonald helped connect the developer with the government.
People in West Mabou struggled to understand why the Premier would entertain this idea after he had loudly criticized former Premier McNeil’s attempt to allow development at Owl’s Head. Their own MLA, PC member Kyle MacQuarrie, made no public statement supporting his constituents’ concerns.
In response, residents organized—this time with the support of the NS NDP. Through town halls, media engagement, and strong advocacy by MLA Kendra Coombes and Claudia Chender, community pressure forced the Premier to withdraw his agreement to hear proposals from the American developer.
Here in Sackville, we should take encouragement from their success.
Our Struggle: the Cobequid Community Health Centre
Over the past year, nearly 900 of you have signed a petition, on paper and online, calling on Premier Houston to keep his 2021 promise to expand and enhance the Cobequid Community Health Centre. His campaign bus passed through our community in the last two elections, promoting better healthcare at Cobequid as a key PC pledge. I presented almost 500 of those signatures during the fall sitting of the legislature to show our community supports this commitment.
Just over a week ago, Cobequid staff described what they called the worst day on record: 18 of 26 beds filled with seriously ill patients—many waiting more than 70 hours for transfer—and dozens turned away for emergency care, including a stroke patient, due to lack of available beds.
It’s discouraging that we must keep pressing the government to honour the same promise made to us in two consecutive elections. But West Mabou has shown that when a community stands together and applies sustained pressure, the Premier listens.
That’s why I will continue gathering signatures to present to the Premier during the spring sitting of the Legislature. I will also share information on how each of us can write to Health and Wellness Minister Michelle Thompson and Premier Houston to urge action on their long-overdue commitment to expand and improve the Cobequid Community Health Centre.
Sackville has been Nova Scotia’s fastest-growing community for the past decade and we see the immense pressure this puts on the Cobequid Centre every day. I remain committed to working side by side with you to create the strong pressure needed to make sure the Premier finally keeps his word.
