Congratulations to Lorne Doerkson on being elected as the next Premier of British Columbia. This is a critical time for our country. I look forward to working with Premier Doerkson to break down barriers to trade between provinces, develop our natural resources, strengthen Canada's self-reliance, and create good-paying jobs.

On HMCS Kootenay Day, we stop to remember the nine brave crew members who lost their lives and the 53 injured in 1969. The heroics of the crew saved lives and kept their ship afloat during the worst peacetime tragedy in Canadian Navy history. Today, we honour those lost, the survivors, and their families.

Canada is stronger with Alberta as part of it, and last night’s results show the overwhelming majority of Albertans agree with this. Many Nova Scotians have strong ties to Alberta, either having worked there or with friends and family going to their province to help build up their industry. Here in Nova Scotia, we’ll keep doing our part to develop our own natural resources, create opportunities, and contribute to a stronger Canada.

Wind West, Nova Scotia's major offshore wind project, just took a big step forward this morning. By working together with our federal partners, we secured $100 million to advance offshore wind energy. This major milestone brings us one step closer to making our province a global clean energy powerhouse moving Nova Scotia from the end of the energy line to the starting point. Thank you to Minister Hodgson for joining us for this announcement today. Unlocking our world-class wind will attract billions in private investment, build a stronger economy, and create thousands of good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians. We are building our economy to power Canada and protect our future. Learn more: news.novascotia.ca/en/2026/1…

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day in Nova Scotia. To every family who has experienced the heartbreak of losing a pregnancy or baby: you are not alone. Today, we remember the little lives lost and stand with the families who carry their memory every day. In 2017, I introduced legislation to officially recognize this day, and I remain grateful that all members of the Legislature came together in support. To every family grieving a loss, please know that you and your loved ones are not forgotten.

When we create the right conditions, opportunity grows. By unlocking our natural resources safely and responsibly, we are creating good-paying jobs right here at home. That means more revenue for the healthcare and public services families count on. It means better paycheques to help with the cost of living. Most importantly, it means Nova Scotians can raise their families right here, without having to leave to find work.

Power bills are too high in Nova Scotia. I know it. You know it. And I’ve been determined to do everything we can to bring them down. There is no single solution, which is why our plan is tackling the problem from every possible angle. We stepped in to protect Nova Scotians from a major fuel cost increase in 2024, reducing an immediate rate increase from an estimated 7% to approximately 1.1%. We are bringing more competition to the electricity market. Renewall Energy’s planned Mersey River project is expected to give more than 50,000 Nova Scotia households the opportunity to buy electricity from a company other than Nova Scotia Power. More competition means more choice and the potential for better prices. We are investing in wind energy, solar power, and battery storage to reduce costs over time. We are expanding energy efficiency programs to help more families use less electricity and save money. We are exploring whether we can produce our own natural gas instead of relying entirely on expensive imports. We are working with our Maritime neighbours to find ways to share resources, avoid unnecessary costs and make our electricity systems more efficient. And we are asking the independent Energy Board to examine whether we can change the rules governing Nova Scotia Power to hold the company more accountable for controlling costs, reducing outages, restoring power faster and delivering better service to Nova Scotians. This is all part of a plan to make energy more affordable here in Nova Scotia. Today, we are taking another step. The independent Energy Board has identified another potential way to save Nova Scotians money. It is called “securitization.” The name sounds complicated, but the idea is pretty simple. It could allow certain electricity costs to be financed at lower interest rates (remortgaged), potentially saving ratepayers money. The Board believes it is worth exploring. I agree. But before anything happens, we need to know whether it will actually benefit Nova Scotians and save them money. So today, I agreed to give the independent Energy Board the authority and space to examine it fully and properly, look at all the facts and determine whether it is in the best interests of ratepayers. No politics. No predetermined outcome. Just one question: Will it help the people paying the power bills? If there is a responsible way to save Nova Scotians money, I want it examined. We have made progress. But power bills are still too high, and I am not satisfied. We are going to keep pushing on every front, challenging the old ways of doing things and looking for every opportunity to make electricity more affordable. I’ve taken action over the past number of years to lower taxes, bringing us more in line with the rest of the country. It’s all been part of a plan to keep more money in your pocket. Taking action to stabilize and lower power rates is part of that plan. We’ll keep working to make it happen.