HANSARD
NOVA SCOTIA HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY
STANDING COMMITTEE
ON
HEALTH
Tuesday, May 12, 2026
COMMITTEE ROOM
Agenda-Setting
Printed and Published by Nova Scotia Hansard Reporting Services
HEALTH COMMITTEE
Danny MacGillivray (Chair)
Adegoke Fadare (Vice-Chair)
Hon. Susan Corkum-Greek
Ryan Robicheau
Nick Hilton
Lisa Lachance
Rod Wilson
Hon. Iain Rankin
Hon. Derek Mombourquette
In Attendance:
Gordon Hebb
Chief Legislative Counsel
Judy Kavanagh
Legislative Committee Clerk
HALIFAX, TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026
STANDING COMMITTEE ON HEALTH
1:00 P.M.
CHAIR
Danny MacGillivray
VICE-CHAIR
Adegoke Fadare
THE CHAIR: Order. I call the meeting to order. I welcome everyone here this afternoon. This is the Standing Committee on Health. I'm Danny MacGillivray, the MLA for Pictou Centre and the Chair of this committee. Today we're holding an agenda-setting. Reminder to please set your phones to silent. As I think we all know, don't touch your microphone; staff will make sure that it's lit up when it needs to be lit up.
I ask committee members to please introduce themselves for the record by stating their name and constituency. We'll start to my left.
[The committee members introduced themselves.]
THE CHAIR: For the purposes of Hansard, I also recognize the presence of Chief Legislative Counsel Gordon Hebb to my left, and Legislative Committee Clerk Judy Kavanagh to my right.
As mentioned, we're here for agenda-setting. Just a few things I want to read out first: Members should have their complete list of proposed topics that was distributed via email and also a hard copy on your desks. To avoid confusion, we ask the committee for discussion on each caucus proposal before the formal motions are made. Once the motion is made, it requires the committee's permission to amend or revoke it. After discussion, we ask each caucus to state each topic and its witnesses clearly in the form of a motion for the record. It's best to make a separate motion for each topic.
With that, we move on to the PC Party to discuss their proposed topics. MLA Hilton.
NICK HILTON: I move the first topic for the PC caucus be Progress in Physician Recruitment with the following witnesses: representatives from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.
THE CHAIR: Is there any discussion? We'll go to a vote. MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: Is the member open to suggestions of other witnesses?
NICK HILTON: You can suggest, but we're pretty comfortable with the list that's been provided.
ROD WILSON: Two witnesses that I thought would be helpful to understand recruitment and retention are Dr. Stephanie Langley, who is the associate dean at the Cape Breton site of Dalhousie University's Department of Family Medicine. She's also been the site lead for the Family Medicine Residency Program, which is one of the best in the country, I believe. That program has seen ups and downs, so I thought that Dr. Langley actually could be a great resource as to what works well for recruitment and retention, because she's had some really good success in the program.
Also, MLA Hilton, your family medicine program - I'm not sure who they had - is the family medicine training program at Yarmouth. They've had some really good success stories. I thought having somebody who could speak to what the successes are from both Cape Breton and Yarmouth. I'm sorry, I don't know who the residency program director is in Yarmouth, but both sites have done really well in recruitment and retention in rural medicine. I think it would be helpful to learn: Why they are so successful?
NICK HILTON: I agree. We've had some recent success in Yarmouth. Right now, we're good with the list as presented.
THE CHAIR: Could I have a motion? Okay.
If there is no further discussion, all those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
MLA Fadare.
ADEGOKE FADARE: I want to move a motion regarding our second topic to be Surgical Advancements in Robotics with the following witnesses: representatives from IWK Health and from the Nova Scotia Health Authority.
THE CHAIR: Thank you. Any discussion? I think I did hear that formed as a motion.
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
MLA Corkum-Greek.
HON. SUSAN CORKUM-GREEK: I move that the third topic for the PC caucus be Advancements in Clinical Research, and Health and Life Sciences Innovation with the following witnesses: representatives from the Nova Scotia Health Authority, IWK Health, and Life Sciences Nova Scotia.
