Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin, MLA Cumberland North
Weekly Constituency Update
Week June 15, 2026
Global
US/Iran War – The United States and Iran appear to have reached an agreement to end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, offering relief to the global economy more than three months since the fighting began. That said, experts say it could be several months before oil prices return to the pre-war levels.
Full details of the agreement have not been released publicly. When interviewed at the G7 conference in France on Tuesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney seemed optimistic that the agreement will ensure Iran does not have the capability to develop a nuclear weapon which was the US rationale for starting the war in the first place. The agreement is set to be signed on Friday in Switzerland. Unfortunately, the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah militants that is impacting parts of Lebanon continues.
Provincial
Davis Day
Last Thursday, June 11th, was a very special day – one I will not soon forget.
I travelled to Springhill to attend the service at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church in honour of Miners’ Memorial/Davis Day. William Davis, who grew up in Springhill, was killed while fighting for the rights of coal miners during the labour struggles in Cape Breton. Today, communities across Nova Scotia gathered to remember him and all those who sacrificed so much for working families.
In Springhill, the men who lost their lives in the coal mines were honoured one by one. Roses were placed for each miner, and the bell rang as their names were read aloud. Included among them was my great-uncle, George W. Dean, my maternal grandmother’s brother, who died in the 1946 mine explosion.
This year will mark the 70th anniversary of the devastating 1956 Springhill mining explosion, and Thursday’s service especially honoured those men and their families.
There was not a dry eye in the church after hearing the powerful message from Clyde Jones, son of 1956 disaster victim William Jones. Clyde spoke so beautifully and personally about the impact the disaster had on his family and on the entire town of Springhill. His words reminded us that these tragedies were not simply historical events, they were deeply human stories of loss, courage, sacrifice, and resilience.
This day also holds profound personal meaning for me because my maternal grandfather, Leon Melanson, survived both the 1956 and 1958 Springhill disasters. He was not injured in 1956, but during the 1958 bump – the disaster that ultimately closed the mine for good – he was trapped underground, buried to his neck in coal, and rescued by fellow miners.
My grandfather lost a leg and a kidney because of his injuries, but his incredible spirit, perseverance, and love of life carried him forward for many years afterward. Because of that strength, our family was blessed with many more years of joy, laughter, and memories with him.
I want to express sincere gratitude to all of the volunteers and organizers who continue to preserve this important history year after year – including today’s beautiful service, the laying of the wreaths and roses, and the luncheon held afterward at the church.
My heart was deeply touched today, as it often is when I visit Springhill. I had the privilege of meeting people who knew my grandparents and knew my mother, Sharon. One of her childhood friends shared stories with me today that I had never heard before, and those moments filled my heart.
Springhill has known profound hardship, grief, and suffering – not only mine disasters but devastating fires in 1957 and 1975. But it has also been built on an extraordinary foundation of community spirit. Families took care of one another during the darkest of times, and that same spirit continues today.
Our grandparents and great-grandparents taught us through their struggles that perseverance, family, love, and community will always shine brighter than suffering and loss.
We honour William Davis for his courage and conviction. And we honour all of the miners who left home simply trying to provide for their families and never returned.
The Remedy – For some time, I have been raising serious concerns about the implementation of Nova Scotia’s Human Rights Remedy, especially for people with complex needs who require high levels of care.
Let me be clear: people with disabilities have the right to live with dignity, choice, inclusion, and proper support in community. That is the heart of the Remedy, and it is a human right.
But community living must mean real support, not simply moving vulnerable people out of institutions before the systems around them are ready.
Families have been telling me they are deeply worried. Some have asked for meetings with the Minister and have been refused. That is unacceptable. Families know their loved ones. Their voices must be heard, especially when they are raising concerns about safety, medical complexity, staffing, housing, transportation, and whether appropriate supports are actually in place.
