By Kendall Worth
All of you regular readers of my BLOG may remember that September 23, 2022 marked the first time I ever had the wonderful opportunity to interview Suzy Hansen.
As I am sure many of you are already aware, Suzy got reelected in the November 26 2024 Nova Scotia Election. Everyone I have been talking to in the Halifax Needham Constituency since Suzy was first elected in 2021, speaks very highly of Suzy. All community members within Halifax Needham agree that Suzy has a very strong voice for her community. Also Suzy Hansen is a great and wonderful addition for Province House and the NS NDP. On the recent date of July 8th, 2025 I have had the privilege, again, of interviewing Suzy Hansen.
To give you an understanding of the community Suzy represents in province House, she represents the area of Halifax which includes most of the North End of Halifax. Gottingen Street, Nova-lea Street, the lower end of North Street, Leeds Street, Africville, and surrounding areas are all included within her Provincial Riding. Her community is known as the neighbourhood where 90% of the programs, organizations, food-banks, and soup-kitchens where down and out people are located. There are also several Public Housing buildings and units, located within her riding. Suzy Hansen is a strong supporter of wanting to hold Government accountable for why we have an increase in numbers who are users of food banks -- Especially the larger then normal amount of people using them these days. Overall, Suzy Hansen is a very community-minded person and she is 100% supportive of everything I write about in my BLOG.
Now to get into the Interview!
#1 – As someone who is now serving as an MLA for a second term, and from your experiences reading my BLOG and my previous stories in the Nova Scotia Advocate, have you gained any new experience or new ideas for resolving poverty? Have you gained any new ideas on how you would like to see the mental health system improved? What about the the Employment Support and Income Assistance Program? Can you share your new ideas, if yes, and can you tell me where those new ideas are coming from?
A – Suzy says her ideas are not very new ideas. They are all the same ideas as I talk about on my BLOG. She agrees that Income Assistance needs to be raised by a major amount. Wages need to be raised to the cost of living. Nothing is new ideas. All ideas are ideas that come with background and data. Better access to doctors is needed, more mental health supports, as well as better access to Mental Health Supports. We need community health homes. For example more community clinics like the North End Community Health Center. Better access aleviates the pressure on our Emergency Rooms.
#2 – What are your views on government accountability having left so many people suffering from mental health issues, and poverty.
A – The government should be held accountable. The government should be providing supports and services for those who need it the most. Suzy Agrees 100% that when we do not do that, we are not doing our job.
#3 – The current Income Assistance Rate in Nova Scotia is $1005.00 a month for the standard household rate, and some if not many clients are getting less than that amount, depending on circumstances. The question here is "Do you support the fact that this kind of money is not enough money for people to live on?" Do you agree that the history of poor Income Assistance rates causes in part the high numbers in our community who live with a high level of mental health diagnoses – Do you agree that a different type of system of Income Assitance is needed? Do you support the concept of Basic Guaranteed Incomeand do you think it is the solution to poverty?
Suzy's Answer – Money is not enough to live on and the rates have been frozen for the longest time, Suzy asks the question Could we be doing things differently? Basic Income is one tool in the box and hopefully someday this will get started in Nova Scotia – Hopefully if it does ever get started in Nova Scotia, the amount people will be receiving from Basic will be much better then the Current $1005.00 a month people are receiving from Income Assistance.
Suzy then continued to answer the question by saying YES Low income assistance rates are definitely a cause of why so many in the community are suffering from mental health issues. The cost of food and access to food have always issues in Suzy’s riding and in some other riding's across Nova Scotia. People have to choose, paying for medication, eat, or pay other bills, for example. In the private rental market (95% of it), in HRM, the rents are double (or more) the current income assistance rates.
#4 – When i interviewed you on September 23rd 2022, we also talked about how Halifax Needham has an issue with Food Insecurity. Do you still see this being the case in Halifax/Needham and if yes have you gained any new ideas on how it can be improved? Also, during your first 4 years or so have you seen any improvement?
A – Yes Suzy agrees this is still the case. The Government, Suzy says, is not doing a good job making sure that people who are in need in the community, are getting the food they need. The Government can do things to off-set the burden of Food-banks. Offsetting the burden of Food-Banks can also help reduce the stress levels of those who volunteers at the Food-banks. The Government can do things like seriously increase the Income Assistance rates, give tax breaks, and even food rebates. While she was answering this question, she also brought up that her Halifax Needham Constituency Office has been getting calls from the area Food-Banks with the Food- Bank directors being overworked because of the longer then normal line-ups at Food Banks.
#5 – Through your work as an MLA (and keeping mind that Africville is HRM jurisdiction) have you been able to raise the issues since our last interview, and any new developments or improvements beyond what has already happened? Meaning changing the name from Seaview Park back to it’s original name, calling the Community Africville, and the rebuilding the Church?
A – Since out last conversation Suzy says she has been in touch with 2 City Councillors. First Lindell Smith, and ow Virginal Hinch, who replaced him. We know they still do not have bus service to get to Africville. Until we can see what the community of Africville would like to see, they cannot finalize anything until the community let us know what they would like to see.
#6– Is there anything-else you would like to share about your beliefs relating to Poverty, Mental Health, or anything in general?
A – I will say that as a Government, if we can make all of these things a priority we can make things happen. There has to be a political will.
Suzy Hansen is a wonderful addition to Province house and to the community she represents.
Other MLA's I have interviewed throughout these few months include:
See here https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2025/05/time-to-interduce-you-to-krista.html for when I Interviewed Krista Gallagher.
See here https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2025/05/a-recent-interview-with-halifax-armdale.html for when I interviewed Rod Wilson. Do not forget if you haven't already to click on the Audio Recording to listen to many words he had to say about answering the Question I asked him during our interview. Suzy Hansen Actually actually pointed out that from her Experiences with Rod Wilson, the fact that it would have taken me a week to transfer everything he had to say into words did not surprise her.
And Last but not least see here https://worthmatters.blogspot.com/2025/05/an-interview-with-lina-hamid-fairview.html for when I interviewed Lina Hamid.
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