As part of its ongoing health care commitments, the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservative Party has promised to implement a universal shingles vaccine program for residents aged 65 and older, should they be re-elected in the upcoming provincial election on November 26.
Party leader Tim Houston announced the proposal on Tuesday, framing it as a necessary step to protect seniors from the painful condition. The program is expected to cost $27 million in its first year, with costs decreasing to under $3 million by its third year as it shifts focus to individuals turning 65.
Houston stressed that the shingles vaccine should be made available at no cost, pointing to statistics that show one in three people will develop shingles in their lifetime. The risk of the disease increases with age, making the vaccine particularly important for seniors. According to Houston, the vaccine’s cost — approximately $100 — is a financial barrier for many seniors, and he emphasized that it often strains their other budgets.
“I hear from seniors all the time that the vaccine’s cost puts them under financial pressure,” said Houston, underlining the need for a universally accessible program to help reduce the burden.
This promise is the latest in a series of health-related proposals by the Progressive Conservatives, which also include plans to establish a travel nurse team to address staffing shortages in emergency departments and create a centre of excellence to treat menopause-related symptoms.
Liberal Leader Proposes New Bridge, Criticizes Tory Toll Plan
Meanwhile, Liberal Leader Zach Churchill focused on infrastructure, announcing plans to replace the MacKay Bridge with a new six-lane span aimed at easing traffic congestion in Halifax, the region’s largest city. His proposal includes dedicated lanes for buses and bicycles.
Churchill also expressed opposition to the Progressive Conservative Party’s pledge to eliminate tolls on the city’s two harbor bridges, which he argued would exacerbate traffic congestion by as much as 10 to 20 percent. “Experts are saying this move will actually make things worse,” Churchill said. “The revenue from those tolls is essential, and we can’t afford to lose it.”
In addition to his infrastructure plan, Churchill reiterated his party’s commitment to making public transit free across the province and expanding municipal transit services. He also emphasized flexible work arrangements to reduce traffic volume.
Churchill was joined by former Green Party leader Thomas Trappenberg, who has since joined the Liberal Party and is running for the seat in the Halifax-area riding of Sackville-Uniacke. Trappenberg said Churchill’s public transit proposal was a key factor in his decision to join the Liberals. “I campaigned on this many years ago, and it resonates with me,” he said, adding that while he still holds Green values, he believes the Liberal Party is better positioned to implement such policies.
NDP Focuses on Housing, Proposes Tenant Protection Measures
For the NDP, housing remained the top priority on Tuesday. Leader Claudia Chender announced plans to establish a compliance and enforcement unit to handle tenant-landlord disputes.
“With the vacancy rate at just one percent in Nova Scotia, tenants who face issues with landlords often have no recourse,” Chender said. “The current system is unbalanced and unfair, and renters feel powerless.”
Chender’s proposed unit would provide additional resources to resolve disputes more effectively. Her remarks come on the heels of a $300,000 report released in September, which found that the Progressive Conservative government had decided against creating such a unit. The Tories argued that it would lead to increased bureaucracy and slower resolution times for both tenants and landlords.
As the election campaign heats up, each party is offering solutions to the province’s most pressing issues, from health care to housing and infrastructure, in a bid to secure voter support ahead of the November 26 vote.
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