THE CHAIR: That's in the form of a motion. Is there any discussion? MLA Lachance.
LISA LACHANCE: I'm just curious if the focus of that discussion could be made clear. There are a lot of different types of health research happening in Nova Scotia. There's a lot of clinical research happening. If we're talking about young people, or seniors, or physical health, or mental health - I won't belabour the point, but it isn't really clear.
I think a couple of the other questions that are important and would be more timely, would be to also talk about the impact of ending the Nova Scotia Graduate Scholarship on actual research happening in this province. I would also be interested in having someone actually affiliated with the university identified. It's very vague. The topic is vague. There are no people identified. It's really unclear what the purpose of this topic is.
SUSAN CORKUM-GREEK: While I appreciate the comments, I think we are being purposeful in being general about the full impacts and availability of things like clinical trial opportunities. We do have topics. Arguably, we recently did women's health. We could have focused any questioning. That is the opportunity to focus or perhaps ask about some of the things that you've mentioned.
LISA LACHANCE: I just stand by my point that if you want to know about specific areas, you need to have the researchers and the graduate students involved around the table. It's not possible, for instance, for even the head of IWK Health - who I have great respect for - to be able to speak in detail about the different research projects and clinical trials that are under way. This is just a level of detail. I'm sure it will pass, but I don't think this is very useful to set up in terms of a subject matter.
SUSAN CORKUM-GREEK: I respectfully disagree with the member.
THE CHAIR: Okay, thank you. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none.
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
We'll now move on to the Official Opposition's proposed topics and witnesses. We'll start with MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: The first topic we'd like to look at is: Delivering Emergency Care When and Where Nova Scotians Need It. Why? We all know that access to emergency care has been challenging across the province. We also know that in the budget, there was a lot of reference to improvement of services and access of funds and resources, but lacking details of how that may happen. Being optimistic - and I think we're all on the same page that there does need to be an improvement. The government's investing in it, so we'd like to learn more about what that investment looks like.
Witnesses: We're really focusing on people on the front lines and some system thinkers related. Our course of witnesses would be: a local representative of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, to be determined; from the Dalhousie University Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Simon Field. I'd also suggest, because I know there's a stressor, in Cape Breton, the site lead - sorry, I cannot remember his name - the site lead for the Cape Breton Regional Hospital emergency department, one of the busiest in the province. Then a Nova Scotia Paramedics Union representative, and the other group - the Nova Scotia Paramedic Professional Association representative. And of course, from the Department of Health and Wellness, the deputy minister, and also from the Nova Scotia Health Authority, the appropriate person who oversees the delivery of the services - in particular, any changes that are coming as a result of the most recent budget - who would be the best person to speak to that.
THE CHAIR: Can you please repeat the topic for the record?
ROD WILSON: Delivering Emergency Care When and Where Nova Scotians Need It. It's really access to emergency care improvements.
THE CHAIR: Any discussion?
MLA Hilton.
NICK HILTON: Thank you to the member opposite for that question. Emergency medicine is, of course, something that we all have a high focus on. We look forward to discussing that topic.
I will move an addition - I move that the witness list for the NDP topic of Delivering Emergency Care When and Where Nova Scotians Need It be amended to include the following witnesses: a local rep from the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians, as described; department head from the Dalhousie University Department of Emergency Medicine, Dr. Simon Field; a rep from the Nova Scotia Paramedics Union; a rep from Cape Breton Regional Hospital, as added by the member; a rep from the Nova Scotia Paramedic Professional Association; Nova Scotia Paramedics Union; representatives from the Department of Health and Wellness; representatives from the Nova Scotia Health Authority; and representatives from EMCI.
THE CHAIR: That's an amendment to the motion. Any further discussion?
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: Our second one - during Estimates and in Question Period . . .
THE CHAIR: Can you please read the title of the - just one second. (Interruption)
THE CHAIR: Thank you. The clerk just reminded me that the amendment was just voted on. Now it's the motion we're going to vote on. Sorry about that.
