Nova Scotia’s primary care waitlist surpasses 148,000

DOCTOR SHORTAGE

Nova Scotia’s primary care waitlist surpasses 148,000

15% of Nova Scotians are officially waiting for a family doctor or nurse practitioner—the highest tally the province has seen since Nova Scotia Health launched its Need a Family Practice Registry in 2018. As of June 1, 2023, there are 148,431 people on the province’s primary care waitlist. That’s an uptick of more than 3,400 since last month, and a jump of 53,500 from this time a year ago.

“We know there is plenty more to do,” Nova Scotia’s health and wellness minister Michelle Thompson said earlier in June, adding the province has “a plan” to solve Nova Scotia’s primary care shortage and is “implementing it.”

And while Nova Scotia’s government says its doctor recruitment efforts are “starting to see results,” the new head of the association representing Nova Scotia’s roughly 3,500 doctors, residents and medical students says there’s no easy fix to solving a province-wide shortage—and that burnout remains a concern for those already working in the field.

Martin Bauman has the story at The Coast.

Need to know

☀️ Today's weather: Cloudy with showers throughout the day and evening. A high of 16C and a low of 12C.

💨 Halifax’s Air Quality Air Index and smoke forecast.

📇 The federal government has announced that any individuals who had important documents lost due to the wildfires will be able to get them replaced for free.

📄 CUPE Local 5047, the Halifax school support workers union, has reached a tentative agreement with the HRCE after being on strike for over a month. Global has the story.

💻 The Province has released an update on the cyber security breach naming more individuals who may have had their personal information compromised.

🚗 Driving in the city today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

🎭 Let’s Dance! The Musical, coming to Neptune Theatre Jul. 27-30. Use promo code TERRABRUCE25 to save 25% on all tickets to this fun, new musical.*

*Sponsored Post

SPONSORED BY THE FOG COMPANY HALIFAX

The Fog Company is on a roll

Met with incredible feedback since its recent launch, The Fog Company is now open on Wednesdays! Offering eye-catching soft serve creations, churned ice cream, and other sweet treats, The Fog Company is Freehand Hospitality’s newest addition to Queen’s Marque.

Regionally inspired fog cones feature swirls of soft serve with imaginative toppings and spun-to-order fog. Favourites include Seas the Day with brown butter crumble, cotton candy sprinkles, candy sea glass, and fog; and Gimme S’more, served upside down with fudge sauce, graham crackers, toasted meringue, and fog.

Executive Pastry Chef Cori Osborne developed Fog’s playful menu. Chef Cori has 10+ years of experience in some of Canada’s top restaurants, and oversees pastry and dessert programs at Drift and Café Lunette.

Visit TheFogCompany.com for menus and hours, or follow @thefogcompany on Instagram.

On The Coast

SPONSORED BY URBAN CAPITAL

From something old comes something new

To one of Halifax’s oldest streets comes a residential development that tips its hat to everything, past and future, about its storied neighbourhood.

Introducing Navy Lane, on the historic and eclectic Gottingen Street. Being the fourth of Urban Capital’s residential condominiums in Halifax, all of which fit into their neighbourhoods through design and intent to become part of the broader community.

Visit NavyLaneCondos.com to find out more.

In other news

🧱 The architecture firm MacKay-Lyons Sweetapple Architects, led by the architect behind the Queen’s Marque and other Nova Scotia staples, has signed a contract with Lunenburg for a new development. However, locals aren’t convinced.

🥕 After a stressful few weeks, the Tantallon Village Farmers Market has opened for the season.

💵 The Province is investing $2 million into upgrading recreational facilities across Nova Scotia to help increase community involvement.

❤️ Volunteers have been hard at work searching through the leftover debris from the wildfires in hopes of recovering personal items belonging to families who lost their homes.

🧑‍🚒 Nova Scotia’s Natural Resources Minister, Tory Rushton, is considering the option of creating a reserve team to help tackle wildfires in the future.

🚨 A youth has been charged after assaulting a Halifax Transit bus driver on Monday.

MUSIC

Halifax band Mama’s Broke plays first hometown shows since NPR Tiny Desk appearance

Mama’s Broke has made a left turn onto the main highway—or rather, more of us than ever are basking in the glow of the band’s tail lights, as the duo was an out-of-left field nominee in the 2023 Junos Traditional Roots Album of the Year category (the mainstream music award doesn’t often list indie acts, or East Coast ones, and this band is both). Arguably more impressively, they also performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk series in March.

Now, the act is playing two hometown shows—none that’ll feel like an Ed Sullivan appearance, but ones that are exciting all the same: Their first stopovers here since the Juno nominee and Tiny Desk appearance.

You can see them supporting their most recent album, the ancient-influenced yet modern-minded Narrow Line, at Full Circle Festival on Saturday, June 17 at 8pm in Newport.

Arts Editor Morgan Mullin catches up with the band at The Coast. 

🗓 Things to do: Father’s Day planner

Looking for something to do for Father’s Day? Check out these Coast picks:

Saturday, June 17

• Peacock Wine Bar: New Halifax restaurant, Peacock, is offering a special family-style menu in honour of Father’s Day. Check out its website for more details about its offerings | June 17 & 18 | $80-$160.

• Maud Lewis Paint Night: If you’re looking for an artsy way to spend Father’s Day weekend the AGNS is hosting an adult paint night. Create your next masterpiece while sipping on some pints. All materials are included | 7pm -9:30pm.

• The Supernova Market: Shop from artisans, small businesses and non-profits this Saturday at the 4th annual Supernova Market happening on the waterfront | 1pm-6pm | Free admission.

• HFX Wanderer’s vs Cavalry FC: Catch a soccer match at the Wanderer’s Grounds as the HFX Wanderer’s take on Calgary’s Cavalry FC | 3pm | $19-$39.

Sunday, June 18

• Antique Car Show: Stop by the annual Father’s Day Antique Car Show at the Memory Lane Heritage Village. There will be food, raffles and a Dad to Kub Kar race | 10am-3pm | Free-$7.

• Café Lunette: Halifax hotspot Café Lunette is offering a Parisian-style brunch this Father’s Day—or dinner if you’re more of an evening person | 9am-3pm | 5pm-10pm.

• Father’s Day Patio Concert: If you’re up for a day trip catch the Nova Scotia Swing Band performing a special Father’s Day concert at the Wolfville library | 2pm-3pm | Free.

• Cheese, Wine & Father’s Day: For a more sophisticated afternoon, join Planters Ridge Winery’s special Father’s Day tasting event—sip on wine and snack on cheese with your loved ones | 1pm-2:30pm | $50.

Find more Halifax events in The Coast listings.