April 2025
- Jill Guinan
- Jul 8, 2025
- 6 min read
April Across Nova Scotia
Free Parking at Hospitals, Healthcare Facilities
Patients, healthcare workers and other visitors to Nova Scotia hospitals and healthcare facilities no longer have to pay for on-site parking, effective Thursday, May 1.
A ticket validation system will be implemented at some sites to ensure parking is used by patients, visitors, healthcare workers and staff; other parking facility users will have to pay to park. Specific details surrounding the free-parking initiative could vary or be adjusted across the province as each facility’s unique infrastructure and capacity limitations are more fully assessed.
The total cost of free parking at healthcare facilities is approximately $19 million annually, included in Budget 2025-26.
New Food Safety Pilot Program to Help Local Producers Expand
The Province is investing in a new Local Supplier Food Safety Support Pilot Program to help food producers meet food safety requirements they need to get more of their products to local and global markets. The departments of Growth and Development and Agriculture have partnered with Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp. on the two-year pilot program for Nova Scotia food and beverage producers. The program will help with costs related to food safety standards such as training, assessment, program development, audit fees and facility upgrades. The support will help more local producers meet provincial and federal food safety standards that can be a barrier to growing their business.
The Local Supplier Food Safety Support Pilot Program will help food and beverage producers successfully achieve and maintain food safety requirements for retailers, food service companies and institutions or adjust their food safety program to meet emerging food safety requirements or new markets. The program will cover 100 per cent of eligible training costs, and 70 per cent of other eligible food safety costs, up to $20,000 per company.
Producers can apply for the program at: https://www.perennia.ca/supplierfoodsafety/
Physician Recruitment Success
Exciting news for Nova Scotians today! 253 new doctors have joined Nova Scotia’s dynamic healthcare community between April 1, 2024, and March 31, 2025 — a net gain of 187 doctors, nearly doubling last year’s growth. This is a significant step forward in improving access to care for all Nova Scotians. We are proud to welcome these healthcare leaders to our beautiful province and extend our thanks to our many system partners for helping build a supportive environment where physicians can thrive, build fulfilling lives and make a lasting impact.
Province Signs New Funding Agreements with Universities
New two-year funding agreements with the province’s 10 universities will freeze tuition for Nova Scotia students, boost operating grants and further strengthen accountability and sustainability. The bilateral agreements for 2025-26 and 2026-27 replace the current one-year agreements with universities that expired on March 31.
The two-year agreements provide universities with a two per cent increase in their operating grant each year. Some of the grant will be held back until universities achieve specific targets within their agreements. Some highlights of the new agreements include:
no increase to tuition for Nova Scotian residents in undergraduate programs, with the option for universities to decrease tuition
continuation of the Nova Scotia University Student Bursary program
preferred admission for Nova Scotian students in undergraduate health and bachelor of education programs that start after January 1, 2026
a requirement for universities to continue to expand access to work-integrated learning opportunities, ensuring students have job-ready skills
a program review that ensures university programs meet current educational standards, respond to labour market demands and are economically viable
performance-based funding and accountability measures, including:
a requirement to fill health program seats to an average enrollment rate of at least 97 per cent
a requirement to advance plans to increase student housing to ensure that housing is available for at least 15 per cent of a school’s student population and that on-campus housing has a maximum vacancy rate of five per cent
continuation of the three committees established under the previous bilateral agreements (academic programming committee; financial sustainability and accountability committee; and research and innovation committee)
New financial indicators and benchmarks, as well as financial reporting, will be implemented to assess the financial health of universities, which will be reviewed annually and over five years.
Province Cutting Taxes for Small Business
As of April 1st, our PC government cut small business taxes from 2.5% to 1.5% and increased the small business income threshold from $500,000 to $700,000. These changes will help our small businesses create jobs and grow our economy.
Local Healthcare Access Points
Pharmacist Walk-In Clinic +
The Pharmacist Plus Clinics are another way we're improving access to healthcare for all Nova Scotians.