I am pleased to see the Disability Rights Coalition becoming more vocal about the serious gaps in implementation. Their recent response makes it clear that while progress is happening, the Province is behind on key timelines and that this work cannot fall on one department alone.
This work requires all of government: Community Services, Health, Housing, Education, Labour, Transportation, and others. If departments are not working together, people with disabilities and their families will pay the price.
The Remedy was not supposed to become a checkbox exercise. It was supposed to correct systemic discrimination and ensure people can live good lives in their community with the supports they need.
That means the government must listen to families. It must listen to front-line workers. It must be honest about workforce shortages. It must be transparent about delays. And it must ensure that no person with complex needs is placed in an unsafe or unsupported situation simply to meet a target.
Human rights and safety must go together.
The Province needs to meet its legal obligations, but it must also get this right. People with disabilities deserve dignity, choice, proper care, and true inclusion — not broken promises and families left begging to be heard.
Cumberland North
Cumberland Chamber of Commerce – Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the Annual General Meeting for the Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce.
I want to extend my sincere gratitude to each of the volunteer board members who give their time and energy to support local business, as well as to Randy Thompson, the Chamber’s fairly new Executive Director. Thank you to the Chamber for your ongoing efforts and leadership in supporting business owners across Cumberland County.
In my opinion, business owners are not heard enough. Too often, they are busy working in their businesses, serving customers, employing people, paying bills, and keeping our communities moving. Because of that, they do not always have the time to advocate publicly with media or government, but their voices matter, and they need to be respected.
Business owners are the backbone of our economy. They create jobs, support local families, invest in our communities, and help keep our towns and villages strong. Many also pay, on average, double the property taxes on their commercial properties while receiving the same basic municipal services as residential property owners. Their contribution is significant, and their concerns deserve to be taken seriously.
At the AGM, I encouraged business owners to speak up on important issues affecting our region, including the federal government’s decision to close the Nappan Research Farm, the proposed tolls in Aulac, New Brunswick, the urgent repairs needed to the dikes along the Chignecto Isthmus, and the serious concerns we are hearing around illicit drug use, increasing crime, and repeat offenders being released back into our communities.
A strong business community is essential to a strong Cumberland County. I look forward to seeing the Chamber continue to grow and strengthen in the year ahead.
A Busy Saturday – Saturday began at the LA Animal Shelter yard sale fundraiser at the Amherst Curling Club. It was wonderful to see my dear friend Donna Letcher there along with so many others from across our community.
A big thank you to all of the volunteers who worked so hard to organize the event, and especially to Karen Cormier for her leadership and dedication. The Shelter is a very important part of our community, providing care and support for animals in need. We love our animals, and it’s always wonderful to see the community come together to support them.
Later on Saturday, I had the pleasure of bringing greetings at the Holy Family Catholic Church where they were hosting the Catholic Women’s League Convention. The Catholic Women’s League has a long and meaningful tradition of faith, service, fellowship, and advocacy. Across our communities, CWL members are often the quiet hands and faithful hearts behind so much good work, supporting families, caring for neighbours, encouraging one another, and living out the call to serve.
Glenna Gould O’Quinn
I am grateful for the women of faith who continue to strengthen our churches, our families, and our communities through compassion, leadership, prayer, and service. Thank you to the Holy Family Catholic Church Women’s League for the warm welcome and thank you to all CWL members for the important difference you make. May God continue to bless the work of your hands and the love in your hearts.
Another stop on Saturday was at the Pride Market at the Amherst Stadium. Due to the rain, everything had to be moved indoors, but the atmosphere was still warm, welcoming, and full of joy and community spirit. It was lovely to see plenty of familiar faces there and to spend some time catching up with my dear friend Kathy Wells. Events like these are a wonderful reminder of the importance of community connections, supporting local vendors, and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome and included here in Cumberland North.
