N.S. reforms for people with disabilities behind schedule but has momentum: province
The Nova Scotia government says its five-year plan to bring about sweeping reforms in housing and care for people with disabilities is behind schedule but gaining momentum.
In October 2021, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruled that the province was systemically discriminating against people with disabilities.
The government was subsequently ordered to make reforms, including to move people out of large institutions and into small homes in the community where they can live independently.
Get daily National news
Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
However, in a progress report released today the province says only 189 people have left large institutions, a number that is about two-thirds of the goal the government had set for the spring.
Scott Armstrong, the minister of social development, says there were delays in finding staff to oversee the transfers to community living, but adds that hiring programs are catching up.
Story continues below advertisement
The department also says it has succeeded in reducing a wait-list for disabilities services by 293 people, exceeding the plan's original targets.
The Disability Rights Coalition — the advocacy group that led the original court case — says the premier's office should be more directly involved in keeping the plan on track.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 10, 2025.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
U.S. court pauses order for Trump to return California National Guard
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday temporarily blocked a federal judge's order that directed President Donald Trump to return control of National Guard troops to California after he deployed them there following protests in Los Angeles over immigration raids. The court said it would hold a hearing on the matter on Tuesday. The ruling came only hours after a federal judge's order was to take effect at noon Friday. Earlier Thursday, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer ruled the Guard deployment was illegal and both violated the Tenth Amendment, which defines power between federal and state governments, and exceeded Trump's statutory authority. The order applied only to the National Guard troops and not Marines who were also deployed to the LA protests. The judge said he would not rule on the Marines because they were not out on the streets yet. Story continues below advertisement A group of 200 Marines will begin protecting federal property and personnel in downtown Los Angeles at noon Friday, said Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman, commander of Task Force 51 who is overseeing the 4,700 troops deployed in Los Angeles. The Marines will join some 2,000 National Guard troops that have been on the streets of the city since last week when immigration raids set off protests. 3:07 'These aren't the criminals': L.A. mayor urges Trump administration to stop ICE raids California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who had asked the judge for an emergency stop to troops helping carry out immigration raids, had praised the earlier ruling. 'Today was really about a test of democracy, and today we passed the test,' Newsom said in a news conference before the appeals court decision. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump thanked the appeals court Friday morning. Story continues below advertisement 'If I didn't send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now,' he said. The White House had called Breyer's order 'unprecedented' and said it 'puts our brave federal officials in danger.' 'The district court has no authority to usurp the President's authority as Commander in Chief,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. 'The President exercised his lawful authority to mobilize the National Guard to protect federal buildings and personnel in Gavin Newsom's lawless Los Angeles. The Trump Administration will immediately appeal this abuse of power and looks forward to ultimate victory on the issue.' Marines in civil disturbance training at nearby base About 700 Marines have been undergoing civil disturbance training at Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Orange County, California. 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 Typically the authority to call up the National Guard lies with governors, but there are limited circumstances under which the president can deploy those troops. Trump federalized members of the California National Guard under an authority known as Title 10. Story continues below advertisement Title 10 allows the president to call the National Guard into federal service when the country 'is invaded,' when 'there is a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the Government,' or when the president is unable 'to execute the laws of the United States.' Breyer, who was appointed by former President Bill Clinton, said in his ruling that what is happening in Los Angeles does not meet the definition of a rebellion. 'The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of 'rebellion,'' he wrote. 'Individuals' right to protest the government is one of the fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment, and just because some stray bad actors go too far does not wipe out that right for everyone.' California sued the federal government Newsom sued to block the Guard's deployment against his wishes. California later filed an emergency motion asking the judge to block the Guard from assisting with immigration raids. Story continues below advertisement The governor argued that the troops were originally deployed to protect federal buildings and wanted the court to block the troops from helping protect immigration agents during the raids, saying that involving the Guard would escalate tensions and promote civil unrest. Sherman said that as of Wednesday about 500 of the Guard troops had been trained to accompany agents on immigration operations. Photos of Guard soldiers providing security for the agents have already been circulated by immigration officials. None of the Marines have been trained to go on immigration raids, and it is not yet clear if they eventually will, Sherman said. 4:20 LA protests: Newsom accuses Trump of 'reckless escalation' as police lay charges against rioters Trump improperly called up the Guard, judge says In his broad ruling, the judge determined Trump had not properly called the Guard up in the first place. Story continues below advertisement The lawsuit argued that Title 10 also requires that the president go through governors when issuing orders to the National Guard, which the Trump administration didn't do. Brett Shumate, an attorney for the federal government, said Trump complied with the statute by informing the general in charge of the troops of his decision and has the authority to call in the Guard even if he had not. Furthermore, the president's decisions are not subject to judicial review, Shumate argued. 2:02 Anti-ICE protests: Trump suggests invoking Insurrection Act amid L.A. unrest 'Our position is this is not subject to judicial review,' Shumate told the judge. Breyer, who at one point waved a copy of the Constitution, said he disagreed. 'We're talking about the president exercising his authority, and the president is, of course, limited in that authority. That's the difference between a constitutional government and King George,' he said. Story continues below advertisement Protests intensified The protests over immigration raids in Los Angeles intensified after Trump called up the Guard and have since spread to other cities, including Boston, Chicago and Seattle. Trump has described Los Angeles in dire terms that Mayor Karen Bass and Newsom say are nowhere close to the truth. Most of the sprawling city has been spared as protests continue downtown, near City Hall and a federal detention center where some immigrants are being held.