The Truro Lawton's Pharmacist Plus Clinic is a walk-in clinic that has a nurse practitioner and pharmacists working as a team to provide a variety of health care services, from primary care to chronic disease prevention and management. Services include:
Diagnosing and treating routine and more immediate health concerns
Prescribing medications and prescriptions renewals
Medication management or modifications
Chronic disease management
Health screening and preventative care
Ordering and interpreting tests
Vaccinations and injections
Making referrals to specialists and other health care providers
Lawton’s Pharmacist Walk-In Clinic + 316 Willow Street, Suite 20 902-896-0987
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Monday | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Tuesday | 12:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
Wednesday | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Thursday | 12:00 pm | 8:00 pm |
Friday | 9:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic
Pharmacist-led clinics provide an extended suite of pharmacy primary care services at no charge to people with a valid Nova Scotia Health Card.
These services include assessment and prescribing for:
Strep Throat
Pink Eye
UTIs
Chronic Disease Management (Diabetes, Asthma, COPD)
Prescription renewals for all medications and more
Publicly funded vaccines for adults and children are also available at these clinics as well as medical injections.
The Medicine Shoppe Community Pharmacy Primary Care Clinic 1B-664 Prince Street 902-814-2679
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Monday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Tuesday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Wednesday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Thursday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Friday | 9:00 am | 5:30 pm |
Saturday | 9:00 am | 1:00 pm |
Sunday | 9:00 am | 1:00 pm |
VirtualCareNS
Did you know that Nova Scotians with a primary care provider get two free visits through VirtualCareNS per year? And that those without a primary care provider have unlimited access to virtual care?
To learn more about VirtualCareNS and to register today,visit: www.virtualcarens.ca
April in Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
Community Police Office at the Hub Mall
On April 7, I joined the Truro Police Service to announce the opening of a new Community Police Office at the Hub Mall. The office will provide an opportunity for the public to access our community police officer whose role is to focus on crime reduction through relationship building and community engagement.
The funding for the Community Police Office was made possible through the Province of Nova Scotia's Civil Forfeiture Grant Program.
Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia AGM
Thanks to Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia for the warm welcome at their annual general meeting in Truro on April 7. I was pleased to be joined by Greg Morrow, MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie and Minister of Agriculture.
Nova Scotia Stampede Announcement
On April 14, I was honored to announce funding for the 2025 Nova Scotia Stampede
The Nova Scotia Stampede is an exciting event that showcases the rich culture and hospitality of our province. Investing in cultural and sport events attracts tourists, boosts the economy and creates thriving communities across our province.
The news release about the announcement is at: https://news.novascotia.ca/.../funding-nova-scotia-stampede
Truro Curling Club Announcement
The Truro Curling Club as always been a gathering and activity hub for our community. On April 16, I had the pleasure to announce our government’s investment of $500,000 to help revitalize the aging ice plant and install new floor headers.
Lunch at Hub Grub
It always great to catch up with Hub Grub owners Trevor MacDonald and Mi Young MacDonald in Downtown Truro for a Saturday lunch. Thank you for the delicious burger and great service!
Jamie Shephard Memorial Playground
It was a pleasure to bring some good news on April 22 in Truro that will bring a lot of joy to families and community members. The province will be investing $250,000 that will help build a new Jamie Shephard Memorial Playground, contributing to the revitalization of the No. 2 Construction Battalion Athletic facility. We know when we invest in active community spaces, everyone benefits. Projects like this one will help promote active lifestyles, support early childhood development and build stronger, more caring communities.
Truro Home & Outdoor Show
It was great to stop by the Truro Home & Outdoor show at the Rath Eastlink Community Centre. Thank you to local business owners, Erik & Sarah Slater of Future Unmapped for being a Nova Scotia Loyal member!
Tatamagouche Tour
April 26 was a beautiful morning in the Village of Tatamagouche with my colleague Colchester North MLA Tom Taggart and Colchester District 7 Councillor Sherry Martell visiting with dedicated community members, organizations & local business owners along the North Shore of Nova Scotia.
As always, I remain deeply appreciative of the opportunity to be your MLA. If you know of anyone who would be interested in receiving future editions of this monthly newsletter, please contact our office at 902-897-0884 or mlaritcey@gmail.com.
Newsletters and past editions can also be found on my website www.daveritcey.ca - check it out!
Sincerely,
Hon. Dave Ritcey
MLA Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
