HALIFAX, TUESDAY, APRIL 6, 2021

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE ON SUPPLY

4:18 P.M.

CHAIR

Keith Bain

THE CHAIR: Order, please. I call the Subcommittee on Supply to order. We will pick up where we left off on Thursday with Resolution E2.

When we closed on Thursday, the minister had made her opening remarks. We will turn the floor over to the PC caucus.

The honourable member for Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley. You have one hour.

LARRY HARRISON: First of all, minister, I want to congratulate you on your new portfolio. I know that your predecessor was very appreciative of that department and what it was able to do and just the number of people that he met and the programs that got approval. I’m hoping that you’re going to enjoy the portfolio as well as he did.

One of the mandates of your department that really interests me now is the doctor-recruiting efforts in support. I think this is great for the communities. I want to spend some time trying to find out what that’s been like and the success ratio of that.

For instance, there was $25,000 for Love Where You Work in Chester. What did that money go toward?

HON. SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I thank the honourable member for the kind words about former Minister Glavine. He was certainly a great advocate for the arts and culture sector. He loved that, and of course he loved the opportunity to go around the province and visit different sites that he was helping out in the department and putting names to faces that often you have a phone call with or you get emails from. He still talks about his days. He was actually in here talking with the staff beforehand. You could tell he really enjoyed his time with Communities, Culture and Heritage.

I tend to enjoy it just as well, and I was really pleased to see that Premier Rankin continued to allow me in this portfolio. I was ready to give it up. I was just getting my feet warm when there was a change of leadership. I’m really happy.

As you know, representing Lunenburg - we are a real cultural hub. We have all sorts of arts and culture and history in Lunenburg County. Every day I’m in awe that I’m the MLA for Lunenburg, because of what it all means to me. I grew up in - I was actually born in Lunenburg town, but I represent a much larger part of Lunenburg County than just the Town of Lunenburg.

This Culture Innovation Fund: Healthy Communities Stream was really an important mark in the recruitment for health professionals here in Nova Scotia. I remember back in 2019, I had asked the Premier to come to Mahone Bay and have coffee with a group of dynamic women who were part of the NOW Lunenburg County group. They have a huge doctor recruitment program, and they were really interested in finding some sort of funding. Though their main recruiter had gone with the Minister of Immigration on some overseas trips for recruitment, this was more or less getting communities to attract and retain.

It’s one thing to attract. Someone can come for a weekend and you can put on a great program for a weekend - take people sailing and dining, show them some of your cultural hub - but it’s retaining, and so often - I’m sure in your area as well as mine - you get a primary care person in your community, you train them for two years with another practising physician, and two years later they’ve gone to Toronto after we’ve trained them and nurtured them. It’s not so much because they don’t like the community, but it’s finding people with like cultures. Some would rather be around people who share their language and their culture. We needed ways to help communities attract primary care health practitioners, but also retention is really important.

I’m not quite sure about the Chester program. I think that was to the Municipality of the District of Chester. I’m not quite sure of the details of how they broke down that money. I remember speaking to them at one point as an MLA when they received the money. If I can get back to you later about how they used that money, I would do so for you.

LARRY HARRISON: Do you have any idea how many physicians were identified at the Chester project?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’ll have to get back to you on that. I’m not sure if they identified a certain number. I know they were partnering with facilities at the time, but I’m not sure how many they had. We will get that information back to you.

LARRY HARRISON: I’m just very interested in how some of these communities are handling this, because I know even a couple of communities in my own constituency are trying to attract physicians to the area. I think this kind of support would be very, very helpful to them. Do you have any idea of the success of that project - maybe not all the particulars, but any idea of the success of it?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Yes, I can speak to that. I took part in the first workshop that they held at the Lunenburg Academy. Minister Glavine was there at the time and introduced this funding.

It was formed to help community leaders and innovators attract and embrace physicians and their families through projects and initiatives. The $200,000 was well spent. There were representatives from all over the province taking part in this workshop and taking that information back to their communities. Yarmouth is done - very successful. I know Pictou - the Annapolis Valley had one. There are a total of 13 groups who received funding at the time. Even though COVID‑19 hit us, many of these communities were still able to keep in touch via Zoom and try recruiting a little bit.

I can tell you that NOW Lunenburg County does all sorts of wonderful recruiting. A few weeks ago, we did a Cook with a Chef event. What NOW Lunenburg County did was collect local products and sign up interested primary care health care workers to join them. They provided them with the types of foods and the recipes, and they did online cooking with a well-known chef in the area. A couple of weeks ago, they did another evening via Zoom. They have already-practising primary care health workers on Zoom as well as recruits who are interested in coming to Lunenburg County.

They often bring a primary care person in. We have one person who has donated an apartment so that a family can come for a weekend or a week, and the NOW Lunenburg County group entertains them, takes them around the community, shows them what’s available for sports facilities, arts, culture, and the schools, and sometimes put them in contact with a real estate agent who can take them around to see some of the available properties at the time. We’ve even had some people who are coming in and doing a locum for a local physician come and stay at the apartment for maybe a month or so in hopes that this person will meet people and enjoy Lunenburg County and then want to stay here.

[4:30 p.m.]

I think many of the other groups have done similar things. It gives them some extra money. We have people who will have people in for dinner. We’ve had breweries do a beer-tasting event with new recruits and new students. We’ve done it also with some of the medical students we have in Bridgewater. We have some medical students in Lunenburg County - not just at South Shore Regional Hospital, but I think one or two are down in Queens General Hospital and Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital in Lunenburg.

What Chester has done - I have that information now for you. They want to create Love Where You Work. It’s a campaign and factors in the personal needs of doctors and their families. They’re using a website right now to promote that and community champions who are connecting with these primary caregivers and hoping to attract them to the Chester area.

LARRY HARRISON: Were there any metrics in place to actually measure the success?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The website has just been completed. It was a little delayed in being completed because of COVID-19 and other focuses with the department, but now it’s up and running. That will be part of having the site - getting a matrix and getting some statistics on how it’s working. Hopefully next year by Estimates we will be able to report more concise numbers for you.

LARRY HARRISON: Moving from Chester, $10,000 was given to the Eastern Memorial Hospital Foundation to develop a new team to develop a welcome plan and a promotion plan for the community. Does your department actually approve those plans?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Yes. Each group was supposed to submit a proposal and it was looked after and discerned by the department. There is also a follow-up report that has to be completed at the end of the project. They evaluate the outcomes as well.

LARRY HARRISON: Just for curiosity, digging into it a little bit more, what did the plan actually consist of?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We don’t have that here right now, but we can get that information for you, Mr. Harrison.

LARRY HARRISON: Do you have any idea how many physicians were actually identified in that?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We can get that information for you as well.

LARRY HARRISON: The next round of applications for the Healthy Communities Stream of the Culture Innovation Fund closed April 1^st. How many communities have actually applied for that at this point?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: COVID-19 was a really challenging time for these community groups. Usually, projects have a start and end date. It had a really big impact on these communities. A lot of the volunteers, for different reasons, did not want to gather. Also, you couldn’t have international travellers coming in, people did not want to isolate for two weeks, and a lot of people didn’t want someone coming into the communities. We’ve seen how successful we were here in Nova Scotia at keeping the COVID-19 virus at bay and under control as well as possible.

A lot of these groups have asked for an extension, so we have agreed, because it was very unfair to expect them to wrap up and not use the funds that we were offering, and also to really do it well and do it fairly. We have allowed the groups that have asked - and most have - to extend that period. There is no April 1^st cut-off. We will, once we get some of these projects wrapping down - we’re still under COVID-19 restrictions - so after their projects, we will keep the stream open for new projects. We’re sort of open there right now. We want to be flexible to help these communities out.

LARRY HARRISON: I know I’m asking a lot of questions on this, but you know it’s so important now, because of the lack of doctors, especially in rural areas, and they’re really struggling. They’re going to do anything they can possibly do in order to attract doctors to their communities.

I know $10,000 went to the Town of Port Hawkesbury to support a new program aimed at connecting community volunteers with new physicians. Do you have any idea how many new physicians might have shown up for that, or even how many volunteers might have shown up for that?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The program is more about retention than bringing physicians in, and so a lot of the focus of these groups is to ‑ and this is what the group in Port Hawkesbury did. They had a buddy program that they developed, and they did a bit of diversity training.

They did a mapping of the community and their talents, and then they matched physicians or primary care practitioners up with a volunteer from the community who seemed to have a personality match, an interest match. That is how they carried theirs out. It was quite successful.

They are in a good position to welcome some new physicians with the number of volunteers they had in the uptake.

LARRY HARRISON: I appreciate this degree of information because when I am talking to rural communities in my own constituency, I can give them kind of an idea of what might be expected in order to attract and to retain the doctors who do come. Looking at Cumberland, for instance, there was $15,700 to support the county’s regional physician-retention strategy, to get the physicians a little bit more engaged in the community. What tactics were used to engage those physicians, and were the tactics successful?

[4:45 p.m.]

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’d like to let the honourable member know that the community’s really focused on retention of who they already have for primary care. That’s really important. They’re doing something similar to what Port Hawkesbury hopes to do. Of course, COVID-19 has really delayed this project as well, because I know for myself, I have two sisters who are nurses, and they had to really limit their contact with outside people because they work in health care. It’s really important that our primary care practitioners really practise the social distancing and the masking and keeping to their bubble to keep healthy so they would be there when we needed them, and if someone was in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It has delayed their project, but they do have people in the community who are going to be paired up with their current primary care physicians. They will be taking them out and enjoying activities together and making sure that they stay within their communities.

You sort of started your question with how different communities are doing things. When we had our conference, so many of these community leaders met other community leaders or got names. We’ll gladly do that. If you know someone in your community or have a group that are interested, we will certainly talk to people and help them. We don’t decide for you what you should do in your community, because you know your community best and you know what you have there. It’s not fair for us to say you should do this or you should do that, but we can put your volunteers in contact with other volunteers in communities, and through networking they can come up with some really creative ideas and share ideas. Please feel free to contact the office and we will happily do that.

Also, there are many grants that are out there for other things. Maybe you want to make sure your community looks like they’re doing projects on food security. We have programs that we can help you get funding for to strengthen your food security, which will be an attraction for recruiting and retaining physicians in your area.

We’re really about helping all these different communities to be inclusive and welcoming to anyone who comes. I said earlier about people leaving because they haven’t found a community. It’s really important that these programs focus on keeping their primary care workers in the community and not moving off to another place.

LARRY HARRISON: I really do appreciate the task. This task does not have a great environment in which to move right now, but I’m glad something is happening. It will get better once COVID-19 finishes. I’m hoping these programs will start to escalate and communities really can get doctors in.

I just have one final question on this and I’ll move to something else. How much money was actually distributed through the Culture Innovation Fund’s Healthy Communities Stream, and what kind of success do you think it was?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: It was $200,000, and the new program will have $200,000. When I’ve talked to groups, they’ve been very successful in stretching that dollar. I think the way that some communities have really tacked on Buy Local and Support Local - I don’t know how many gift baskets I have seen put together very quickly with people who will leave even their business cards for services like doing taxes, or not necessarily having a product in a basket but also gift certificates, an afternoon sailing on the waters of Mahone Bay - anything. I have seen people get involved in so many creative ways.

Some people don’t realize that they have this talent or this type of offering, but they can provide to these community groups. Just meeting up with other children - if you have a primary care person who’s interested and has children, bring your children along and take them on an outing. It will help them feel comfortable about what their children will face as well when they move to a new community. We know that’s hard on families. Any kind of transition like that, it’s already nice to know that when you’re moving to the community, they have made friends before they came.