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Here comes the MPP: Ontario bill could let politicians perform weddings
Cut the red tape and cue the white dress. Two Ontario Progressive Conservative members of provincial parliament are proposing to remove a layer of bureaucracy and let MPPs such as themselves more easily officiate weddings. A private member's bill from Matthew Rae and Dave Smith would automatically grant an MPP the authority to solemnize marriages after they give written notice of their interest, without having to go through a municipality as with most non-religious officiants. 'Not every single municipality actually has their clerk do weddings, so if you want a civil marriage, you have to go through a justice of the peace or a judge,' Smith said. 'When you look at some of the more northern, more remote, more rural ridings, you don't have as easy access to a justice of the peace or a judge and I just saw this as one of those things that's almost a red tape thing. We have the ability to make that change. It really doesn't have a negative effect. So why not do it?' Story continues below advertisement Rae said engaged couples sometimes reach out to elected officials – including himself – to request that they solemnize their marriage, thinking they're granted that ability automatically, like judges. 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 'Some are family and friends that live in my riding,' he said. 'Obviously, they think it would be kind of neat to have their local MPP perform the ceremony…(it's) just another provincial service that a local member can choose to offer their constituents if they choose to do so. And so it really is just having that little extra special component to your happy day.' Rae personally availed himself of that extra special component when he got married last year, using Bill Walker, the former member of provincial parliament for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound, as his officiant. When it comes to politicians and weddings, Walker is the guy, both Smith and Rae said. Walker went through the whole regular process for becoming a civil marriage officiant, which includes a designation from a municipal clerk, and estimates he has done more than 70 weddings in just a few years. 'It's humbling, for anybody, to be part of their special day, but especially if you've worked with them, or my goddaughters,' Walker said. 'It was pretty hard to top those.' Walker's side gig as an officiant – he doesn't take any payment – began with a request from one of his goddaughters. Story continues below advertisement '(She) thought that we had the right as an MPP to be able to do weddings, because Bill Murdoch, who was my predecessor (as the MPP for Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound), had done them up here forever, and I think she just thought it was one of those things you got to do,' he said. 'My other goddaughter said, 'Well, if you're marrying her, you've got to marry me.'' It snowballed from there – including other friends, family and Queen's Park staffers – and Walker has about a dozen weddings on tap for this year. The bill would allow provincial politicians who ask for the authority to perform marriages to keep that power for a full year after they leave office. That way, a snap election as the province saw earlier this year and an unexpected defeat doesn't leave an engaged couple with no officiant. Most private member's bills that get tabled come from opposition parties, and since this one is from within the government caucus it may be more likely than most to get through, but Rae and Smith said further discussions and debate are expected to be held in the fall. If the bill does become law, Rae said he isn't sure if he will set out to officiate weddings, but Smith is game. 'I'll probably reach out to the minister if this passes, and ask for permission to do it,' he said. 'Any time you can break down barriers for people who want to spend their life together, then why not do that?'
Global News
2 hours ago
- Global News
Wildfire near two Ontario First Nations ‘like a sleeping giant' for now, MPP says
A provincial legislator says a massive wildfire that has forced the evacuation of two northern Ontario First Nations is like a 'sleeping giant' at the moment. Sol Mamakwa, the New Democrat representative for Kiiwetinoong, visited Sandy Lake First Nation on Thursday. Much of the community of 2,000 people has been forced to leave for different parts of Ontario because of the fire known as Red Lake 12. Ontario officials say the fire is more than 160,000 hectares in size and not under control. The same fire earlier forced the evacuation of Deer Lake First Nation, though fire rangers have now successfully created a fire break around the perimeter of the community. 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 Mamakwa says about 200 people remain in Sandy Lake First Nation, along with the fire rangers. Story continues below advertisement 'It's pretty much like a sleeping giant, the officials told me,' Mamakwa said. Fire rangers and community members are busy working around the clock to protect buildings, he said. They are setting up sprinkler systems around many buildings, including the community centre, as well as around large fuel tanks. 'This fire is just massive,' Mamakwa said after flying over it when he arrived Thursday around noon. There wasn't much smoke near the community when he landed, but by the time he left around 6 p.m., smoke began billowing again. Mamakwa has been asking several levels of government for years to invest in bigger and better runways in remote First Nations. The military flew in with massive CC-130 Hercules planes to help with the evacuation at Sandy Lake, but the aircraft 'could not take the full capacity because the airstrip is too small,' he said. Despite that, the 'organized chaos' of getting nearly 2,000 people out of the community was successful, he said. Wildfires have been raging across northern parts of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Webequie First Nation east of Sandy Lake has also been evacuated due to a different fire that is about 11,000 hectares in size and is not under control. Story continues below advertisement More than 10,000 people in Saskatchewan and 21,000 in Manitoba have been forced out of their communities because of the fires.