Saturday afternoon I was able to celebrate Long-Term Care Day with the residents, families, staff, and volunteers of Centennial Villa and Gables Lodge. Although the rain moved the celebration indoors, it certainly did not dampen the spirit of the day. There were so many warm conversations, smiles, laughs, and opportunities to reconnect with people throughout the afternoon.
Long-term care homes are about much more than healthcare, they are communities filled with friendship, compassion, memories, and meaningful connections. It was truly special to spend time with residents and staff and to recognize the important role these homes play for seniors and families in our region. I also had the chance to see many familiar faces, including my aunt Geraldine Smith, which made the afternoon even more meaningful.
Thank you to the staff, leadership, volunteers, and everyone involved in organizing such a lovely event and for the care and kindness you provide every day to residents.
Gables Lodge and Centennial Villa : Jan McKinnon Nurse Leader, Town Councillor Terry McManaman, Elizabeth, Tara D’Entremont, new CEO, Town Councillor Kathy Wells, Nurse Leader Stephanie Tannahill, Nurse Leader Megan Collins, Mayor of Amherst Rob Small and Town Councillor Nick Furlong
Illegal Drugs and Crime – Across Cumberland North, I am hearing growing concerns about addiction, illegal drugs, repeat offending, mental health, and public safety. Many residents are asking difficult but important questions:
- How do we support people struggling with addiction and mental illness?
- How do we help people access treatment, recovery, and stable supports before they reach a crisis point?
- How do we support families who are trying desperately to get help for their loved ones?
- How do we get illegal drugs off our streets and stop them from being so easily accessible in our communities?
- And how do we ensure our communities remain safe?
Compassion matters. Treatment matters. Recovery matters.
But so do accountability, enforcement, public safety, and the rights of victims, families, and community members who are often left carrying the consequences when the system fails to respond.
This is not about blaming people who are unwell or struggling with addiction. It is about recognizing that the current system is not working. TOO MANY families have LOST loved ones to drugs. Too many people have watched friends, children, parents, and neighbours struggle with addiction. Too many families have tried to get help and found closed doors, long waits, or no clear path forward. Too many residents are worried about illegal drugs being readily available in their communities. Too many residents feel their concerns about repeat offending and public safety are not being heard.
Nova Scotians should not have to choose between compassion and public safety. We need both.
If you are comfortable sharing your story, I want to hear from you. If you have lost a family member or friend to drugs, if addiction has had a significant impact on your life, if you have struggled to get help for someone you love, or if you have concerns about illegal drugs, repeat offending, and public safety in your community, please send me a private message or contact my office at 902-661-2288 or Mla@esmithmccrossinmla.com
Someone told me recently that 18 young people have died from drug overdoses in our area in the last two years. I want to hear from these families – we need to shine a light on this.
Your experiences can help inform future discussions about addiction, treatment, recovery, mental health care, public safety, enforcement, victims’ rights, and the support families need.
We need a system that protects the public, supports victims and families, helps people access real treatment and recovery, and gets illegal drugs off our streets before more lives are lost.
The Truro Police Service is increasing the safety of the community and its officers with the rollout of a Regional Tactical Support Team (RTST) which will ensure increased community as well as officer safety.
This kind of collaboration is needed, and I am pleased to see the Truro and Amherst departments working together, along with Stellarton and Westville, to respond to increasing crime and illegal drug activity in our region.
Our law enforcement officers need the tools, training, coordination, and support required to be stronger, safer, and better prepared than those involved in criminal activity. Communities across our region are tired of the growing impact of illegal drugs, repeat offending, and crime. It is time to clean this up and send a clear message: drug dealers are not welcome in our communities.
Ideally, those trafficking illegal drugs and causing harm should be held accountable through the courts and, where appropriate, sent to jail or prison. But that will also require serious changes within our justice system. The current culture of releasing repeat offenders back onto the streets is not teaching consequences, and it is not upholding public safety.
I commend the police services involved in this Regional Tactical Support Team. This is an important step toward stronger, more coordinated policing and safer communities.