LARRY HARRISON: Moving on to another topic, the Royal Canadian Legions have certainly been hit hard. In August, the department invested $100,000 in the Legion Capital Assistance Program for upgrades. How many applications were made to that program?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’m sure the member has several Legions in his constituency, as I do. We know how important a role they play in the communities and keeping our history alive. We have a lot of retired military who, in their retirement years, have really strengthened our Legions in their membership and their contributions and researching. We’re getting so much history research now of former veterans from my community, and I’m sure you are too.

We give an annual fund of $100,000 each year to Legions. This money goes to the Command, and the Command decides how the money is distributed amongst the Legions. I’m sure there’s an application process they do within the Legion and the Command. We have been very successful with that.

During COVID‑19, we did an extra $75,000, and once again, the Command was responsible for distribution of that money. In 2020-21, we did give $110,000, so there must have been a higher need. We funded 17 different projects.

What also happened is I also know that with my Legion in Mahone Bay and others, they tapped into some of the funding that came out for buying PPE and reopening. A lot of them did get money for that, which was a big boost to them. As you know, many have a little club, and they have a program where they often do a breakfast or something every month. They really needed help with funding for masks, hand sanitizer, cleaning supplies, and whatnot that they normally wouldn’t have that much around in their facilities. Many Legions took up on the reopening funding.

LARRY HARRISON: I know the Legions have very unique ways of raising funds over the year. Of course with COVID-19, they’ve been unable to do that, because they just can’t get people together. A lot of the Legions are saying they will not survive this year. Has there been further outreach to touch base with these Legions to ensure that they’re able to survive?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Thank you for the question. It’s like an add-on to what we were discussing before. We’ve been helping Legions navigate COVID-19 right from the start. Many have reached out to the department. We will continue to do this. We’ve been working collaboratively with Legion Command. They’re the big voice of the Legions. They are in constant contact with staff at CCH and we will do it. The annual funds will help again this year.

LARRY HARRISON: Will that require more in the budget to meet those kinds of needs, over and above the $100,000?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: No. We have this in our annual budget and we will do our regular budgeting. We always stay open for conversation. If a group needs to reach out to us, we sit down with them and discuss their needs and anything that we can possibly do to help them, or there may be some funding in another area of our department. Say they need money for accessibility - we can look into some accessibility grants and other things.

We do our best to have conversations. It’s really important that groups talk to people in our department, not just assume what’s there for grants by going online. We will connect you to the right person in the department to have those conversations, because in these conversations, something may just come out and grab us. Then we say, well, we have this program and you just may be successful in applying for grant money for that.

We are on cycle. This is the one thing. We MLAs get these calls all the time: Oh my gosh, our roof is leaking, we need our roof repaired. We scramble around trying to find grants. Organizations, if they are speaking to a contact person on a regular basis, we’ll say, a grant is opening up, a stream is opening up, and here’s a good time to apply for this grant if you have this need or that need.

Having those connections in the department is really important. I recommend that all MLAs have that kind of relationship with their organizations like their Legions so that they can encourage them to make those contacts.

There are regional managers for CCH in each area. Mr. Harrison, I’m not sure who yours is, but if you contact that person - I can get you that name. I have it already. Aren’t I fast? Peter McCracken is the representative in your area. You could talk to him and get the contact person’s name so that when one of your Legions contacts you about an issue, you can offer his name and he can start the conversation rolling.

LARRY HARRISON: I know years ago there used to be a book, just like the Bible, that had all this information about loans and grants for just about anything. I don’t know whether such a thing exists anymore. If it does, I would love to have access, as every MLA would. If it doesn’t exist, how can we get on board for a lot of these different programs that you’re talking about?

[5:00 p.m.]

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Well, the book sort of changed its appearance. It’s on a screen now. We have great social media that post information on grants, when they open up, and showing successes in some of our programs. But also, the website - go to our website and you can get so much information off the website. Also, go to your local regional manager. Yours would be Peter McCracken and he can fill you in.

I know I have a new person now who I am just getting used to, but I know my former person was an amazing resource for me and my constituency assistant. We relied on her a great deal to navigate us through the process of finding grants and understanding grants. There are so many out there and it can be overwhelming sometimes to separate them.

I must say that my constituency assistants have been incredibly knowledgeable on this resource. So, you know, get a day, or a morning, or afternoon when your constituency assistant can go meet with Peter. I would recommend that. You will get to know him and can let him know what kinds of calls you are getting, because different areas have different needs. It will be probably the best half day or full day that your constituency assistant has had in a long time.

LARRY HARRISON: I do appreciate that, and I look forward to telling her that. She is actually great on technology and I am not, so that’s …

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Make sure you pay her for that time [Laughs].

LARRY HARRISON: Will do that. The new art gallery - I know that the member, the NDP member is going to be going through a lot of the cultural stuff, certainly - I just want to ask a couple of questions on the new art gallery.

Three designs were presented to the public. I would like to ask the minister: How many designs were actually submitted for that?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We are a bit excited about the new art gallery. I actually saw the design. Have you seen the design, Mr. Harrison?

LARRY HARRISON: No, I have not.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Okay, well there were 48 international design proposals that came in - not actual designs, but proposals. Then, through a process of interviewing and whatnot, three were chosen. Can you imagine what a job that was? Then three were asked to do designs and then a jury selected the winning number, but people had input.

There was a period of time, and I just snuck in close to the end of the time period with going down and seeing the proposed designs. They were quite remarkable, very different, all three were very different. The public had a chance to come in, they did open up a part of the gallery, and with proper protocols for COVID-19, the public was allowed to come in. Plus, they could view online. It was very easy to access that on the internet, but a lot of people walked in like I did and got to look at the designs. They were quite remarkable.

LARRY HARRISON: When you’re out talking to people, some will say, is this the right time for an art gallery? I’m asking you, is it? And why is it?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: That’s a common question that I get from a lot of people. I get it even in my social circles. Why are you spending that kind of money on an art gallery when we need doctors, we need hospitals, we need this and that? You know what? We can have both. It’s really important.

We’re talking about healthy communities in our department a great deal. Part of being a healthy community is having a wide spectrum of interests. It’s not just professionals who have a deep interest in the arts. Many people in the community, from all parts of the province, have an interest in the arts. It’s so important that we feed that interest.

We know that healthy communities have healthy outcomes. It’s really important for the social benefits. You know what it’s like to sing a good song and how great you feel after you’ve delivered a great piece of music; you also have the same thing for people who are into the visual arts. This isn’t going to just be what we would typically think an art gallery is.

Remember how libraries were, everything was “shhhh,” no talking, no fun? This is going to be an art gallery for all Nova Scotians, for everybody. It’s going to be a place where, if you’re walking by, just the design is going to want you go to inside. It’s going to be inviting. It’s going to be there for all people. We really hope it will be a hub on the waterfront here in Halifax. But the art gallery goes beyond the walls of Halifax. It reaches all Nova Scotians, and we have great hopes for this serving a great purpose in helping with the social benefits that people need.

This is a really hard time. We know how important - the arts have played a role in keeping people active and healthy during COVID-19, and they will continue to do so.

LARRY HARRISON: Are there safeguards in place to make sure that it doesn’t go way over budget and way beyond the time that you have set out for that, the timetable?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The Department of Infrastructure and Housing are the leads on the actual construction, and they have very qualified project managers and engineers who are leading on this project. Of course, we will be keeping our eye on it. We have experience - it’s hard to predict.

We do have a budget. We have a fundraising campaign that has been launched by the gallery. Of course we want to stay as close to what we have asked for as a budget, but I know people who are building houses right now during COVID‑19, and it seems like with the shortage of supplies or the demand on supplies, prices have really gone up. Our people in Infrastructure and Housing are very aware of that.

There’s going to be a public consultation that will be launching soon, in a few months. That will keep us engaged with the public and keeping an eye on public funds. This is taxpayers’ money, so we are very careful because we want to build a proper, functioning art gallery for Nova Scotians, so Nova Scotians need to have a say in this. Also, we are drawing on the best of the best in our Department of Infrastructure and Housing.

LARRY HARRISON: Another program you have, Empowering Seniors Through Technology - my assistant is doing that with me every single day, but I’m sure there’s another program for other seniors. What regions were chosen for that project?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Can we have clarification on what program you’re asking about? Is it one that the libraries are doing?

LARRY HARRISON: It could be. It’s just Empowering Seniors Through Technology.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Would that be a Seniors program or Communities, Culture and Heritage?

LARRY HARRISON: I think it could be a library program.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Okay, just give us a second.

[5:15 p.m.]

You were right. The libraries are doing very well. As a former library employee, technology has been such an important part of extending the hub concept of what a library is to the community.

We spent $250,000 last year at 150 sites in the province. They’re in community centres and local libraries, some local businesses as well, to offer space and high-speed internet to communities. As you know, rural Nova Scotian connectivity to the internet is a challenge, so many people have to come to a denser-populated area where the services are found.

Many of these hubs are in different communities that people can go in and they can access internet, they can use different technology, because maybe your computer is a little old and slow, and there is more up-to-date digital equipment in these libraries.

We also spent another $500,000 that went directly to libraries to improve their technology, not just for seniors but seniors benefited greatly from this, but all marginalized groups. It was intergenerational work. They were pairing young people up with older people, and it was very successful. That $500,000 went a long way.

I can tell you that many - from experience, just going over and watching some of the programming that is being done, it’s just remarkable to see. I could spend all day teaching my mother, trying to get her to do certain types of programming, and I had no way. I would just get frustrated. The people who work at the local libraries are so patient and their volunteers who come in and help, work one-on-one and mentor. It gives young people a great opportunity to interact with people of various ages and backgrounds and to learn technology. It’s been a pretty successful program.

THE CHAIR: Order, please. I’m sorry to interrupt, but the first hour for the PC caucus has expired, and following COVID-19 protocol, we’ll now take a 15-minute COVID-19 break.

Back at 5:33 p.m.

[5:19 p.m. The subcommittee recessed.]

[5:33 p.m. The subcommittee reconvened.]

THE CHAIR: Order, please. The Subcommittee of the Whole on Supply will resume. We will now go into the hour for the NDP caucus.

The honourable member for Dartmouth North.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Hello, everyone. Happy to be here to ask some questions of the new minister. I’m just going to get right into it with a bunch of different things that have to do with all areas of the department.

So of course, we know that 2020 was a year like no other. No one could have predicted what would take place and what the need for government support would be in government intervention. This is reflected in some of the CCH budget, with big differences between the 2020‑21 forecast and this year’s Estimates.

For example, Development Programs under Culture and Heritage Development was forecasted at $19.2 million but estimated at $8.8 million this year. I would like to ask the minister: Why was the support for arts last year not continued into this year?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Nice to see you, Ms. Leblanc. You have a break from the chairing seat. I know that’s a long sitting, sitting and chairing. I respect Mr. Bains’s time in the Chair as well.

We do not analyze the prior year’s forecast to the new year estimates since the new year pertains to a different operating plan. The prior year’s forecast is the evolution of the prior year’s operation plan. I’m not an accountant, but this is how they practise it in the department.

