BUDGET 2021
A STRONGERBC for everyone

Dear Neighbours, 
It has been a busy month in North Vancouver-Seymour (NVS). In meeting with as many groups as possible, COVID certainly has changed how we communicate with one another. Still, it is so good to hear the voices of the community! 
 
Over the last month, I met with over a dozen separate groups and residents to discuss their concerns. Access to appropriate health care was an issue for several. I worked as a registered nurse on the North Shore for many years. I realize that navigating the system can be challenging. Should you need assistance, our office is here to help.  
 
The 2021 budget was announced last week. I am proud of the advancements and the direction the Government has taken. We brought in free public transit for children 12 and under. We have doubled the number of $10-a-day childcare spaces. And we have made building affordable housing for moderate earners a priority. Families have been one of our government’s main focuses. I think this budget has delivered. 
 
The Government also increased funding for mental health and addiction services. The pandemic, and the resulting border closures, have resulted in an increase in contaminated street drugs and an increase in overdose deaths. About 5 people a day in BC die from illicit drug overdoses. All these deaths are a life lost, a family member gone, and survivors left to heal. The province has asked the federal government to decriminalize possession for small amounts of illicit drugs, to work towards removing the shame and the stigma that prevents people from reaching out for help. We also increased the funding for people with addiction disorders, to fund more treatment beds and increase the supply of supportive housing. This government is committed to finding solutions to help end these needless deaths. 
 
More information regarding the BC Budget can be found here. 

COVID-19 
COVID-19 and the new variants are a concern for all of us across the province. The Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has put orders such as limiting gatherings and travel, to help control the spread. Please do your part by staying apart.  
 
In April, as a registered nurse, I again administered more vaccines to members of our community with accessibility issues. As of Wednesday, the province has administered over 1.7 million doses of vaccines to British Columbians.  
 
If you are 18 years of age or older, you can now register for the COVID-19 vaccine here, or by calling 1-833-838-2323. The province brought in changes to the Employment Standards Act that now guarantee workers 3 hours of paid leave to get vaccinated. Presently they are booking appointments for: 

• People born in 1965 or earlier (56+) 

• Indigenous people born in 2003 or earlier (18+) 

• Clinically extremely vulnerable people. 

It should take 2 minutes to register. As soon as you are eligible to receive the vaccine, you should receive a text or email to let you know. As quick as we are getting the vaccines in, we are getting them into the arms of people. Please sign up to get the jab! If you are experiencing any difficulties registering, please contact the office.  
 
Community news 
I am attending a free town hall meeting via Zoom on May 5th to discuss issues regarding Mount Seymour. Mount Seymour is a jewel of a place to go to, however this has led to concerns from the residents of the surrounding areas. If you are concerned about access or other issues relating to Mount Seymour, please feel free to join the meeting. More information about this town hall is posted below. 
  
This month, I met with several groups from across the province regarding trying to get a rodenticide ban. Rodenticide, or rat poison as it is commonly called, is deadly for owls, as well as other animals including pets. The environment also suffers when rodenticide is used. North Vancouver District was the first municipality to ban its use on District-owned or controlled buildings and properties, an initiative that has now been put in place by at least 18 other municipalities. Together we discussed next steps in working with the Minister of Environment to address these concerns. 
 
The constituency office will be open soon, although access will be limited due to COVID. I will send out an announcement when we do open. Our website is being set up and we are looking forward to providing more information regarding our office and services available for the community. 
 
As always, if you have questions or need any assistance with vaccination information, provincial COVID-19 supports, or any other provincial issue, please reach out. My office can be reached at 604-983-9859, or by email.    
 
I wish every one of you a safe and healthy time. This has been a challenging year for all of us, but together we will get through it. 
 
Stay safe, 
Susie Chant, MLA 
North Vancouver-Seymour  

Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

7:00 pm

Huge increase to the Parks Budget!

North Vancouver MLA reminds community to seek help

Chant is reminding the community that there are plenty of virtual mental health supports available, as people in the area are feeling the shock and sadness of the North Vancouver stabbing.

We all have to talk this stuff through, and pull it out, and look at it with our own values and beliefs and hold it out in the light – so that we know what kind of impact it’s having on us because we cannot let other peoples’ behaviour disable us,” said Chant.

According to Joanne Onerheim, a Registered Clinical Counsellor, this type of attack can cause mental health problems for people who have witnessed the incident. In terms of who witnessed the incident, it’s probably going to impact them as classic PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety.

Once you see something, you can’t unsee it.” – Joanne Onerheim, Registered Clinical Counsellor
Article continues here

Petition to ban rat poison presented to the Legislature

Every year, predators and scavengers such as owls, are killed by eating animals that have ingested anticoagulant rodenticide, or rat poison. Anticoagulants thin the blood. When another animal eats an animal that has consumed rat poison, the animal often dies a slow death as it slowly bleeds. 

Yasmin Abidi started a petition asking the province to ban the use of anticoagulant rodenticides. Almost 19,000 people signed the petition and on March 13, 2021, I presented the petition to the legislature.

To read more, click here.