True democratic representation means the voices of the people are heard, not silenced.
A strong confident effective leader empowers members of their team and in politics that can be reflected by elected Members of the Legislative Assembly providing authentic representation for the people who elected them. That's what people deserve and what is needed to build a stronger Cumberland North, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia and Maritime Region.
Since August 2021, Elizabeth has represented the people of Cumberland North in the NS Legislature and tabled 72 (seventy-two) bills, all based on ideas from the people she represents.
Some examples of this work include:
Bill 20- Involuntary Treatment Act tabled in October 2021
https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1/bill-20
This bill led to legislative and regulatory changes that added Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre to the list of hospitals where a psychiatrist can do assessments. This led to the hiring of two psychiatrists who are now on call and are willing to come to the hospital and see patients who are experiencing a mental health crisis. This was done in collaboration with leaders in the mental health team here in Northern NS. More work is needed but this has helped.
Bill 252 - Cancer Care Act tabled in November 2022
https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1/bill-252
This bill has led to the hiring of a physician and nurse at Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre to manage cancer care. The goal is to allow chemotherapy treatments at CRHCC so that patients and families do not have to travel to Halifax. The "hood" for preparing the chemo treatments still needs to be built at the hospital and as soon as that is done we are hoping treatments can be done locally. This bill is also looking for early detection and screening cancer clinics be done at each Regional hospital in the province as well as virtual appointments with cancer specialists to lessen the financial burden of travel. This bill idea came from conversations with patients, local cancer nurses and the team at the Cumberland Health Care Foundation.
Bill 267 - Ali's Law tabled in March 2023
https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1/bill-267
This bill came after the tragic death of Allison Holthoff in our Regional Hospital after waiting hours in the ER. Her husband Günter asked Elizabeth to try and get ER wait times posted so that people would have an idea of how long to expect to wait so that people could make an informed decision on where to take their loved one when emergency care was needed. This bill led to the ER wait times listed on a website daily however it is rarely accurate. An IT specialist who worked for the government shared his concerns about Waitimes being made public before the technology was ready. You can read more about his experience here - https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/data-analyst-whistleblower-nova-scotia-1.7009463
Other Bills were tabled in response to a 16-Point Plan issued by Elizabeth and her team after Allison Holthoff's death. The 16 Point plan was nearly all implemented by the government to improve emergency healthcare services in the province.
Bill 278 - Nondisclosure Agreement Prohibition Act tabled in March 2023
https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1/bill-278
This bill was tabled to end the misuse of NDAs in cases of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexual battery in political parties and the Legislature. There is a movement called Can't Buy My Silence to end the misuse of NDAs. The NDP has tabled a Bill which is more far-reaching than Bill 278. The current government is refusing to pass both the NDP bill and Bill 278. What are they hiding? Who are they protecting?
Silencing victims of sexual battery, assault and harassment with money and NDAs is wrong.
Elizabeth will not stop until victims are given back their voices. We should never accept a culture that legally allows perpetrators to abuse and then use their money to silence their victims.
To see more of the Bills tabled by Elizabeth you can visit this link on the Nova Scotia Legislature website:
https://nslegislature.ca/members/profiles/elizabeth-smith-mccrossin/billsrty567