You would have seen this increase was primarily due to investments in community infrastructure that totalled $6.835 million. The COVID‑19 emergency funding for arts and culture was $2.1 million, which you spoke to earlier today. Funding for Nova Scotia Power, Efficiency Nova Scotia support, the Atlantic Compassion Fund, that was $1 million. There was also humanitarian relief to Beirut, which was $1 million. That’s where the difference is.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Similarly, Development and Support, Recreation and Sports Organizations was forecast at $15.3 million last year but estimated at $6.6 million this year. I’m wondering again why it was lowered. Was it considered to make that support, or whatever that spending was, permanent? After I hear your answer to that, I’ll talk about it in more general terms.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: This increase was primarily due to the $5 million investment in sports equity initiatives to help make play sport systems more inclusive and accessible. It’s allowing more Nova Scotians to have the opportunity to lead healthy active lives through sports and recreation. That was announced just a couple of Saturdays ago. I’m sure you read the releases.

Although it’s just a one-time investment, we are committed to working with Sport Nova Scotia as they implement these important programs. We’ll collaborate with them to ensure their ongoing success.

With this $5 million, we’re investing - $2 million is going to Sport Nova Scotia for the KidSport program. That provides funding to help families overcome financial barriers that prevent their kids from limited participation in organized sports and recreation. Many schools even request that families pay a fee for their children to play sports. This is to help out for that. If you have your child in a soccer club or whatnot, gymnastics, this will help parents make the playing field a little even - excuse the pun. It will make a big difference.

I have three children. I know how expensive it is to put your children in all these programs. We were fortunate that we had grandparents who were always looking for a good birthday gift or a Christmas gift and we would say, oh, swimming lessons or basketball fees or whatever. Not every family has that and so this will go a long way to be fair to children, to keep them healthy and active, and that’s really important.

We are also giving $2 million for accessible sports equipment and that is a game changer because sports, period, can be expensive with equipment. You know, things are always getting better, the quality of protection gear and whatnot. This fund will really increase the access to recreation facilities and improvements with equipment all across the province - maybe in higher, denser areas like HRM there are more opportunities for people with disabilities to access programs for physical activity, but this will be provincewide.

It is a really big step in what we are offering with $500,000 going to Sports Nova Scotia, the Parasport NS program. Parasport has really become popular with everyone. Para ice hockey - sledge hockey as some people call it - there are a lot of people who are not disabled who are now playing para ice hockey because it is such an exciting sport.

I know we hosted the para ice hockey international event in the South Shore a few years ago and we just packed the gyms. It was amazing the number of people. We had players from Russia, Sweden, the U.S., and Canada. Oh, there was a great U.S.‑Canada playoff game that was really exciting, too.

It is amazing how exposure to this promotes the delivery of accessible sports, but a lot of them everyone can enjoy and take part in and I think we really learned that. At one time, only parents or family members of players attended these sports venues. The para sailing at the local yacht club is a really, really popular sport.

Also, $500,000 is going to Sport Nova Scotia for their equity in coaching, which I think is really key here to getting people who are marginalized, or people who feel left out of the sports world. They are going to have coaches who they can see themselves as someday. They look up to them as coaches, and will hopefully, at some time, go into coaching and be a mentor for other children in their sports.

I think this is so good. It is for people with intellectual abilities and physical abilities, it is for Mi’kmaq, it’s for women, it’s for everyone. I think this will be a game changer for getting people to participate and allowing people to participate. I think it will help people see themselves differently as a participant in sports. We know not everyone is an athlete, but there are still ways that you can participate in sports, so I think this is really good.

Additionally, there was $3.7 million for emergency COVID-19 funding. That was through Sport Canada, so we really benefited last year with that program. One of the things you would have seen is that we had a decrease, primarily due to the transfer of community transportation programming - that is now going to the Department of Transportation and Active Transit - that file is moving but I am really proud of the work that we did here.

I know, as an MLA, I worked extensively with getting a fixed link from Halifax to the South Shore with Maritime Bus. The local municipalities wanted to be part of it, but not financially a part of it because they just felt it was too much of a risk for them to invest. The Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, I worked a lot with them. This is prior to me being a minister. I was really impressed with their outreach to smaller communities in rural areas. You’re fortunate, you live in HRM, so you have a great transit system that you can use. In rural Nova Scotia, getting just to doctor’s appointments, getting to a library is really difficult.

[5:45 p.m.]

Now we have this fixed route in my area that we can get around to the three towns, which is great, and then Bridgewater has their own transit program, which the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage helped fund. It was really successful. Once you get to Bridgewater, which tends to be the hub on the South Shore for services, you can get to the library, you can get to the hospital, you can get to the mall, you can get to the grocery store. That’s a real game changer for rural Nova Scotia.

We really feel that the transportation programs did build stronger communities. That’s going to be passed along. We’ve seen some First Nations communities now connected. Eskasoni has received some funding, and they will fund their own inter-transit, but there will also be a link to Sydney, which is a game changer for them as well.

I want to thank all the transit providers that we have in the area. They have been so great. Also, we have these decreases of $1 million which also went to helping us with food insecurity issues. So we were very fortunate this year. A lot of people during COVID struggled to get to grocery stores. We know how prices rose in many areas. We also know that some people had transportation issues. Others were just at a loss. Some people were scared to go out in public to go grocery shopping. It really highlighted the vulnerable populations here in Nova Scotia. It made us aware of how we can help with managing these food insecurities. We invested $1 million in support.

We are investing $350,000 to make the farmers’ markets in Nova Scotia - I use farmers’ markets myself, and a lot of them are voluntarily run by the providers - we found ways to help them out. We are still trying to do other ways to access additional opportunities.

We have the Nourishing Communities Food Coupon Project. The mobile market has been a great success, and if you haven’t been on it yet, the new bus is there. It came to the Legislature. I don’t know if you took advantage of that day and went on the mobile bus. It’s brand new. It’s clean. They designed it to what their needs are, how they felt they needed to serve the public. It can be used in all kinds of weather, there’s protection, and they can build around it. They have paid staff, plus a huge volunteer group that helps them with the set-up and serving customers.

They practice great COVID skills. They even have handwashing facilities so people are safe. They’re able to go places that they weren’t able to go - they were using metro buses, which was great. It was great that we were able to use that, and Halifax Transit were collaborative in that program, but this can go further. It’s more environmentally friendly, a smaller footprint, and we can take it anywhere it’s needed. It will serve more communities than fixed routes on transits.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Thank you so much to the minister for that exceptionally detailed answer to my very simple question. I just would like to say there’s nothing to be afraid of here, Minister. I just want to ask a few questions about arts and culture.

I really hope that you can respect the fact that I have very little time to ask you some very important questions that are important to many people in this province, including artists but not just, as you mentioned, athletes and people who use transit. Many people are interested in the answers to the questions that I hope that I’m going to get to ask you tonight. Respectfully, Mr. Chair, I don’t know what the actual rules are, but I’m hoping that I can get some reasonable answers to my questions.

I have a lot of things to respond to in the minister’s very long and detailed answer, but I think that I’m just going to have to move on, of course, because I don’t have a lot of time to ask these very important questions.

Can the minister explain if there’s funding for doctor recruitment in the budget under CCH? If there is, what line is it under and how much is it for? Is it an increase or a decrease from last year?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I have to say that having primary care practitioners recruited is as important as transportation, food security, healthy lifestyles, and the arts. We really take it seriously, all our programs at CCH.

I think you’re asking for the Support4Culture fund, which is found in the budget. It has remained consistent this year. This $200,000 has been given to communities so that they can create a great environment for retention. We find this follows our healthy stream for funding.

In 2019, after a conversation with the Premier, a group of volunteers on the South Shore convinced him that they could do a much better job with recruiting and retaining primary caregivers by making them love the community. Who better to show a newcomer to an area how to enjoy a community than the people who live in the community themselves?

A conference was held at the Lunenburg Academy which I attended. I was really happy to do that and to host it. People came from all over the province - from Pictou, Yarmouth, Cumberland County, everywhere - to learn ways of how they can recruit. Our job at CCH is not to recruit - that’s the Department of Health and Wellness, but we feel it’s important to support communities that want to retain.

Retention is one of the big problems, because we can sometimes get people here. They stay for a year or two. We get them trained. We get them situated in a home and activities. Next thing you know, they’re off to a larger community or a different community - so retention is really important.

We work hard to find applicants who want to use their resources from this fund to help develop programs that will strengthen their community attachment for primary caregivers.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I’m going to ask some questions about before- and after-school care. How many pre-Primary students have access to before- and after-school programs? How many of these programs are on-site where they actually take their pre-Primary?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: That would be under the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, not us.

SUSAN LEBLANC: My understanding was that some after-school programs are not the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, not EXCEL, but the other privately-run or not-for-profit-run before- and after-school programs.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I apologize. We do fund the wraparound program, Ms. Leblanc, that serves the four-year-old program. They are either on-site or close by, and they have a large focus on physical literacy. We don’t have the numbers right here, but maybe by the time we’re finished or later on in the hour, we can get you that information. If not, we’ll make sure you get it at your office.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I would appreciate that.

What is the average cost per child, per day, of before- and after-school care? When I ask that question, I don’t mean just the wraparound four-plus program but for other after-school care, if you have that information.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We’ll have to get that information to you as well.

SUSAN LEBLANC: As a parent of kids who go to summer day camps, and having, obviously, last year turned upside down - and then when day camps finally, thankfully, opened in August, obviously numbers were much lower - all of the day camps had to sort of pivot and regroup.

I’m wondering, what work is under way now to prepare updated COVID‑19 guidelines for summer day camps this year? And if you know of any feedback that was received from parents organizations about the day camps last year.

[6:00 p.m.]

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I can answer this question for you. Anyway, we are working constantly with Public Health to try and set standards and follow - like today, some new things opened up for groups getting together. So the numbers are always changing.

There are so many different kinds of camps. You’ll appreciate that as a parent. Some are a week long, some are for a month at a time, and some are just like an art camp that takes place for a couple days. Different ones fill different needs. The protocols are different for each of these, so our staff are working with numerous public health officials to do this kind of programming.

The feedback last Summer was not so much from the parents but from the operators themselves. It was a real challenge because they could only have at the most 15 people and to sustain such a camp was a real challenge. We are really hoping - and today was quite positive news that the Premier announced with Dr. Strang - that larger groups are going to be able to get together and hopefully, that will go for our day camps, as well.

Oh, and does the member want to know more about the before ‑ the back numbers?

SUSAN LEBLANC: Sorry, the what numbers?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The before-and after-school numbers.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Sure, yes.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We have some of that information now. There are 28 sites and there are about 627 children involved in those. The costing models vary, depending, but $11 to $19 a day seem to be the numbers we are getting, and subsidies are available. As you know, those are always for those who qualify and that is income‑based.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Okay, thank you. Does the department have any plans to provide any extra funding to organizations that are running camps to offset additional costs like PPE, to offset the fact that they might have to have smaller groups of students or kids, increased cleaning, and that kind of thing? So all of those extras that come with COVID-19, does the department have any plan to help offset those costs?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I thank the member for that question. It’s not a question we have really had a whole lot of. We’ve had some YMCAs and the Boys and Girls Clubs reached out to us, but we haven’t heard from many camps. Should they approach us, we would certainly entertain conversations.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Does the department track any information about how many organizations offer day camps, how many children participate in the province and that kind of thing? If so, could it be provided to us?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We would only know the ones that we have contact with, which aren’t very many. Most of that falls under municipal jurisdiction, many of the day camps. We would only have information on those we have funded.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Undoubtedly, there was a lot of important help facilitated by the department to arts and culture organizations during the last year. As I said in my speech, when COVID‑19 first happened and so many arts and cultural organizations had to shut down, I was really impressed by the reaction or the action and the reaction by senior staff in the department.

