2021-09-14

On the election homestretch — Bernadette Jordan

The candidates in the September 20 federal election are now on the homestretch. LighthouseNOW talked to the four who are vying for the riding of South Shore-St. Margaret's. As the campaigning nears an end, we wanted to know what they saw as the main issues facing the riding, possible solutions, and what they personally bring to the table. We're reporting their perspectives in alphabetical order, by party name.

Here's what the Liberals' Bernadette Jordan told us:

The Liberal candidate for South Shore-St.Margaret's, Bernadette Jordan, says health care, the environment and climate change, support for seniors and housing, are the "four main topics I'm hearing at the doors."

"There's no question that health care needs a boost in terms of financial supports the provinces get," Jordan, who is the Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard, told LighthouseNOW.

While recognizing "health care is a provincial jurisdiction, we know that the federal government has a role to play," she said.

"It's making sure that the provinces have the capacity to deliver on health care. It's making sure that we're able to help attract doctors by streamlining processes, by making sure that, especially in rural areas, we are able to attract doctors. And we're putting incentives in place like forgiving their loans for not only doctors but nurses, nurse practitioners, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists, anyone who wants to practise in a rural area. Because we know that that's one of the challenges, is getting people into rural communities," said Jordan, who lives in West Dublin.

Jordan points to the Liberal commitment to put approximately $25 billion into the system over the next five years, not only for health care, but mental health care, home support and long-term support.

"But there's more than that. We have to make sure that things like, you know, the immigration process allows for people with credentials to come to our country. We're working with people like the College of Physicians to streamline the processes in terms of credentialing."

On the housing side, she noted that 62 new affordable housing units are being built in Nova Scotia. "We know there needs to be more. But 25 of those are being built in Bridgewater."

Jordan noted that she's been pushing for, "and I'm happy to see in our platform," for the federal government to be working with the municipal units "who have maybe vacant space or know where vacant space is available, that we can work with them to retro fit those into affordable housing units."

When asked about concern regarding the state of the fisheries on the South Shore, and tension between Indigenous and commercial fishers, Jordan defended her government's actions.

"We've never stopped working nation to nation with Indigenous communities to make sure that we reach agreements and implement their right to a moderate livelihood fishery. That is critical; and we're going to continue with the Marshall communities to develop and authorize a moderate livelihood fishing plan. They need to be able to harvest, fish, sell their catch. But they all have to do it within an existing season. I mean that is something that's important for the conservation of our stocks, the health of our marine ecosystems and it's important to ensure that harvesters, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous, have the access for generations to come."

While some have criticized Jordan for being slow to act on the tensions, Jordan said the priority "was keeping people safe and bringing people to the table." She suggested the department has had "good conversations" with 12 of the 13 First Nations in Nova Scotia.

She also noted that the Liberal government has invested about $1 billion in small craft harbours, which is critical infrastructure for our rural coastal communities."

It has also enshrined owner-operator in law. "This is something that harvesters have been asking for for 30 years. ... So that it has to be that the people who fish the licence and the communities that they are in are the ones that benefit from that licence." As well, she noted, financial support was there for fishers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I think I've been a fierce advocate for this community," Jordan concluded. "Not only as a politician, but throughout my whole career, my whole life. This is where I am from, this is where I live. This is where I've chosen to be. It's extremely important to me to see our communities continue to grow and thrive."