Kelly Regan

Government will work to enhance and better coordinate mental health supports offered to children and youth, through school facilities like youth health centres. This is one of four recommendations put forward by the Minister’s Advisory Panel on Innovation in Mental Health and Addictions. The province will implement all four recommendations.

Nova Scotia is adopting changes to the National Building Code, which include increasing the maximum height of wooden residential buildings from four to six storeys. The Fire Safety Act and Regulations will also be changed to enhance safety requirements for the taller wood buildings.

Improvements to the Employment Support and Income Assistance Program will help those Nova Scotians who need it most get support to become more independent and help youth as they become adults.

We created Student Support Grants in 2013 to try and address fundraising pressures on families, parents and school communities, and to enhance experiences for our students. The objective of the grants is to allow school communities to tailor services and programming to create special student experiences, as well as improve student success.

Government is taking immediate action to address the increase in illicit fentanyl and other synthetic opioids in Nova Scotia with more than $1 million in funding. A full opioid response plan is being developed by government and is expected to be completed this spring.