I would like to point out the former deputy, Justin Houston, Chris Shore, folks like that were very willing to take my phone calls and have meetings at the time, so I wanted to extend my appreciation in this venue to them.

When all that was happening, there was no shortage of anxiety. Our caucus pressed the department for literally months and months of 2020 to develop and share with the public, and with arts and cultural organizations, a plan for support during COVID‑19. We know that there was federal funding available and some organizations were able to rely on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, which was very helpful. Many individual artists were able to rely on the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, which was a lifesaver.

Many at the same time experienced an almost - I’m sorry, I’m experiencing a lot of pain right now, physical pain, so I’m having a hard time speaking - many at the same time experienced an almost-complete collapse of revenue. While the department got organized, arts grants such as the Cultural Innovation Fund and the Creative Industries Fund, which have always been important funds, were placed on pause for months while the department worked through details of federal support.

Some supports in the province eventually arrived, as you know. I believe you were the minister who announced that. But it took an incredible amount of advocacy and manoeuvring from a group of organizations for this to be accomplished.

I guess my first question about all of that is: Can you talk about the deliberations and the timeline and what went on that amounted to such a lengthy delay in providing emergency funding to arts organizations?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: There were pressures all over departments, beyond CCH. I think everybody had felt some kind of challenge with COVID-19. We certainly saw that, especially in our relationship with our clients and the regular people whom we keep in touch with.

We were essentially waiting for funding. I wasn’t here for much of this, as you know, so I can only speak to what I know, with staff filling in gaps. My understanding is that we were waiting for the federal funding to see what was going to be assisting us in delivering funding. We did get operational money out the door rather quickly here in the department. Maybe if you were normally only going to get your stuff in October, you got it last Spring very quickly. They tried to do that.

Our staff was in constant contact with members, and you spoke to that, talking to people like Chris Shore and different ones. When I came in October, I was really impressed with the urgency that the staff placed on finding funding for the arts community. They tried to meet as much as possible and get a better understanding. Very quickly I got briefed. I also went on Zoom meetings with members of the sector to hear about their concerns. We tend to think of Halifax as the only hub, but it was all over Nova Scotia. Arts communities really needed some help.

I thought there was a very quick turnaround after having our meetings. We got the $2.1 million from the Treasury Board, because that had to go - it just doesn’t happen. There’s a process to building up a case for getting grant money and funds. Everything has to be vetted through Treasury Board and in Cabinet. We were able to do that.

Once that came in, we had a good turnaround. Staff worked all through the Christmas holidays to get cheques out in January to recipients. The uptake was really good. I think 89 different groups received funding. We’ve had a lot of positive feedback on that.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I want to point out: It’s funny, there have been many references to the fact that because I’m an HRM MLA, I think the world revolves around the HRM. I absolutely know that is not the case. I am a constant advocate for any department that I’m the critic of for what’s going on in rural areas of Nova Scotia. In fact, I started my theatre career in the valley at Mermaid Theatre and Two Planks and a Passion, and the Atlantic Theatre Festival. I worked at Festival Antigonish. I guess that’s it in Nova Scotia, but my theatre company has performed in Parrsboro. So I understand how completely vital arts and culture is to those rural communities. In many cases, they’re a big part of the backbone of why people even go to some of those communities as tourists and visitors.

One of the key demands from theatre organizations, as you know - including Two Planks and a Passion, Ross Creek Centre for the Arts, Neptune Theatre, Theatre Nova Scotia, 2b theatre, Mulgrave Road Theatre in Guysborough, Eastern Front Theatre, Mermaid in Windsor, Festival Antigonish, Zuppa Theatre was that the funding be not restricted to new and additional initiatives. There was a little funding stream that came out before that emergency operational money, the $2.1 million, that was dedicated to pivoting to online or virtual events, which was really helpful. In fact, I have witnessed many of those things that came out of that funding and there are lots more that are still being made. But that being said, you know, they simply needed help with their core funding. They didn’t want to have to do new things like figure out [Inaudible] with what their regular work is.

[6:15 p.m.]

I am wondering how much, or if you could talk about the extent to which this was incorporated into the approach of funding? Like I said, I know that there was a special stream, but in terms of the way that grants, the way that people had to apply for the money or organizations had to apply for the emergency money, were there any restrictions on the money or was it open for anyone to apply for and for whatever?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Ms. Leblanc, could you clarify? Are you talking about the digital funding or are you talking about the emergency funding?

SUSAN LEBLANC: What I am saying is with the emergency funding, the $2.1 million that I believe is the emergency funding amount, with the emergency funding that came out recently, like in January, were there restrictions on that funding to not ‑ were there restrictions? Was it simply open‑ended funding or were there any restrictions in terms of the funding being used for new or additional initiatives on behalf of the organizations? I understand that the virtual funding was obviously for new projects, for pivoting projects.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: There weren’t really restrictions on that money other than it was for new projects or they had to demonstrate a need for needing the funding. There were no special requirements that we developed. It was their normal - was like for normal operations, but it was to help them to remain some stable. I mean, we couldn’t fix everything for them, but we could help them through this rough period and help them to restart. Some may have had to, you know, make them able to function with less, with a smaller crowd, but be able to have some performances, but they didn’t have to recreate themselves. Is that what you are asking?

SUSAN LEBLANC: Now that I’ve said that I focus on all parts of the province, I am going to say this: One considerable challenge that is facing many, many arts organizations, particularly in the HRM but also across the province, is the lack of sustainable or appropriate space for art-making. I’m not just talking about theatres. I’m talking about gallery space and all kinds of different types of space.

What strategy is underway or what funding is available specifically to support organizations that are facing infrastructure issues?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: That’s a really valid question, Ms. Leblanc, that you’re asking. We do have a Community Facility Infrastructure Program. It funds up to $50,000 for improvements to existing infrastructure.

Are you having problems hearing me? Oh, okay. You were scratching your ear.

There are no dedicated funds for art infrastructure initiatives. Just sort of like Bus Stop Theatre. As you’re aware of, they had money for improvements, but we have the Lighthouse Theatre, we contributed to that, Alderney Landing, the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium, Spatz Theatre, the deCoste Performing Arts Centre, Marigold Theatre, Highland Arts Theatre, Kings Theatre, the Savoy Theatre. There are many that have benefited, but they’re not over $50,000. I think you’re talking more about larger amounts, but that’s all we have.

We’re always interested in having conversations with groups, so I invite you, if you have a particular concern or something, to bring it forward and staff can meet.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Okay, that’s great to know. I guess I am speaking more of higher amounts than $50,000, though it’s good to know that fund is there. Of course, I do recognize the Province’s investment in the Lighthouse and the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and The Convent in Sydney, and the Bus Stop, which was obviously - there was a lot of work and a lot of conversations that went into that funding, and it’s great that they’re able to stay in their space.

Smaller groups like the Eyelevel Gallery or the Khyber Centre for the Arts, and lots of others are, the community is, at risk that we will lose these critical parts of our arts ecosystem. The smaller places are where the young, new, emerging, diverse, or less established artists, that’s where they start, right?

On that, I’m wondering, when the Khyber had a recent campaign to cover some capital costs, if the Province made a contribution to that campaign.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Ms. Leblanc, we have had conversations, but we haven’t heard anything for more than a year from them. They’ve never made an application or a real ask. We welcome conversation with them, but we haven’t heard anything from them for some time, and that could be due to COVID-19 too.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Moving on to granting programs, Arts Nova Scotia has not received any increase from last year in the budget. With inflation, of course, this amounts to a cut. Stable, long-term arts organizations are crucial to healthy and thriving arts, culture and communities in our province. I’m wondering if you can comment on why your government is choosing to continue to let Arts Nova Scotia funding stagnate.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: There were 18 operating grant clients of Arts Nova Scotia who received extra support through the emergency funding. Their annual funding has stayed the same. You are correct. There has been no conversation about increasing that, but there were 18 who received more than their regular funding as they applied for the grant money. The emergency funding.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I understand that. I guess my point is, if we weren’t in emergency funding times, and it wasn’t COVID-19, there is still this desperate need for an increase of operating funding for those organizations. There has effectively been a 10-year-long freeze on operating funding to arts organizations. Status quo funding also means there isn’t any more funding room for new arts organizations to establish themselves long-term. That basically blocks out all sorts of innovation in terms of new arts practices, and importantly, more diverse artists who are starting out and they’re getting more opportunities open to them.

The many organizations that are the backbone of the arts communities are chronically underfunded. When I would ask this question of the former Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, his answer was that the operating funding system or program or regime was under review, and it was supposedly going to be finished being under review shortly. The first question is: Is the review of CCH's funding model complete?

[6:30 p.m.]

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’ll try and use up the rest of the time with this response, Ms. Leblanc.

The evaluation is all part of the Culture Action Plan. Phase 1 has been completed, and it was not as simple a task as it seemed. It took a lot of time to thoughtfully consider how they wanted to approach it. Staff began to implement some of the results from Phase 1 in their work, and that includes working more collaboratively across the department, helping stakeholders and communities through capacity-building activities, like training and information sessions.

Arts Nova Scotia has been hosting regular virtual drop-ins for anyone interested to learn about their programs. Every Thursday from February 11^th to March 12^th, the team hosted an online open meeting for anyone who wanted to ask questions and get support. I don’t know if you know anyone who joined those conversations, but they did take place.

In response to the COVID‑19 restrictions, Events Nova Scotia and their partners created new hosting guidelines. To help the industry understand and implement these new hosting guidelines, a series of webinars are being hosted, providing an opportunity for communities and event hosts to ask questions of experts and encourage event planning and hosting. I know I received as minister a lot of inquiries from people whose work was hosting events. They were really feeling the effects of COVID‑19 on their communities.

Staff are working more collaboratively across divisions, so if we can’t support an organization in one fund, we can try and make that happen through another. The departments within the departments - they have an ED, there are several EDs within the department - are working more collaboratively with each other. It’s almost like how a school team works, when the schools have their team meetings with the students.

THE CHAIR: Order, please. The time for questions in this round has expired. We’ll now take another 15-minute COVID‑19 break, returning at 6:48 p.m.

[6:33 p.m. The subcommittee recessed.]

[6:48 p.m. The subcommittee reconvened.]

THE CHAIR: The Subcommittee of the Whole on Supply will resume. We go back again to an hour for the PC caucus.

The honourable member for Queens-Shelburne.

KIM MASLAND: I just actually have one quick question and I’ll hand it off to another one of my colleagues. In the minister’s opening remarks - it seems like those were forever ago, but they were just on Thursday - she talked a lot about our provincial museums and the fact that they are doing quite well through the pandemic, but I didn’t hear a lot about our community museums.

As the minister would be aware, our community museums in our province are partially funded by the Nova Scotia Community Assistance Program, but are otherwise dependent on fundraising activities and donations to keep their doors open. These museums are so important to our local communities and, of course, to our province’s tourism industry. While we can all agree that COVID-19 has had challenges on our tourism industry and on pretty much everything in our province, our tourism industry and our museums have been hit hard, and the inability to fundraise has created a serious reduction in revenue.

I have two quick little questions: Last year, the federal government did give emergency funding to help, but there have been no announcements with respect to assistance for this upcoming fiscal year. Is the minister working with her federal counterparts to see what may be available to help our community museums? And can the minister please advise what is the department’s plan to assist many of these community museums if the feds do not deliver? Because without assistance and assistance soon, many of those community museums will be forced to close their doors.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I thank the honourable member for the question, and she is right, they are the heart and soul of many communities, especially in rural Nova Scotia. They bring the community together. For all of these museums, it has been a struggle with COVID-19. Many have not been able to open but we still continued to fund them last year regardless.