Recent Events
In addition to the events noted above, I visited Lilac Place in Amherst to meet Mikaila Shaw, a therapist hired by Autumn House who is available for trauma therapy for anyone in Cumberland County who has experienced sexualized violence. Over the years, this has been a missing piece in our mental health and community systems. When persons contacted me in the past I had to share with them the closest place to access counselling was Truro for sexual assault, now we have it in our own community. CEO of Autumn House Dawn Ferris is in picture below on far left and Mikaila in centre. For an appointment please call Lilac Place 902-664-1272.
WATCH
This week I chaired a WATCH meeting in Halifax. WATCH is a newly formed organization that stands for Women’s Access to Care & Health. The wait times for women to access care is not acceptable and we have joined together a group of motivated women who are advocating for change in many areas of women’s health, including, but not exclusive to endometriosis, gynecological care, breast cancer/dense breasts/mammograms, CSF Leaks and much, much more. If you are interested in joining this group of women please contact me.
Tuesday evening, I was back to Pugwash to attend the Cumberland Business Connector AGM.
Wednesday, I worked in Pugwash and that evening I attended the Autism NS AGM in the evening online.
Audio Update – For those of you who may not know, I also do a weekly update, similar to this one, on CFTA Tantramar Radio, FM 107.9. It is broadcast each Monday at 12 pm noon. You can listen to all past episodes online on my website here.
My office is 902-661-2288 and located at 5 Ratchford St in Amherst Monday thru Friday and Wednesdays in Pugwash at the Pugwash Village Hall.
Birthday and Anniversary Wishes
I would like to extend birthday and anniversary greetings to anyone celebrating this week, including:
- Monday, June 15 – Mallory Fancy, Victoria Gottschalk and Andrew Bickle
- Tuesday, June 16 – Millie MacLeod and Noah MacDonald
- Wednesday, June 17 – Courtney Fromm, Susan Smith and Michael Wilson
- Thursday, June 18 – Gail Read and Dick Rector
- Friday, June 19 – Pam Chappell-Gogan
- Saturday, June 20 – Dr. Helen Sandland
If you know of someone celebrating a special occasion and would like me to bring a certificate of recognition, please contact my office 902-661–2288. I would be honoured to help them celebrate.
Obituaries
I would like to extend my sympathies to anyone who has lost a loved one recently, including the family and friends of:
Theresa Matilda Boss Mary Carolyn Dickson
Nova Tambeau Sylvia Mildred Jamieson
If anyone else has lost a loved one, please accept my sincere condolences.
Upcoming Events
Month of June – Indigenous History Month and Pride Month
June 21 – Indigenous People’s Day
June 27 – Grand Re-opening of the Pugwash Yacht Club and Bill Mundle Marina 3 pm
June 29 – High School Graduations at PDHS and ARHS
June 30 – Last Day of School
July 1st – Canada Day and 75th Gathering of the Clans in Pugwash
Take care of yourself body, mind and spirit and seek ways to serve others, this is where true joy is found.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
My Mission as MLA for Cumberland North is to represent you, the people of Cumberland North. I am an Independent MLA, and I work for you with a foundation in the principles of parliamentary democracy.
Building a stronger Cumberland North, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia and Maritimes is possible based on a foundation of the principles of:
– Truth and Justice
– Determination and Dedication
– Honesty
– Being a Servant Leader & Empowering All People
Together, you and I can build a Stronger Cumberland respecting the courage and strength of our veterans and standing firm on the Four Pillars of:
– Excellence in Health Care
– Affordability for All People
– Solid Education for our Children, and
– A Growing Economy by Supporting our entrepreneurs
Other important work includes addressing the increasing crime and illicit drug use, Maritime collaboration, protecting the Isthmus of Chignecto and standing for truth and justice for victims of sexual assault and family violence. These priorities are in line with my vision for building a stronger Cumberland and Maritimes. |
