Latest news with #ClaudiaChender
CTV News
10-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
N.S. official Opposition says province's housing crisis requires dedicated minister
Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender speaks to reporters at Province House following the speech from the throne and opening of the legislature in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's official Opposition is calling on Premier Tim Houston to re-establish a department dedicated to housing and appoint a full-time minister to oversee the portfolio. NDP Leader Claudia Chender sent a letter to the premier early this morning criticizing his decision in December to combine the housing and economic development departments to create the Department of Growth and Development. Chender says the province needs a housing minister whose sole focus is making homes affordable, protecting renters and opening paths to home ownership. The NDP leader says seniors who deserve to retire in dignity are struggling to keep up with massive rent hikes and many young people have lost hope of ever owning a home. Her letter also points to Statistics Canada data showing that the cost of living in Halifax for housing and transportation is comparable to that of Toronto. Houston's office said this week that cost-of-living problems are a result of more than a decade of under-investment, adding that the province has taken many steps to address housing and affordability issues. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Global News
10-07-2025
- Business
- Global News
N.S. official Opposition says province's housing crisis requires dedicated minister
Nova Scotia's official Opposition is calling on Premier Tim Houston to re-establish a department dedicated to housing and appoint a full-time minister to oversee the portfolio. NDP Leader Claudia Chender sent a letter to the premier early this morning criticizing his decision in December to combine the housing and economic development departments to create the Department of Growth and Development. Chender says the province needs a housing minister whose sole focus is making homes affordable, protecting renters and opening paths to home ownership. 2:38 Why not everyone is a fan of Halifax's growth in high-rise development The NDP leader says seniors who deserve to retire in dignity are struggling to keep up with massive rent hikes and many young people have lost hope of ever owning a home. Story continues below advertisement Her letter also points to Statistics Canada data showing that the cost of living in Halifax for housing and transportation is comparable to that of Toronto. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Houston's office said this week that cost-of-living problems are a result of more than a decade of under-investment, adding that the province has taken many steps to address housing and affordability issues. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025.
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
N.S. official Opposition says province's housing crisis requires dedicated minister
HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's official Opposition is calling on Premier Tim Houston to re-establish a department dedicated to housing and appoint a full-time minister to oversee the portfolio. NDP Leader Claudia Chender sent a letter to the premier early this morning criticizing his decision in December to combine the housing and economic development departments to create the Department of Growth and Development. Chender says the province needs a housing minister whose sole focus is making homes affordable, protecting renters and opening paths to home ownership. The NDP leader says seniors who deserve to retire in dignity are struggling to keep up with massive rent hikes and many young people have lost hope of ever owning a home. Her letter also points to Statistics Canada data showing that the cost of living in Halifax for housing and transportation is comparable to that of Toronto. Houston's office said this week that cost-of-living problems are a result of more than a decade of under-investment, adding that the province has taken many steps to address housing and affordability issues. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2025. The Canadian Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
NDP leader wants Halifax transportation study released
With Nova Scotia's capital city continuing to struggle with traffic congestion and cost-of-living challenges — drawing comparisons to Canada's largest city — NDP Leader Claudia Chender says it's time for the public to see a government report on transportation in the Halifax region. Chender was responding several days after a CBC News report showed that housing and transportation costs in Halifax for 2024 were similar to those in Toronto. The Progressive Conservative government has announced steps throughout its mandates to try to boost housing stock, although Chender said more needs to be done on that front. But when it comes to public transit in Halifax Regional Municipality, there has been "almost no action," she said during a news conference on Monday. "We need action on that today. It's becoming less and less reliable to take transit in Halifax at a time when we need it more and more." Having an effective public transit system is a way to save commuters money while also addressing congestion on the roads, which has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Chender. During its first mandate, the Progressive Conservatives created the Joint Regional Transportation Agency, an entity tasked with looking at transportation throughout HRM. The organization has since been rebranded as Link Nova Scotia and given a provincewide mandate. Prior to that change, however, the agency produced a report looking at transportation issues and options to improve things for the Halifax area. The government first got a draft of the report a little less than a year ago before eventually getting the final report earlier this year. To date, however, it has not been made public. "One would have to assume that active transportation and public transportation are big chunks of that report that this government so far has not wanted to release, talk about or act upon," said Chender. Some portions of the report, which contemplate expanding the highways leading to and around HRM and exploring a commuter light-rail system, were included in the Progressive Conservative platform during last year's provincial election. But there have been no further details since then. Speaking to reporters recently, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley could not say when the report would be made public or explain why it's taking so long to share it. "We want to action the report, obviously, so we're looking at things that we can get actioned and in a timeline," he said. "I understand the frustration with it, but we will be releasing that report once we have more information to share, as opposed to just sharing the report." MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
08-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
NDP leader wants Halifax transportation study released
Social Sharing With Nova Scotia's capital city continuing to struggle with traffic congestion and cost-of-living challenges — drawing comparisons to Canada's largest city — NDP Leader Claudia Chender says it's time for the public to see a government report on transportation in the Halifax region. Chender was responding several days after a CBC News report showed that housing and transportation costs in Halifax for 2024 were similar to those in Toronto. The Progressive Conservative government has announced steps throughout its mandates to try to boost housing stock, although Chender said more needs to be done on that front. But when it comes to public transit in Halifax Regional Municipality, there has been "almost no action," she said during a news conference on Monday. "We need action on that today. It's becoming less and less reliable to take transit in Halifax at a time when we need it more and more." Report still not public Having an effective public transit system is a way to save commuters money while also addressing congestion on the roads, which has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, said Chender. During its first mandate, the Progressive Conservatives created the Joint Regional Transportation Agency, an entity tasked with looking at transportation throughout HRM. The organization has since been rebranded as Link Nova Scotia and given a provincewide mandate. Prior to that change, however, the agency produced a report looking at transportation issues and options to improve things for the Halifax area. The government first got a draft of the report a little less than a year ago before eventually getting the final report earlier this year. To date, however, it has not been made public. "One would have to assume that active transportation and public transportation are big chunks of that report that this government so far has not wanted to release, talk about or act upon," said Chender. Some portions of the report, which contemplate expanding the highways leading to and around HRM and exploring a commuter light-rail system, were included in the Progressive Conservative platform during last year's provincial election. But there have been no further details since then. Speaking to reporters recently, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley could not say when the report would be made public or explain why it's taking so long to share it. "We want to action the report, obviously, so we're looking at things that we can get actioned and in a timeline," he said. "I understand the frustration with it, but we will be releasing that report once we have more information to share, as opposed to just sharing the report."