Many did do fundraising. I know our museum in Mahone Bay and several others in my constituency held regular fundraising online and it was quite successful. You couldn’t do something like the big garden tours and things that many of them have ‑ you know, the teas and whatnot. Some were creative and did some fundraising but, of course, not as they normally would.

We have raised this question with the federal government. They helped with funding last year - you are right - and we have raised this with them. We are meeting with them next week, I believe, and we will bring it up again. Even if these community museums are not opening or will open later in the season, we will continue to fund them as we have other years. I must say that there is a really good relationship between our staff and the community museum folk. They are in contact on a regular basis, and we will continue to do that.

I know we’re all being hopeful, with the vaccine, that people will have their first vaccine by, I think, Canada Day, I heard on the news this morning, which would be a great celebration. Maybe we’ll see more of these museums open, but as you know, a lot of them are run by volunteers. We know that many of our volunteers in our communities are seniors and that, because of their compromised ‑ they’re compromised with the COVID-19 virus. Many of them are preferring not to volunteer, so that becomes a bit of an issue.

I see a lot of local museums are posting things on their social media. Some are having auctions and some are digging through old photographs or getting some work done that they haven’t been able to get to because they’ve been busy. They are small operators and sometimes there isn’t time to do some research and whatnot. A lot of the staff have been busy that way, but I’d love to see some of our museums open. I play tourist myself, in my area, and I love visiting these small community museums. We know the names and places, but I think they are gems, too, for the newcomers to our areas who move to other parts of Nova Scotia. They’re just so amazed with the collections that some of these museums have, and we want to be able to share them with a wider community. Fingers crossed, we will get open and, hopefully, there will be some good outcomes from our meeting next week.

KIM MASLAND: I do hope that you have some success when you’re talking to your federal colleagues next week, and I look forward to hearing an update from that, if that’s possible. I’ll now pass my time over to the member for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River. Am I ever glad I have Queens-Shelburne. That’s so much easier.

THE CHAIR: The honourable member for Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River.

DAVE RITCEY: I have a few questions. I think you’ll know one for sure is around the Truro Amateur Athletic Club (TAAC) grounds and the revitalization project that the community group is heavily involved in and has been since 2015. It was great to see you at the facility, coming to Truro back in November to listen to the community group. I think that was important. I know Minister Glavine happened to be there, as well, back in January the previous year. I know it’s in the mindset of the department and the consistent communication between the different departments with the community group and now with myself being involved.

I feel that infrastructure projects like the TAAC grounds are great community projects. I think I mentioned it that day: this one is a full community project. We have all three levels of local government involved, including the Village of Bible Hill, the Municipality of Colchester, and the Town of Truro. We have a fantastic group of volunteers who lead the charge.

Just to give you a little history of understanding of where I sit, I sat on the capital campaign with the Rath Eastlink Community Centre, and the importance of having that facility and the impact, not only for a community like ours, but the impact from the province and federally - I chaired the World Junior A Challenge in 2017, and just some numbers here for you: We were $1.96 million for the province of Nova Scotia, bringing that event here. Just the economic benefits of that event itself, obviously, were well recognized by Hockey Canada because now they’re moving ahead with the International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship, with a satellite division here in Truro, which is excellent to hear.

I guess with the TAAC grounds, it’s twofold. It is an economic driver, but it’s also a health preventive measure here, as well, locally. I grew up in the west end of Truro, where the TAAC grounds sit. The days of watching people walk around that track, and youth participating in sport or just fun play, and young adults even playing baseball and all the different sports, it was amazing to grow up in and around that facility. I guess that leads me into my question. What funds are available for shovel-ready projects from your department? Is there a way to, I guess, move it up the priority list? It is an aging facility. It’s 132 years old. It’s something that I’m very passionate about, as well as this community, and the community group is very passionate about it. It has been on the radar since 2015, with this government. I was just curious about that question.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’m glad to talk to you about this again, Mr. Ritcey. Thank you for your letters. You have been a great advocate for your community. I think we all appreciate that, as elected representatives, that you’re carrying the voice of your community forward, and I really appreciate that.

[7:00 p.m.]

When I became minister, I realized how many really good infrastructure projects - I had no idea there were so many on the table or on a list, whatever you want to call it. There are numerous projects throughout the province. I was delighted to be able to come to Truro before the second shutdown because it gave me the opportunity to meet with your community and actually go in the field and see your - I don’t know if you call it your field of dreams, but it was really great to see, and how it will look different - it will look very different when it’s finished from the old layout. As you say, it’s like a heritage field, almost, because it’s 132 years old. That’s quite an accomplishment, that you’re still using the same facility that long.

As I said, there are so many numerous ones. I don’t really see any way - how would you move up with so many projects? Just keep your people in contact with our people here at the department. We look for when funds come available, and just be ready for when you’re green-lighted for it. As I said, there are so many numerous programs. Just keep at it, keep advocating. I’ll keep poking my elbows at staff. I think about it a lot, as do staff, and they do update it. It has nothing to do with it not being a good project, Mr. Ritcey. It is a good project, we know that. We have many on our list, so we will certainly keep Truro there in our minds. It’s in your heart, so that’s a good combination. We’ll keep working together with your group.

DAVE RITCEY: You’re absolutely right, the community group is outstanding and they continuously work hard on community fundraising, advocating through the provincial and federal governments. The federal MP is involved and we’ve discussed it on numerous occasions as well. Recently the federal government announced a $1.5-billion Green and Inclusive Community Buildings grant which may or may not fit this project. I know it’s been communicated to the group. How often and what’s the relationship between the province and the federal government when it comes to these types of projects in rural communities in Nova Scotia or throughout the province?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: You know, you learn something new every day, and I just learned that there’s a new funding stream, and that’s from you, Mr. Ritcey. I wasn’t aware of that program, and it is just new.

Those are dealt with not by the - well, we do deal with it, but it’s mostly the Department of Infrastructure and Housing, and they’re the ones that keep us informed, so I think they’re probably just downloading the information themselves. People from our department will be meeting with them to get details. Like all these partnerships between the federal government and the municipal government and the provincial government, we do have a good relationship that way with our MPs, and they’re good advocates for their constituents.

We do have a good relationship that way with our MPs and they’re good advocates for their constituents, as the MLAs are for theirs, and the municipal. Usually, it goes from the municipality up to the province and up to the federal government. We’ll be really listening in to hearing what the federal government comes up with on this project. Stay tuned and we’ll stay tuned, okay?

DAVE RITCEY: Thank you, Minister, for that answer. I’ll finish this part of it, and I have one more question I want to ask.

Since 2015, we’ve had a community‑minded group, again here in Truro, and I’ll advocate and push on this for quite some time. It’s an investment. It truly is an investment in health, it’s an investment in youth, it’s an investment in adults, seniors, our community, and the province. That is truly the way ‑ I ask you and your department and the Department of Infrastructure and Housing, if that’s where it goes, to really understand the importance of this facility in our community moving forward.

I’ll leave that one. I do have a second question. I would like to ask the minister: Does the Boxing Authority still fall under the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage? It does? Okay.

Here is a two‑part question and I’ll get that out of the way. I would like to ask the minister: What is their mandate and how is it funded?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We were having a great conversation today on Cobra Kai. I don’t know if you’ve watched it. My sons are all into martial arts and boxing, and some of my siblings, so I always find it interesting when we have - it’s now called the Combat Sports Authority, not the Boxing Authority. Minister Glavine, in 2017, did some changes to the legislation that it fell under. We do give $30,000 a year and the rest of their money comes from the fees that they raise from holding events.

I don’t think they’ve had any events for awhile because of COVID‑19, but I know the gyms are working, and they are still in the gyms working. I think there will be more in the gyms come tomorrow at 8:00 a.m., because some of the restrictions are coming down tomorrow.

The job of the Combat Sports Authority is that they supervise and regulate the competitive sports and they’re responsible for maintaining the safety of the contestants. With boxing, there’s a medical that participants have to take beforehand. They have a primary caregiver ringside. There’s a post-boxing match physical, as well, that takes place. They’re very aware of concussions and all sorts of injuries like that that can be serious. They also regulate the licensing of the contestants and promote the importance of annual physical exams for anyone participating. They encourage people to participate in medical procedures that protect people who are in competitive sports, being aware of concussions and other injuries that do occur with combat sports. Hopefully that answers a few of your questions.

DAVE RITCEY: Yes, it does. Thank you, minister, for those answers. Mr. Chair, I’m done. I would like to pass it over to my colleague from Pictou West.

THE CHAIR: The honourable member for Pictou West.

KARLA MACFARLANE: Thanks to my colleague for passing it over. I’ll just be a few moments, too, with a few questions for the minister. I know the minister is well aware of a project that I have in my constituency, in the town of Pictou. It remains - it was, but it remains - advanced and shovel-ready.

We were basically stalled when COVID‑19 was declared. We were, last year at this time, during Estimates, given the impression through this department, as well as through the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, that it was a go. Even those who were working on the project were told that, yes, you’re in Order 3 for 2020. It was basically stalled when you declared COVID‑19, and we were told that possibly - not confirmed but possibly - funds had been redirected.

What we’re concerned about is that, right now, those other funding pieces are ready. We have the municipalities ready. We have the federal government ready. The community is ready. We have private donors who have donated. One private donor actually bought a building and tore it down for a parking lot. That’s how ready this project is. It’s something that we’ve been working on for years, and it’s well done, very well received, and I know the minister knows that.

[7:15 p.m.]

As I said, our local investment is in place and it’s really strategic timing that we do it now because, actually, COVID-19 has slowed down business and traffic flow at the deCoste Performing Centre in Pictou, where the new library would be built and attached to the deCoste Centre.

Really, currently, significantly, right now is the perfect time. I know that everyone is anxious, but we’re really wondering what happened that we were stalled. What is your department committed to at this point in seeing that this project is forwarded and started in 2021?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: It’s always a pleasure to talk to you. It was also a pleasure to have you and your group who are advocating for the deCoste Centre on a Zoom meeting. My, I think that was February when we met. It seems like so long ago.

The deCoste Centre is a great project, like many of the projects that we have here at the department. Meeting with your group and hearing their passion and their commitment to the project - as you said, somebody bought a building and has made a parking lot. I happened to be in Pictou last Summer. I did not visit the deCoste Centre, but I was on the street where the deCoste Centre is and visited the Hector Heritage Quay. Your waterfront is beautiful and the deCoste Centre would be a beautiful addition to the downtown area of Pictou, for sure.

No funds here, to my knowledge or that of my support people here, have been redirected, so that’s a misunderstanding somewhere. I can only speak to the work of our department. I can’t speak to what the federal government is doing, but we did hear from your colleague Mr. Ritcey a little while ago that there was a new stream of infrastructure money coming from the federal government. That’s new to us. That may be something that we can have a conversation with - I think Sean Fraser would be your MP in the area. I have had a conversation with him about the deCoste Centre. You’re right - he supports it.

We look forward to these projects all year. We always revisit when funds become available and we will continue to do that. I know you’re shovel-ready and people are anxious to get started. It is a perfect time. We will keep looking for that money and we’ll stay in contact with your committee.

