VIDEO: Suzy Hansen responds to Karla MacFarlane’s comments about homeless tents in HRM
NDP MLA Suzy Hansen took to social media Friday to respond to comments Community Services Minister Karla MacFarlane made on Thursday regarding the increasing visibility of homeless tents in HRM.
CBC’s Michael Gorman reported Thursday that MacFarlane told reporters the increasing visibility of tents in parks around Halifax, Dartmouth and other parts of Nova Scotia’s largest municipality is part of the “natural evolution” of summertime.
“We always see tents increase,” she said in response to a reporter’s question following a cabinet meeting in Halifax.
MacFarlane said many people who couch surf or spend time in shelters put up tents in the summer months because it’s doable at that time of year.
“I think it’s just a lot of individuals are looking for that outlet and freedom to be outside, much like ourselves. But we take this issue extremely serious. We know it’s not a good situation.”
In a forty-second video clip, Hansen, the NDPs Housing spokesperson said:
“Hey everyone, I just want to hop on here to say that I’m shocked and disappointed that Minister MacFarlane would say the increasing visibility of tents in parks around Halifax and Dartmouth is part of the natural evolution of summertime.
I have lived here my whole entire life and I have never seen this natural evolution, ever.
Folks are not choosing a tent because it’s fun, they’re living rough because they have no choice.
For the minister in charge of this file to say what she said and [to not] understand the lived experiences of those sleeping outside with no other options is just plain shocking and embarrassing.
The Houston government has to do better.”
Hansen doubled down with additional comments in the video’s comment section.
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Stats Canada data show income, housing disparities between Black, white Nova Scotians [INFOGRAPHICS]
Statistics Canada data compiled in a presentation by an organization led by African Nova Scotians show socioeconomic disparities between Black people and other visible minorities compared to white people in Halifax, and across Nova Scotia and Canada.
The African Nova Scotian Road to Economic Prosperity Plan (REPP) has been sharing the data with Black Nova Scotians through a series of presentations at community meetings.
VIDEO: Suzy Hansen responds to Karla MacFarlane’s comments about homeless tents in HRM
NDP MLA Suzy Hansen took to social media Friday to respond to comments Community Services Minister Karla MacFarlane made on Thursday regarding the increasing visibility of homeless tents in HRM.
Dartmouth mother of two felt “bullied” into signing fixed-term lease in Ocean Breeze
When Destiny Beals moved into her apartment in Ocean Breeze, she expected to be able to stay and live with her family for a few years.
According to Beals, Universal Property Management, a realty group managing leasing agreements in Ocean Breeze, told her and other residents not to worry about the details of their fixed-term leases, and that construction would not impact them for years to come.
“It felt like I was being bullied and pressured,” Beals said in an interview. “We are literally just being thrown to the wolves right now. We have no recourse.”
