Sep 11, 2023 — Nova Scotia has the opportunity to lead by example and show that children’s welfare always comes first. No matter what gender they express, what school they attend, or what language they speak there.
July 28, 2022 — After the determined efforts of many individuals and organizations, the province announced that they were reducing some of the barriers to accessing gender-affirming surgeries. This was a welcome reminder that advocacy really does make a difference, but there is so more much to be done. Gender-affirming care is still under-funded, under-resourced, and often unavailable.
May 19, 2022 — Open letter from Alec Stratford to Minister MacFarlane, regarding the effects of child welfare policy and legislation on newcomer/refugee families in Nova Scotia.
December 24, 2021 — We call on the provincial government to shift their approach to public policy, to ensure that policy reflects the sentiment that “we are all in this together.”
November 4, 2021 — A letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change, following up on Alec’s recent remarks to the Law Amendments committee regarding Bill 57.
21 October, 2021 — This Wednesday, Premier Tim Houston unveiled his government’s blueprint for dealing with the province’s housing crisis. We’re especially appreciative of the decision to cap rent increases until December 31, 2023. This was an important change of perspective from the new Premier.
12 October, 2021 — As a new legislature meets for the first time, NSCSW offers the policy goals of Nova Scotian social workers for due consideration.
12 October, 2021 — Nova Scotia’s legislature meets today for the first time since the election. NSCSW shares the policy goals of Nova Scotian social workers with the new government.
July 27, 2020 — The Nova Scotia College of Social Workers (NSCSW) and the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) call on the provincial and federal ministers of justice to reconsider their position on holding a full public inquiry into the mass shootings that began in Portapique,Nova Scotia (the worst mass shooting in Canadian history).
Now is the time to enact the best evidence-based policy tools to alleviate stress on what was already an overburdened mental health system. As with the COVID-19 public health response, we must try to prevent a huge spike in mental health needs, to avoid overburdening the system all at once. With the horrific events of April 19 squarely in the hearts and minds of Nova Scotians we must act now to ensure that the social determinants of mental health are acted on and ensure that all Nova Scotians have universal access to mental health services.
CONNECTION is the official newsletter of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers.
