Sackville-Uniacke candidates talk health care, affordability and the commute

Three candidates are facing off in the Nova Scotia riding of Sackville-Uniacke, each with their own political history. 

For New Democrat Lisa Blackburn and Progressive Conservative Brad Johns, it's a political rematch almost a decade in the making. Meanwhile, 12-time candidate Thomas Trappenberg is hoping a new party affiliation will help land him a seat in the legislature.

The last time Blackburn and Johns appeared on the same ballot was in the 2016 Halifax Regional Municipality election. 

Blackburn won her bid to represent the Sackville and Beaver Bank areas, beating the incumbent Johns by 47 votes. 

Johns went on to win a Sackville-area riding as a Progressive Conservative in 2017 and again in 2021. 

A rematch 

After two terms, Blackburn did not seek re-election to council earlier this year. Instead, she sought the NDP nomination for Sackville-Uniacke where Johns is the incumbent candidate.

"During the last three years in particular I saw a lot of things that the Houston government has been doing that really isn't in the best interest of many residents," said Blackburn in an interview. 

While she has represented part of Sackville-Uniacke on council, Blackburn lives in a neighbouring riding. That's something Johns is pointing out with the addition of a yellow sticker on some of his campaign signs that read "The Only One Who Lives Here."

"I grew up here and I am the only candidate in this race who lives in the constituency," Johns said in an emailed statement. "I understand the issues and I have been responsive to the needs of our communities."

A party spokesperson said the PC candidate was too busy knocking on doors in the riding to conduct an interview. Johns said affordability, housing, rapid community growth and the need for infrastructure are key issues on the doorstep.

Johns said health care is another top issue, but said the party is moving the needle. He highlighted access to primary care through mobile clinics as an example.

"People in my riding see that we're taking action after years of inaction by previous governments," he said.

12th time a charm? 

Trappenberg is the Liberal candidate, but was previously leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia and has run unsuccessfully under the Green banner in provincial and federal elections. He said health care, affordability and housing are key issues.

"The Liberals are have a very good platform which align a lot with my green values. But it was also important to say that it is not anymore about the party, it is about the issues, and we have to get around to really implement things."

Trappenberg lives in Hatchet Lake, N.S., but said there are similar issues in the commuter communities. 

"The last few weeks … getting to work has been a real problem," he said. "My idea is to have bus lanes all the way downtown." 

The NDP candidate finished a distant third in 2021, but Blackburn said she has healthy optimism about turning a once stronghold area orange again. She said the area would benefit from NDP promises to install a housing rebate for households making under $70,000 and take the HST off of items like cellphone bills and internet.

"It would not be out of character for Sackville to vote NDP.  And I certainly hope that the change that I'm seeing on the doorstep manifests itself on Nov. 26," said Blackburn. 

Johns resigned from cabinet 

One of the things Blackburn said she's hearing while door-knocking is discontent from female voters over Johns's comments on domestic violence.

While justice minister, Johns said he did not consider domestic violence an epidemic, contrary to findings of the public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting. He resigned from cabinet and apologized.

"As I've always said, when people tell you who they are, believe them. And in that moment, Brad Johns told us who he was," Blackburn said. 

In his statement, Johns pointed out that he voted in favour of a bill in September that declared domestic violence an epidemic in Nova Scotia.

When asked, Trappenberg said he was focused on finding solutions to the epidemic of domestic violence.