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
My apologies. MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: Second topic: Recruitment and Retention of Nurses in Nova Scotia.
My preamble to this: In Estimates, the minister stated that Nova Scotia, I believe, in the Department of Health and Wellness - so I can't speak to the number for the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care or the Office of Addictions and Mental Health - had vacancies of 1,600 nurses. We know that the workforce is aging. We know there are high attrition rates. We feel that's an important topic.
In addition to that number, our recruitment and retention of nurses not only applies to the Department of Health and Wellness; we'd also like to hear what that picture looks like with the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care and also the Office of Addictions and Mental Health. Of course, there are nurses across the spectrum, all valuably needed.
With that in mind, we would like to invite the frontline Nova Scotia Nurses' Union president; the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union president; the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Nova Scotia; the Department of Health and Wellness deputy minister; and I believe the Nova Scotia Health Authority Chief Nurse Executive Dr. Annette Elliott Rose.
THE CHAIR: Is there any discussion?
MLA Fadare.
ADEGOKE FADARE: I'd like to introduce an amendment to the witness list that was presented by the Official Opposition.
THE CHAIR: I'll just stop you for one sec. There's been no motion made yet.
Did you want to make the motion first, MLA Wilson?
ROD WILSON: I move for our topic in this session of the Health Committee would be Recruitment and Retention of Nurses in Nova Scotia.
THE CHAIR: Thank you very much for that.
I'll go back to MLA Fadare.
[1:15 p.m.]
ADEGOKE FADARE: I just want to move an amendment to the witness list. I move that the witness list for the NDP topic of Recruitment and Retention of Nurses be amended to include the following witnesses: the president of the Nova Scotia Nurses Union, the president of NSGEU, the representative from the Nurse Practitioners' Association of Nova Scotia, representative from the Office of Healthcare Professionals Recruitment, representatives from the Nova Scotia Health Authority itself.
THE CHAIR: Okay. Is there any discussion on the amendment? MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: I may have missed it. Were you asking to - maybe you included and I missed it. Nova Scotia Health Authority, Dr. Annette Elliott Rose - are you comfortable with her there?
ADEGOKE FADARE: Yes. I also wanted to ensure that there was also opportunity for any representative within the Nova Scotia Health Authority to be there who might be an expert to speak because at the end of the day, we want to ensure that we have a wholesome and credible conversation at this table.
THE CHAIR: Any further discussion on the amendment?
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The amendment to the motion is carried.
We'll move on to the motion. Is there any further discussion on the motion?
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
We'll go back to MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: My third and most favourite topic today: Improving Access . . . (interruption)
THE CHAIR: You only get - sorry. The Opposition has two topics.
ROD WILSON: Oh, come on. (Laughter)
THE CHAIR: Sorry. It's your favourite, too. (Laughter)
ROD WILSON: It's Seniors and Long-term Care. Don't we want to talk about that?
THE CHAIR: You can revoke one of the other two, if you'd like.
ROD WILSON: We'll wait for next time.
THE CHAIR: Okay. Thank you, MLA Wilson. We'll move on to the Liberal Party and MLA Rankin.
HON. IAIN RANKIN: We'd like to put forward the topic, Pregnancy Support with the following witnesses: IWK Health, a representative from the Department of Health and Wellness, representatives from the Association of Nova Scotia Midwives, the IWK Foundation, representatives from the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union and representatives from ultrasonographers and MRI technicians.
THE CHAIR: Was that a motion, MLA Rankin? Is there any discussion on the motion? MLA Corkum-Greek.
SUSAN CORKUM-GREEK: I would move that the Liberal witness list for Pregnancy Support be amended to remove the representative from the IWK Foundation. The foundation is an absolutely vital organization in the province, but their focus is as a charitable organization and is outside the scope of clinical services. In my view, it's outside the scope of the topic.
IAIN RANKIN: I would disagree, given that the report that has been conducted by the foundation has a significant volume of first-hand experiences from women that includes pre- and post-partum care that they're receiving and the lack thereof. I would just continue to support keeping them on there, but I do recognize the comments of the member opposite.
