Interview with Suzy Hansen

By Kendall Worth

I had the great pleasure of interviewing Suzy Hansen, who is the MLA for Halifax/Needham. She replaced Lisa Roberts who was the MLA up until the 2021 provincial election, when Lisa chose not to run again. It turns out that Suzy Hansen brings a lot to the table when Province House is sitting. Examples include: knowledge of education issues, because of her past experience of being on the school board, and her knowledge of poverty related issues in Halifax/Needham.

Having a connection to Africville/AKA Sea View, she brings a wealth of knowledge -- For example how the history of Africville/AKA Sea-view Park has had an impact on the way of life in Halifax/Needham. Suzy Hanson represents a constituency that includes Africville/AKA Sea-view Park, plus Gottingen Street, Uniacke Square, Mulgrave Park, The Halifax Shipyards, the lower section of North Street, and residential Streets that run from the perimeter of Africville to Gottingen and Cogswelll. Halifax/Needham is a very diverse constituency and Suzy has known and experienced living the diversity, in the constituency, for years.

Many of the organizations/soup-kitchens and drop-ins I have previously written about are located in Suzy Hansen's electoral district. During this interview, we touched on another topic I have written about and Suzy agreed with me that people would not need to depend on charities for cleaning supplies, if they had enough money to live on. Suzy is a strong supporter of wanting to see poverty resolved.

Suzy Hansen and Kendall Worth

And now – the Interview…

#1 – Could you tell me a bit about why you decided you wanted to get involved, and run for election, and why the NDP?

A – She ran, she says, because she felt “being around the table” was going to be beneficial to the community. Having the power to be a voice in government, and to make decisions that would benefit her community would, she said, be important, and is something she has always had an interest in. Being in this position makes her feel like she can make more change.

The NSNDP aligns with her values and believes. They listen to people. Even before running for the NDP she always felt she could talk to someone in the NDP and they would always listen.

 #2 – Halifax Needham has a large population of people living in poverty, In your view, do you have any beliefs about what contributes to poverty in Halifax/Needham?

A – Her Belief is, there are many issues and that includes systemic racism. She believes that the government has a role in making sure people have enough to live on, and to make sure they do not have to struggle. When you think of it Halifax/Needham is in the heart of the city.

Halifax Needham, as I myself, and Suzy Hansen are both am well aware of, includes organizations like the Souls Harbour Soup Kitchen, Brunswick Street mission, Salvation Amy and Hope Cottage. Also in Needham is the Halifax Dartmouth Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association which is a place where people living in poverty with mental health issues go. These places plus the food banks located in Halifax are all trying to provide needs for people. Also, even though Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank provides for needs all over HRM, they are located in Halifax/Needham.

During this Interview Suzy and I discussed the number of people using these organizations for the free meals/food, and services, provided. They also make the poverty in Halifax-Needham visible and poverty issues stand out. Drive by, for example the Souls Harbour Rescue Missions just before 12noon on a weekday and see the line of people wanting to get in to access a meal. As another example, just around 4:30pm and 5pm on a weekday, you can pass Hope Cottage and see the line-up of people outside, waiting to get the supper, they provide.

#3 – Do you support things like an increase in the Income Assistance Rates, or Basic Guaranteed income, as a possible solution to these problems? And do you have any opinions on what amount of money people really need to live on these days?

A – Suzy says she supports all of these things. She thinks we need to explore all possible long term solutions for Nova Scotia. The $2000/month from CERB, that people were getting during COVID, is a “good amount” for people to live on. Things such as improving the rental market, reducing the cost of food, transportation, etc. in the neighbourhood, need to be explored, to reduce the cost of living, as well as incresing the amount of money people recieve.

Note – The Bus pass available through Department of Community Services is only for DCS clients. People living in poverty in Halifax/Needham who receive their income from CPP Disability, do not qualify for the DCS Bus pass.

While on the subject of food, one concern that Suzy shared with me is just access to food for some people in Halifax Needham. Some, if not many, people in Needham live in places where they are not within walking distance of a grocery store. Convenience stores are more expensive and do not always have fresh options. Too often, that is what is located, but yet tend to be what is located within walking distance from where most poor people live in Halifax/Needham. Food provided by food-banks is not always fresh, and sometimes is past its best before date. Sadly, many low-income in Halifax/Needham do not drive, and what is within walking distance from where they live, is either a Convenience Store or a food-bank. There is a limited amount of groceries people can bring home on a bus, and so a person has to make two or three bus trips in one day, to all the groceries they need. These details Suzy agrees would certainly make good points in the case for Basic Income.

  #4 – I understand in the past you were on the School Board for Halifax. Is there any experience from your time on the school board that you can bring into your current job of being an MLA and can you talk a bit about that experience?

A – Her Experience on the School Board, she told me, is valuable to her work as an MLA. Both jobs are all about connecting with the community. Her past experience trained her for things that she needs to know in her current MLA job. For example her skill and experience in building relationships. networking, and connecting with people.

#5 – Several sources have told me that you have an Africville/AKA Sea-view Park Connection. Do you have a position on what happened to Africville, and how it impacts the way of life in Halifax/Needham? What role should the province play in resolving this?

A – Her family is connected to Africville which is located in her Halifax/Needham riding. What happened to Africville needs to be confronted and resolved. Suzy mentioned to me that she was pretty happy I asked about this, even though the story itself is traumatizing.

If Nova Scotia wants to be a province of social inclusion we have got to look at ourselves and rectify the wrongs, current and historic, in order to welcome all races, cultures, religions etc. and that is where the province needs to show responsibility in resolving what happened to Africville.

 #6 – Anything Else you feel is important?

A – Suzy is very grateful that she gets to represent the community where she was born and raised.