KARLA MACFARLANE: What involvement did your department have with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal when last year during Estimates they told me they had the blueprints, and everything looked like it was a go? It seems like it was just stopped. It’s very confusing, because we’re not sure if it was due to funding, or was it due to funds being redirected that were actually meant for us but had to be redirected because of COVID-19?

We’re just looking for a little bit of clarification, and on that, perhaps if you could just tell us, what is it that we have to do when we’re hearing from the federal government that the money’s there, we have the municipal money there, we have the money raised that we had to raise on a community level. What is it that we have to do to make sure this project goes forward this year? We were actually thinking it was going to go last year.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Really, you’re doing everything right. We just hope that as money comes available in the department that we can find the money to support programs like yours. I’m a little intrigued by your conversation about Infrastructure, so I’m just wondering, was that a question that you had with the Department of Infrastructure and Housing during Estimates last year? I can’t speak to Infrastructure and whatnot. People here don’t recall that conversation, so I’m wondering about that.

KARLA MACFARLANE: I’ll just be brief here. The question was asked, as well, to your department - I think it was actually in Question Period - but as well as the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal during Estimates in the Chamber. We will be able to eventually, once they get that in Hansard - you know that it takes a long process to get Estimates in Hansard, and of course the Subcommittee, I don’t believe ever does make it to Hansard.

However, moving along, I guess the question is: At the end of the day, just a yes or no, were there funds set aside that your department is aware of that were then withdrawn to, basically, be disbursed elsewhere because of COVID-19?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: My understanding is no, there were never funds designated and then moved out.

KARLA MACFARLANE: Just once again to clarify: so, there was no money through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP) funding, federally, for this project?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Could the member for Pictou West repeat her question?

KARLA MACFARLANE: Was there any funding that was dedicated to this project that was coming down through the COVID-19 stream with the ICIP? I understood that, and maybe I have not been correctly wording it, but I understood there was funding with the ICIP, which was federal funding, I believe, that was streamlined with your department?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We really can’t speak to the TIR piece, but we will go and we will get some clarity as to that response, because the ICIP lies with them, and then they just direct us. We’ll try and get some clarity for you.

KARLA MACFARLANE: We’d really appreciate that. Thank you. Of course, we welcome you back for another visit to our area, which would bring me upon that there’s another huge project happening here.

We are looking at, of course, expanding our marina through the Town of Pictou. I’m certain that they’ve been no doubt in contact with government and looking at how they can go about that. I know that they’ve had a number of meetings, as well, with Sean Fraser, because there will be a federal component to that project.

The other big project that’s happening - and I’m proudly wearing my MacKinnon tartan today, with a pin of the ship Hector. It’s an antique pin, actually, from their 150^th anniversary. In two years’ time, we’re having the 250^th. The Hector, of course, everyone’s aware, was the ship that brought the first permanent Scottish settlers to Nova Scotia. There’s a big project happening. We have, basically, lifted out the ship on to land, and we’re very proud of this project. However, it’s not far off, the big celebration, the 250^th, and we’re hoping that maybe you will commit to coming and meeting the Hector Heritage Quay Society and having a tour as soon as possible, so that we can work with your department in making sure that we are applying for any funding out there to make the 250^th anniversary a success.

I’m asking for your commitment. I will write it in a formal letter, but I would love to have it on record here and now that you would be willing to accept an invite to meet with the Society.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Well, that’s an invitation that’s hard to turn down. Certainly, when we get more mobile and whatnot, I would love to come back to Pictou. I did go to the Hector museum last Summer. It’s quite impressive. I love the layout. I did get to take some pictures, and I really enjoyed it.

I have Scottish ancestry on my mother’s side, and it’s always good to learn more about the Scots. I don’t know how they survived that first Winter, but you’re tough stock, honestly. You’re as tough as the Germans in Lunenburg, when we came. We had harsh Winters, too, when you think of clearing land and trying to stay warm, and there wasn’t shelter those first couple of Winters - not significant shelter, anyway.

Your projects are all well known to the department, and staff have been in contact. I’d be happy to bring some staff and come visit Pictou and meet with the committee, time permitting.

KARLA MACFARLANE: That’s all I have for questions. At this point in time, I would like to pass it over to my colleague from Cumberland North.

THE CHAIR: The honourable member for Cumberland North.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: I am just curious - how much time is left?

THE CHAIR: You have 18 minutes.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Thank you. I’ll make sure to try and leave time for the minister to read her resolution as well.

[7:30 p.m.]

I just have a few questions for the minister pertaining to Cumberland North. She’s probably aware - in fact, I heard my colleague from Pictou West mention about the 250^th Yorkshire anniversary coming up next year, 2022. I’m wondering if the province, through Communities, Culture and Heritage, will have any special funding because I’m sure there are going to be celebrations across the entire province of Nova Scotia. I’m just wondering if the department has considered that.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Congratulations on that big event coming. I just want to correct you. I’m not finished - I have another hour after this hour. Thank you for trying to relieve me of my duties an hour earlier, but I don’t think the Clerks will allow me to do that.

It’s very interesting to hear about your celebration, but our department hasn’t heard anything from any group or organization, so no application. Sometimes we have a conversation before an application comes in too. What I would suggest is that if you have a museum society or whoever makes those kinds of requests, that they contact our staff at CCH, have some conversations, and find out what kind of grants may be available.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: I know there is a project in the works here in Cumberland North and that they will be contacting the department. I just am making an assumption that there may be other communities across the province that had some settlers from that Yorkshire migration, I believe it was in 1772, so 250 years ago next year.

The other big anniversary that we’re celebrating up here this year in 2021 is the 350^th anniversary of the founding of the Acadian settlement of Beaubassin. I just wanted to mention that there is some work being done here locally on some celebrations for that as well. I just wanted to plant that seed, and we’re hoping that we’ll be able to have some support through the department.

The Cumberland County Museum and Archives has a very vibrant board of directors. They’ve done a lot in the last year. Even during COVID-19, they were extremely active, and I know that they have put in a funding request for their 40^th anniversary, which is this year. It’s for the Chignecto Marine Ship Railway. I’ve reached out a couple of times . . .

THE CHAIR: Order, please. The member - there’s a lot of background noise coming from your mic.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Oh, dear. Do you want me to log out and go on another computer?

THE CHAIR: No, we’ll try it again.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: It might have been my papers. I just wanted to mention that the Cumberland County Museum has put in an application for the Chignecto Marine Ship Railway project, and it’s to celebrate their 40^th anniversary, as well as to celebrate the Chignecto Ship Railway, which was a huge engineering endeavour back in the day, so we’re hoping that we can also have some provincial support for that.

I also wanted to thank the department for the financial support that the Wallace and Area Museum had received during the pandemic. They did a significant amount of work and I just want to thank the department for supporting that work. They first came to me back in 2017 and had several projects, including a whole area of land right along the Wallace River where they wanted to do some clearing and develop, and they’ve been able to do that. I wanted to thank the department for the support of that museum.

I wanted to ask a couple of questions around the scope of the mandate of your department. There’s a project we’re trying to get funding for. It’s for the Tidnish pedestrian walking bridge, which is actually also a part of the Chignecto Ship Railway. They’re having some difficulties getting funding for that. I’m wondering: Is that something that the department would consider taking a look at?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I first want to say thank you for all your positivity about the department. It’s good to hear because I feel the same way. A lot of hard work gets done in the department, and a lot of contact. I’m so impressed with the staff here at CCH and the way they work with each other and with communities.

You mentioned two possible funding initiatives earlier: the Chignecto marine one and the Beau…

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Beaubassin, yes.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Beaubassin. You should make sure that your people have actually made applications. We do things on a - certain streams are active at certain times because it allows staff to focus on different areas. We have time periods. Really, they should go to the website or contact the department and find out dates of when applications have to be in because once you miss a date, you miss a date. Things are so busy in the department, they can’t be going back and working on grants when they’re on to another one, so just to be aware of that as an MLA. Just because you want funding for something, it’s not always in that cycle, so I don’t want you to miss out on it. I would do that sooner than later because a lot of people are looking for their money before the Summer and it may not come until then.

Often, some projects are informally green-lighted to give people an idea or whatnot, but I would really talk to your groups that are making that application, or make sure they’ve done so and that they have a contact person in the department.

The last one was the Tidnish walking route? Anyway, did this fall under trails? Is this part of your trail system?

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: It is, and unfortunately, it’s actually owned by the Department of Lands and Forestry and, unfortunately, they refused to put it in their budget. We’re trying to find a way of getting some financing to get this important trail repaired.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Well, I’d be happy to have our staff contact you to get more information on that project, and we can just try and figure out if it’s part of the Department of Transportation and Active Transit now. We have a new department there, so some things have shifted around. There are several different fundings for trails, and I know you’ve probably hit it too. There are several sources that you can tap into for trail grants. Maybe someone from our department can reach out to you and connect with you and get a better idea of what you’re looking for. You mentioned the Department of Lands and Forestry, so there may be some criss-crossing there too.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Our local group did reach out regarding the Chignecto Marine Ship Railway project, so there has been some communication between the museum and your department. I just wanted to mention it, okay?

Something else that’s been on our radar is - I don’t know if you recall, last April we had a fire department burn down, unfortunately - Shinimicas Fire Hall. There was a community hall as a part of that. I had someone reach out to me to say that Communities, Culture and Heritage had provided some funding for the community hall portion of a new fire hall built in, I believe it was, Middleton.

I had a conversation with someone in the department about that and they were supposed to reach out to our mayor of the County of Cumberland, but they haven’t yet. I just wanted to ask the minister if she would be able to follow up with that. Our mayor is former MLA Murray Scott. I’m not sure if you’re familiar with Murray Scott.

What I was told is that funding could possibly be available for the community hall portion. There was insurance to replace the structure that was burnt. However, the building requirements are different now, therefore the building has to be built larger than what insurance will cover because of the new requirements for community halls. It has to be a separate structure or separate space from where the fire trucks are stored, if that makes sense. Insurance will not cover the entire rebuild.

I did want to just bring that up because that is a significant need here in Cumberland North, making sure that we get that fire hall replaced and rebuilt and to meet the needs of the community.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Sorry about losing your fire hall. I earlier said that these little community museums are the heart and soul, so I don’t know what I’ll say about your fire department, besides being a necessity. I don’t think there are harder-working volunteers in our communities than volunteer firefighters. There’s always someone at the fire station when you walk by or drive by. It’s incredible.

They’re not only keeping us safe, but they do a heck of a lot of fundraising. They’re huge fundraisers. Their expenses are so huge with - not just the infrastructure, like renewing a fire station, but the cost of vehicles and equipment is very expensive. I was interested to hear that.

I don’t know a whole lot about community halls. They’re interesting pieces. I will have my EA reach out and also the executive director of the Communities, Sport and Recreation division to reach out to the mayor. They can have some conversation to see if there are some possibilities. We are aware - some staff are working on this, so it’s not an unfamiliar file, but I think we need more of an update.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: We have a lot of projects on the go here in Cumberland North. Another project on our to-do list is a sidewalk or bridge to our hospital.

Back about 18 years ago, the Province decided to build our new regional hospital on the other side of the Trans-Canada Highway, outside of town limits. At the time, it was sort of promised to the area that they would ensure that there was safe walking access to the hospital. Unfortunately, that has never happened.

The reason I’m bringing it up with you today is I’m working very closely with our municipality of Cumberland and the town of Amherst and right now I have both of their support to try to make this happen. I’m wondering if your department would be able to consider through your mandate of sport and recreation to try and help find some provincial funding for this important piece of infrastructure which would serve two purposes. One is sport and recreation, but also to provide safe accessibility to our regional hospital.