THE CHAIR: Just for clarity, MLA Rankin, the Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union and representatives of ultrasonographers and MRI technicians, that's all one? It's not two different groups - it's one group there? Is that right?
IAIN RANKIN: It's all one group.
THE CHAIR: Thank you, MLA Rankin.
MLA Corkum-Greek.
SUSAN CORKUM-GREEK: Chair, I would just note that I believe the reps from IWK Health could, in fact, speak to that report if it is deemed relevant. I would ask that the amendment stand for a vote.
THE CHAIR: The amendment is on the table. Any further discussion?
All those in favour?
MLA Lachance.
LISA LACHANCE: Sorry, can I just clarify? We're voting on the amendment to remove the IWK Foundation from the proposed list of witnesses?
THE CHAIR: Yes.
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
Is that motion carried?
JUDY KAVANAGH: Yes.
THE CHAIR: Or do I have to vote?
JUDY KAVANAGH: Does anyone dispute? I didn't hear.
THE CHAIR: I think it's four and four.
JUDY KAVANAGH: You vote, too.
THE CHAIR: I vote yea. Thank you.
The amendment is carried.
That's the Liberal topic. MLA Lachance.
LISA LACHANCE: I just had a question for the Liberal caucus - whether or not they would consider a friendly amendment. I'm wondering: Are we literally only talking about pregnancy, or are we talking about perinatal - prenatal, postnatal, and throughout? Would perinatal be a more appropriate descriptor? (Interruptions)
I'm making a friendly amendment to just change the title to Perinatal Support.
THE CHAIR: Any discussion on the amendment? MLA Hilton.
NICK HILTON: Are there any additional witnesses, or that's just the change to the title? Okay.
THE CHAIR: The amendment's on the floor.
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The amendment to the motion is carried.
Now I'll move for the motion itself. Is there any further discussion on the motion itself? Hearing none.
All those in favour? Contrary minded? Thank you.
The motion is carried.
Now the Liberal topic has been chosen as well.
I think we're ready to move on to committee business. There's correspondence. Members have the correspondence. They were all forwarded via email. IWK Health and the Nova Scotia Health Authority - in response to requests for information made at the meeting of September 9, 2025, on Integrated Youth Services. This was on the agenda of the April 14th meeting and inadvertently skipped. Is there any discussion on this correspondence piece? No. Let's accept it as correspondence.
April 24th email from the Nova Scotia Health Authority in response to the committee's request for an update on the availability of interim president and CEO Karen Oldfield for a meeting on emergency department closures. Any discussion on this piece of correspondence? MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: If members of government could, I'd like to ask for clarity as to what the status and role of Karen Oldfield is. I think we were told in the Legislature that there would be an interim contract for three months, from April 1st to June. I've been told otherwise by someone else in government. Are any members of government able to clarify what the current status is of Karen Oldfield as an interim CEO?
THE CHAIR: MLA Hilton.
NICK HILTON: Not at this time, but we can try to find you that answer and provide it to you.
ROD WILSON: I'm just curious about whether she's working or not working for that time period.
NICK HILTON: We can try to find you that information and get it to you.
THE CHAIR: Thank you for that, MLA Hilton. We'll accept that as correspondence. April 29th email from Thomas Ashford regarding a request to place radiation therapy staffing and training capacity on the Health Committee agenda. Is there any discussion on that item? The agenda has been set for - MLA Wilson.
ROD WILSON: As I think members from all parties would agree, it is a pressing issue. I do think it's something that we should have a full discussion on sometime in the coming year.
THE CHAIR: Any further discussion? We'll accept this correspondence. The next meeting will be Tuesday, June 9th at 1:00 p.m. The topic is Brotherhood and Sisterhood Programs. The witnesses are the Nova Scotia Health Authority and the Department of Health and Wellness.
This meeting is adjourned. Thanks, everyone.
[The committee adjourned at 1:24 p.m.]