[7:45 p.m.]

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We’re getting a little tongue-tied here. It must be close to a break time. I think really the department you want on this, that would really be of use to you, is the new Department of Transportation and Active Transit. That is with Minister Hines. You may want to make contact with staff there.

Active transportation is really important. Having people walking is so important. We’ve all been walking more with COVID-19. It’s really important, and also to get to your health care centres is really important. Walking routes - it all falls into our Let’s Get Moving Nova Scotia program that we have. Have some conversation with them. If we come across something in our department that fits, we’ll be in contact with you and your constituency office.

The plan is different, so we’ll have to take a look at what you’re looking for, but I would recommend contacting the Department of Transportation and Active Transit. The funding that we do with the Let’s Get Moving action plan, which we feel is really important, relates to all demographics, all ages. It’s still important that you use those sidewalks too, to get to school and connect them from the social activities and whatnot. So not just going to your hospital, but I’m sure that route will serve more than just that need.

ELIZABETH SMITH-MCCROSSIN: Thank you for that suggestion. We’ve actually been in conversations with the Department of Transportation and Active Transit. It doesn’t look like I’m going to have time to ask my last question, so I’ll just make a short point. I’ve always been kind of suspicious, I guess, of the funding for the physician recruitment being under CCH and just, sort of, the accountability there and measurement tools used as far as evaluating the success of that. I was going to ask a question about that, but I don’t think that there’s time.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’d love to answer it very quickly because it’s more about retention, not recruitment. The Department of Health and Wellness is responsible for recruitment. We do the piece on retention. As you know, you can get the doctors there, but you have to keep them.

THE CHAIR: Order, please. I gave the minister 10 extra seconds on that one. We’re going to take our 15-minute COVID-19 break. We’ll return at 8:03 p.m. for the final hour for today.

[7:48 p.m. The subcommittee recessed.]

[8:03 p.m. The subcommittee reconvened.]

THE CHAIR: The next questioners, if they could leave a bit of time at the end of their questioning for the minister to make her closing remarks, it would be appreciated. Having said that, we’ll recognize for the next hour the honourable member for Dartmouth North.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I just wanted to clarify that I have an hour, that’s correct? Or an hour minus a couple of minutes for the minister? Okay. I’m also going to give some time to the member for Cape Breton-Richmond towards the end of my time.

THE CHAIR: It will just depend on how long the minister is. Go ahead.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I want to start my second round of questions talking about film and television. The Nova Scotia Film Incentive Fund was moved from the Department of Inclusive Economic Growth to CCH. Does the $25 million that’s in the budget include the fund’s administration? That’s my first question.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I have a little bit more to answer on your last question when you signed off before. Did you want that information, Ms. Leblanc, or just your new question?

SUSAN LEBLANC: I think I’m going to come back to it. If you want to hang on, I just want to get these other questions in, and then I’ll come back on that.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The financial piece with the film industry is going to remain at the Department of Business for now. They’re not going to be - we’re going to do a transition, but you won’t lose anything. Everything will remain pretty much the same.

SUSAN LEBLANC: That $25 million, I’m just clarifying that that’s entirely incentive fund dollars.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: For clarification, Nova Scotia Business Inc. is the administrator. They fall under the Department of Business. Yes, it’s $25 million. It comes with the department. I think we spoke to it with the balancing of where money went. It seems like we’re spending less money, but we’re not, because we have transferred the transit out and a couple of others.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I have a lot of film questions. Normally, I would ask those to the Department of Business, but we prepared them for tonight since the budget line is in CCH. Are you prepared to answer questions about film and television?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I’ll do my best. We’re still transitioning, so I may have to defer to getting answers to you at a later date.

SUSAN LEBLANC: That’s fine. I’ll just start with them then.

Since the Liberal government cancelled the Film Tax Credit in 2015, Nova Scotia has failed to take advantage of the “Netflix production growth” over the past several years. The local actor agency closed their office in July. They have just recently opened back up again in Dartmouth North, as a matter of fact. That was because of lack of business for local talent along with a dramatic contraction in the pool of actors in the province.

Investments in the film industry through production incentives or film infrastructure elicit returns to the Nova Scotia economy many times over through year-round employment and benefits to rural communities. Initially, Nova Scotia saw a boom in production this year, as it was considered a safe place to resume filming during COVID‑19, but as filming has begun to resume across North America, productions looked to Canada as a whole, over the U.S., and industry reps are worried that Nova Scotia will once again lose out due to the absence of a competitive incentive fund, a modern sound stage, and crew shortages.

I understand that there has been a five-year sunset and review of the incentive fund that has happened with Screen Nova Scotia. I’m wondering if you can talk about what took place in that analysis and what the outcome was.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We are aware of the challenges that you mentioned. The $25 million is being used. We do have members in our department who have a good relationship with Screen Nova Scotia. That will only grow, I’m sure, with the film industry moving into our department.

I haven’t met with anyone myself from Screen Nova Scotia because we are still in Estimates. When the House rises, I hope to meet key players in that organization and get to know them a little better. We are really looking forward to having them over at the department. Much of our digital work and funds are with filmmakers. We want to continue our relationship with Screen Nova Scotia, so I can just see things getting better.

I really can’t speak to the details that you’re asking for because we are still transitioning.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I take it from that then, you haven’t read the sunset review report, so I guess my question then is: Will you commit to reading it as soon as possible and meeting with Screen Nova Scotia as soon as possible?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Yes, I did indicate that when the House rises, I would be setting up a meeting with Screen Nova Scotia. I look forward to reading the report.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Great. I’m sure that another thing that you will hear about in your meeting with Screen Nova Scotia is the lack of a modern sound stage, which is a key barrier to Nova Scotia’s fair share of production.

Screen Nova Scotia is working on a proposal - re-working a proposal - for funding to create a community interest company to establish a working and accessible sound stage in Dartmouth. The proposal is in draft form but will likely be looking for investment from Invest Nova Scotia of around $1 million over three to four years to cover marketing and operational losses before the sound stage could become self-sufficient. I’m wondering if any of that ask is in the budget or is being planned for.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: No, it is not reflected in the budget this year, but we’re happy to look at all projects as more details are available. I’m sure it will be coming across my desk sooner than later.

We have seen a steady outflow of skilled film and television crews since the cancellation of the Film Tax Credit in 2015.

[8:15 p.m.]

SUSAN LEBLANC: We have seen a steady outflow of skilled film and television crews since the cancellation of the Film Tax Credit in 2015. It’s vital that we rebuild a healthy and growing crew base in partnership with the film sector, colleges, universities, film unions, and guilds. I was wondering if there’s anything being done on this front right now, and if there’s anything in the budget earmarked for it.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: No, there’s nothing specific in the budget. Our government is working as a whole to recruit and retain professionals in the film industry. Again, we’ll learn more when we meet with Screen Nova Scotia later. All of our programs here at CCH can help create a liveable province where people want to stay and work. That includes members of the film industry. We’re looking forward to working with them.

SUSAN LEBLANC: That’s great to hear, because I’ll tell you, it was a real shock to the province’s system when so many young, family-oriented professionals left the province because their work dried up overnight. Hopefully, if the government is interested in attracting those people back, there will be some good conversations with Screen Nova Scotia, some meaningful investment in the film industry, and get back on track to take advantage of the amazing content creation that’s happening right now.

I just want to move on to ask a couple of questions about African Nova Scotian Affairs. I’d like to talk a little bit about the Count Us In strategy. The strategy is a remarkable and trailblazing document that cements pathways to an equitable future initiated by the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent and the important work that Nova Scotia is doing on this front.

I want to be clear that folks at African Nova Scotian Affairs are doing incredible and needed work, but they may need better support in implementing the plan. Indeed, it requires all of government to move this work along. One of the key criticisms of the Count Us In strategy is that there’s no additional funding attached to the work of implementing it.

Again this year, African Nova Scotian Affairs does not have a significant increase in funding to do the work of implementing the plan.

My first question is: What is the minister’s response to this criticism of a lack of funding to go along with the excellent plan?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: It’s just not ANSA’s plan. This is an all-government department plan, so that’s why you probably don’t see a dedicated line. I may add that there’s an additional $200,000 that comes from CCH through the Culture Innovation Fund, and that’s our contribution. But all departments will be playing a role in this plan. I think Minister Ince can speak more to it than me, but all Nova Scotians, we are all responsible to help make this work so that African Nova Scotians feel fully included in the province and in all facets of our society.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I do understand that it is one of the great things about the plan, is that it would work beyond the silos of government departments. As I mentioned in the House last week, or the week before, an example of that was the Bill around land title initiatives, which was sponsored by a number of departments. I love seeing that.

Nonetheless, ANSA is housed currently under CCH, that’s my understanding, or as part of CCH. Our caucus made a FOIPOP request which revealed an alarming number of initiatives under the Count Us In strategy that have not a single government action attached to them. I’m going to give you some examples. One is “Facilitate consideration of the impact of race and culture in connection with criminal justice proceedings.” Another one is “Research environmental issues affecting African Nova Scotian communities, such as the location of landfills and contaminated lands and recommend appropriate action.” Another one is, “Promote opportunities for African Nova Scotians in the agriculture sector through education, mentorships, and support for social enterprises such as community-supported agriculture.” And “Encourage community development organizations to connect provincewide so they can share ideas and build partnerships and support the rehabilitation of community halls and public spaces in historic African Nova Scotian communities.”

I’m giving you some of those examples because they show that the strategy connects to so many government departments. My question for the minister is: What is the minister, as the Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage, doing to ensure that her caucus colleagues are implementing these critical elements of the strategy?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The responsibilities lie here in the department. We have now established a deputy ministers committee to lead this work and to seek support from their ministers and also staff. I would like to take time to also say that a senior officials group has been established to deal with this as well. So it’s not just staying at the deputy level, but also senior staff will be included in this.

I’d like to take time to speak to some of the things we’re doing here at CCH. We’re doing a lot of staff training and we started out with our own people here at CCH. There was diversity training that took place among our staff that was available online and during work hours. We had a lot of people signing up for that.

I’d like to note that our executive and senior leadership teams are led by African Nova Scotians so they’re bringing a lot of knowledge and skill and a great lens on what we are planning to do and how we initiate it. I’m sure the feedback from them will be invaluable for the department and all the staff.

[8:30 p.m.]

Staff across all departments really do recognize the importance of this work, and they’re really on board to change these things. Part of it is with providing grants to marginalized communities across the different sectors, and we are looking at applications and our work and really putting on that lens.

We’ll be working together with the Office of Citizen-Centred Approaches and the new Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, and equity has been, we think, a key piece in all of this. It has been left out before, but it is very much now in the scope of what we are doing and part of our goals.

In 2019, with the launching of the Count Us In program, which was launched as part of our plan to respond to the International Decade for People of African Descent, and this is to advance anti-racism actions and support in the areas of recognition, justice, and development.

CCH and ANSA continue to advance the work of the Land Titles Initiative Acceleration Act, and you spoke of that yourself. This is an ongoing project. It involves several departments, like you said, and so we’re getting more co-operation from different departments and working together.

We continue to help provide clear land titles for five communities here in Nova Scotia, and I understand there are more waiting to go forward in future years. I’m sure Minister Ince can even speak further to all these details. We do house the department within our department, but Minister Ince is the minister.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Before his retirement and accompanying his apology to the African Nova Scotian community, the former Premier announced a design team that was intended to address systemic racism in the justice system. Is African Nova Scotian Affairs connected to that work? What update can the minister provide on the work of that design team, and when can we expect an update or report?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Premier Rankin has made equity a key priority for this government. However, I have not been involved at all in the work of this. I would really defer this to Minister Ince or the Minister of Justice, and they could give you more details on how they are moving forward.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Moving on from African Nova Scotian Affairs, you may know, minister, that Dartmouth lakes are at risk. Last Summer was another Summer where Dartmouth lakes were plagued with toxic algae blooms and clogged with invasive weeds. Obviously, this situation has serious impacts for the recreational activities that take place on Lake Banook, including international boating competitions.

If it hadn’t been for COVID‑19, Dartmouth lakes, Lake Banook would have been hosting the North American Indigenous Games. Next year we’re supposed to be hosting the world canoeing and paddling championships, so we need our lakes to be in good order for the massive amounts of people who will be competing and coming to watch those competitions. I’m wondering what your department is doing to address the issue of the toxic algae blooms and invasive weeds in the lakes.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Really, that question is not part of our mandate. It’s probably something you want to take up with the Department of Environment and Climate Change. That’s where I sent it when I had that question at my constituency office.

THE CHAIR: Member for Dartmouth North, you have about 25 minutes left, keeping in mind allowing time for the minister to make her closing remarks and motion.

SUSAN LEBLANC: I did take it up with the former Minister of Environment, and I absolutely plan to take it up with the current Minister of Environment and Climate Change.

Respectfully, to the minister, I would say that it very much has to do with your department, considering that the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage is responsible for sport and recreation in this province. Lake Banook is a valuable asset to sport and recreation in this province, and as I said, it attracts international competition and much, much investment in this province.

If you would like, I can loop you into the conversation with the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, but the situation must be addressed. Again, wouldn’t it be wonderful if it could be addressed across the silos of the departments and the many departments that are involved in the protection of such assets could work together on that?

I would also like to ask a question about the new art gallery. I’m wondering if the minister could provide an updated timeline for the project at the art gallery and what the current expected cost is and when it will appear on the books.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Many of us are very excited about this project moving forward. It’s an art gallery for all of Nova Scotia. Though it’s located on the waterfront in Halifax, it is called the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia, and it will be for all Nova Scotians.

Planning is under way for this modern art gallery on the waterfront, and we hope that it will attract visitors from all around the world. A design team has been chosen, and public engagement will soon be starting. In the next couple of months, you should see information going out about that.

A large capital funding campaign is underway currently for the new art gallery to support their efforts to raise $30 million for the project. The Sobey Foundation, I think well before Christmas, donated $10 million to get this campaign going. We are so appreciative of that donation.

In the next few months, the gallery will launch a public engagement process that will help further shape the final design. Through this process, we hope to create a place that is reflective of the diversity of our province while also ensuring that the space functions properly for the art gallery and for Nova Scotians. The proposed construction date is Fall 2021, and as the building is under construction, the expenses will appear on the Province’s financial statements.

SUSAN LEBLANC: Free admission for galleries and museums is a practice that is used in many parts of the world. When I spent time in England, I was so amazed to be able just to walk into any museum or gallery and not pay a cent and experience all of what they had to offer. It happens not just in England but in lots of other countries. I’m wondering if the department has considered this as an approach to our museums and galleries in Nova Scotia.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: The goal of our department and of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is to make art more accessible to Nova Scotians, period. The gallery is considering different models, and that’s ongoing. People will have some say in it, and there can be expressions of concern or ideas that people can move forward at that time. During the public engagement that I spoke to in your previous question.

[8:45 p.m.]

SUSAN LEBLANC: Thank you very much to the minister for all of her answers tonight.

I’m going to give the rest of my time to the member for Cape Breton-Richmond.

THE CHAIR: I just want to remind that member to leave a little bit of time for the minister to make her closing remarks and motion, as well.

The honourable member for Cape Breton-Richmond.

ALANA PAON: Perhaps you can let me know how much time is left so that I can make note.

THE CHAIR: If you don’t mind, I think what I’ll do is ask the minister now how much time she plans on taking up.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Could you read my lips? Three minutes would be great.

ALANA PAON: Mr. Chair, I’m counting on you to give me my two-minute warning.

THE CHAIR: I’ll do that.

ALANA PAON: Thank you, minister. I want to formally congratulate you. I know I did in person, but I just want it on record that I wanted to formally congratulate you on your ministerial role. I’m sure it’s one that you’ll greatly enjoy. I think it’s probably one of the best departments as far as being enjoyable, giving out grants and going to all these wonderful cultural events and so forth.

I wanted to ask you in particular some questions with regard to the Community Museum Assistance Program that had been available. I know that there were quite a few museums in my community. I’m blessed with having the Nicolas Denys Museum, the LeNoir Forge Museum, and of course the Isle Madame Historical Society takes care of that, but also the MacAskill House Museum as well.

I know that it couldn’t have happened at a worse time. We’re going into COVID-19 only months later and the grants that had been available through the Community Museum Assistance Program were not made available again in 2020. As I understand it, there’s kind of a revamping of that grant program going on, but unfortunately it left a lot of these museums in the lurch this past year. I think some of them had even gone through an extensive process prior to applying and didn’t realize that the grant hadn’t been available.

Could you please inform me with regard to where we are and how we’re going to move forward? Is it going to become available again in the near future?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Thank you for your kind words on my position. It’s good to have you questioning.

There has been no change to the CMAP program at all. The grants went out last year, so perhaps you need to have a conversation with your museums, because they would have received their funding.

ALANA PAON: As I had understood, there was at least one that hadn’t received theirs. Perhaps it’s just that one museum that hadn’t received theirs, but in the notations I had been advised that there was a bit of a revamping going on here. If not, that’s great. If they’re going to be available again this year, super.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: If you’re able to let the department know - you don’t have to say it here, but you could contact the department and let us know what facility it was so that we can take a look into that. We’d appreciate knowing that.

ALANA PAON: Absolutely, I will do that. Thank you for offering and putting that out there.

The other program that I know quite a few - especially of course with COVID-19, there were a lot of community halls and firehalls, as well as the Lions halls, that were really put into a very awkward position with not being able to do their fundraising during COVID-19 as they once did. I do know that your department makes the Community Facilities Improvement Program available to be able to help with siding, roofs, and so forth. Was there anything else that was made available to these community halls during COVID-19, from the province, to be able to facilitate with their overhead, their operating costs?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Wow, our community halls are booming places, and we all seem to have several in our constituencies in rural Nova Scotia. They are so important, and as you said, they are run by volunteers - often people who have been in that community for some time. Sometimes they’ve been old schoolhouses or old churches that have closed. Some have taken over their halls and made them into community centres. They are very important to keeping the social life of those communities going.

We did not do any kind of funding there for the community halls during this period. There may have been other departments that had resources, but not ours. I know several of my community halls received support through the municipalities, so you might want to check and see if they did get some funding through their municipalities. That was one of the big sources.

Many of them still continue to do fundraising projects. A lot of them went online and had auctions and 50/50 draws and all sorts of different types of fundraising, so they were able to still keep the lights and the heat on. I think some were quite successful with that.

ALANA PAON: Our community halls are truly the heart of our communities. I know that as far as the fundraising efforts go, we have a very healthy Chase the Ace community of halls that participate in that, but I also know that the Hungry Man breakfasts and the community dinners that usually happen to help with the fundraising efforts haven’t been able to occur this year. It’s really put a lot of these halls in some very precarious positions because they still have to pay for their heat. They still have to pay for all of their overhead. It would have been great to be able to see some assistance coming from the Province. As I understand, there hadn’t been anything else available to them, other than to the Legions, with assistance that came in through the federal government.

If I could just ask, with the Community Museum Assistance Program - going back to that for a moment - what is going to be available funding-wise? How much money are we looking at for this year?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I just want to go back to Legions. We did fund Legions and we always do. There was $100,000, but we ended up spending $110,000. $100,000 was in the budget. We gave $110,000 to the Provincial Command, and the Command oversees the distribution of those funds.

We also did an additional $75,000 for Legions, so they did receive funding in that. It’s not federal money. That is Province of Nova Scotia money - our taxpayers’ money doing good things.

I just want to let you know, the amount of money for the Museum Assistance Program was $978,100, and it’s the same amount as the previous year.

ALANA PAON: I’d love to be able to ask this question: If that type of money, which is so needed for our Legions, and I’m very pleased to hear that it was made available to them, if funding was available to our community Legions, perhaps the minister might be able to explain to me why funding would not have been made available to the other community centres, community halls, Lions halls, and others?

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: We still had our regular funding that we do for community facilities, and that was very active and taken up last year. A lot of our community halls also applied for accessibility grants and other types of funding, so we did fund them, but we just didn’t have special COVID-19 funding.

ALANA PAON: Again, I’m just going to put it out there because I know I received so many calls, and I would imagine that the minister likely received some calls herself from her own community halls. Basically, you always have halls that maybe do a little bit better and others that are smaller, and other sections of the community that perhaps don’t have quite the same bank account or access to the same resources. I’d just like to ask the minister, what was the rationale behind not responding to a call for assistance in the carrying of the overhead in these small community halls?

I’m sorry, Mr. Chair. I just wanted to clarify and make certain that I’m familiar with the Community Facilities Improvement Program. I’m specifically speaking about COVID-19-related funding that wasn’t made available.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: Some of our community halls that are run by non-profit organizations could qualify for some funding. We were funding non-profits that applied, so you might need to check to see who did and who didn’t.

THE CHAIR: We’ll now call on the minister for her closing remarks and to make a motion. I apologize for cutting off the member for Cape Breton-Richmond, but time was of the essence.

SUZANNE LOHNES-CROFT: I just want to say that I am really happy to be the Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. I feel like it’s a dream come true for me. For someone who’s been a long-time volunteer and worked in many of the sectors that we deal with here at the Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage, or fall under our umbrella, I’ve worked in those sectors or I’ve been a volunteer. So I feel I have a background of knowledge that comes with this portfolio.

When I got the position, I heard the media writing it’s a junior position, it’s not an important department. Let me tell you, it’s a very important department. The staff in my department are as professional as they are in any other department. They work as hard as any other staff in any of the departments. They are well-educated. They are great communicators with our partners and stakeholders. They work hard. They are diligent. They spend long hours at the department. I know because there are nights when some are there when I’m there late, and some are there long before I’m there in the mornings and there late at night too. I am so grateful for the wonderful staff that I work with. It’s a wonderful department.

I cannot believe all the work that was put in from our department during the COVID‑19 situation. Much of the distribution of money that helped Nova Scotians from the tip of Cape Breton to the back part of Yarmouth, Cape Fourchu - we distributed money to needy people. We helped people who were in great need. This has been something that no one expected. It came on us so quickly. This department really jumped into action and our staff has been incredible through this all.

I take exception to anyone who says it’s not a whole department or it’s not an active department. It’s a great department. There are great people working here. I’m proud to be the minister, and I hope to continue to be the minister for some time.

I would like to thank my staff here who have supported me through these last five hours and for an hour a week ago. We had a whole week to sit on this. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for chairing the Estimates for CCH, and all those who participated.

THE CHAIR: Shall Resolution E2 stand?

The resolution stands.

That concludes Communities, Culture and Heritage for this round of questioning. The next meeting will be with the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. Everybody will be getting their notice.

The meeting is adjourned.

Thank you all. Have a great evening.

[The subcommittee adjourned at 9:03 p.m.]