Geoff Regan

The situation we’re in right now is very serious. Public health capacity has been exceeded and we need to get things back under control. We need everyone to follow the public health measures like people’s lives depend on it because they do.

Happy to share the news that another ramp up in vaccine deliveries is underway. Canada will receive 2 million doses a week from Pfizer alone! More than 16.8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to the provinces & territories.

Canada has delivered more than 10.5M COVID-19 vaccine doses to the provinces and territories. These numbers will only keep going up as Canada continues to receive more shipments. Nova Scotia is on track to provide first doses to all residents who wish to get the vaccine by the end of June, with second doses complete for all Canadians by the end of September. Government of Canada immunization info: https://www.canada.ca//coronavirus-disease-c/vaccines.html... Nova Scotia immunization info: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/vaccine/

May is MS Awareness Month, please show your support for thousands of Canadians in the MS community and #TakeActionForMS by joining the Virtual Carnation Pinning: https://secure3.convio.net/mssoc/site/SPageServer/

A friendly reminder that Canada Summer Jobs is up & running! #CanadaSummerJobs offers new job opportunities for youth, ages 1530 with a record breaking 150,000 jobs already posted! Apply today https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/youth

This weekend, we celebrate Easter and mark the end of Passover! While this year’s celebrations remain different than usual, we’ll continue to connect safely with loved ones to mark the occasion. I wish you a healthy, and happy holiday.

Thanks to the Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science (CSMLS) for the thoughtful discussion this morning regarding the challenges facing Canadians living with MS. Thank you for all the important work you do!

I would like to thank my constituents in Halifax West for their tremendous support during my lengthy political journey. We've shared many great moments and milestones - and the odd setback - and in the process made our community the most vibrant and diverse in the country. After giving my future a lot of thought, I have decided I will not seek re-election when Canadians next go to the polls.... I will continue to serve as your Member of Parliament until that election is called. This last year has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone, but we can see a bright horizon ahead. After nearly 24 years of public service, I believe it is the right time for me to step aside. I am proud to have served as your representative in Ottawa and deeply honoured by the trust you have placed in me throughout the years. I look forward to exploring new ways to make meaningful contributions and I’m excited about what the next chapter will bring.

Starting today, May 3, people aged 50 and older can book appointments for Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines at clinics across the province. All community clin...ics and many participating pharmacies have available appointments for this age group. Nova Scotia’s first COVID-19 vaccination drive-thru clinic will open on Monday, May 10, at the Dartmouth General Hospital. This clinic will be for people 50 and older. Appointments will be posted Tuesday, May 4. COVID-19 vaccination appointments must be made online at https://www.novascotia.ca/vaccination or by phone at 1-833-797-7772.

Combined government funding will support our growing school population in Halifax West by adding over 50 new modular learning spaces + washrooms! Park West Elementary, Grosvenor-Wentworth Park Elementary, Fairview Heights Elementary, Clayton Park Junior High and Basinview Drive Community School will receive these additions. https://www.newswire.ca//canada-and-nova-scotia-invest-in-

Live Announcement from Park West School: Canada and Nova Scotia invest in Halifax schools to respond to the impacts of COVID-19

Thanks to funding through the federal government’s Rapid Housing Initiative, Adsum for Women & Children will construct 25 affordable, sustainable homes in Lakeside for women + families + gender-expansive folks experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. It’s great to see these federal funds going toward housing right here in Halifax West, in what is also such a fitting tribute to health and housing advocate, Patti Melanson.

Happy Lunar New Year to all who are celebrating. May this Year of the Golden Ox be year filled with hope, and plenty of brighter days ahead. I wish you all great happiness and prosperity in 2021 - Gong hei fat choy / gong xi fa cai!

I encourage everyone to take in these free cultural performances for Black History Month, presented by the Africa Festival of Arts and Culture Society. Visit the AFACS website to register: http://www.afacs.org/black-history-month-activities/

Major news for the future of public transit in Halifax, and across the country. The federal government is investing nearly $15B in public transit projects over the next 8 years, including a Permanent Public Transit Fund of $3B each year, starting in 2026. This will help cities and towns plan and build major public transit projects to better connect us. It will help to electrify fleets with zero-emission vehicles, create more walkways and paths for cycling, and help more rural areas deliver projects to meet their mobility challenges.

Funding Opportunity Please share with local organizations! The Healthy Communities Initiative will provide funding to non-profit groups, Indigenous communities and local governments for projects, programming and services that help communities create safe and vibrant public spaces, ... improve mobility options, and provide innovative digital solutions to connect people and improve health. How to apply: https://communityfoundations.ca/initiatives/chci/

On Friday, a new daily national record of COVID-19 cases was announced and 83 more Canadians were lost to the virus. While we are still experiencing relatively low case numbers in Nova Scotia and in the Atlantic Bubble, we must remain vigilant, particularly with the recent rise in cases. As the government recommends, let’s wear a mask with two or three layers, wash hands regularly, physically distance from others, and download the free COVID Alert App. We must remember that we are still amid a pandemic, and we cannot let our guard down now: canada.ca/coronavirus + novascotia.ca/coronavirus

The Government of Canada announced a top-up for the Workforce Development Agreement (WDA) with the province. This additional funding will help underrepresented groups and those in sectors that have been hardest hit by the #COVID19 pandemic by supporting training, financial assistance and benefits, employment counselling and services, and job opportunities. News release: https://pm.gc.ca//helping-canadians-develop-skills-they-ne

I was honoured to place a wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada today at the Bedford Cenotaph. To our Veterans and those who serve today, thank you. And a special thanks to veteran Keith Swindells, shown with me, and all the members of Bedford Branch 95, R.C.L. We will remember.

Today, we honour all who have sacrificed for our country. Lest we forget. #CanadaRemembers

The deadline to apply for New Horizons for Seniors Program (#NHSP) funding is coming up on October 20th! Please share with any local organizations who could use this funding to improve the lives of #seniors in our community https://www.canada.ca//new-horizons-seniors-community-base

Wishing my constituents, and family, friends and colleagues across Canada, a safe and happy #Thanksgiving.

Bedford small businesses Booza Emessa Ice Cream and Grillway&Catering are OPEN as they get back on their feet after experiencing terrible acts of vandalism last weekend. Let’s show them our support! Our community is behind you, and wishes you only success in the future.

They didn’t have a typical Remembrance Day ceremony this year, but the staff and students of Bedford Academy took time this morning to recognize the sacrifices of our Veterans with a virtual ceremony. A group of students also wanted to say thank you to Veterans in another way. Students were encouraged to wear a poppy and their casual clothing last Friday for a donation to the local Royal Canadian Legion. Together, they raised $1286.00, which they presented to the Legion's Keith Swindells this morning. L-R: Teacher, Jeff Sangster; student, Vanity Obritsch; the Royal Canadian Legion's Keith Swindells; students, Valery Makogon and Brynn Nugent.

Congratulations to Halifax West constituent Katie Molnar, recipient of this year's Peter McLardie Memorial Education Bursary Award. Katie works as a Ultrasound Technologist with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, and has demonstrated values of community, mentorship and integrity, as Mr. McLardie did as he contributed extensively to the ultrasound profession in Canada. #SonographersSaveLives

As we say "thanks" this weekend for the things in life we appreciate, it is also a great opportunity to help out others who are not so fortunate. Welcome Housing & Support Services is having a backpack drive: stuff a backpack full of supplies, and they will deliver to those who need it the most in our city! Visit https://www.welcomehousing.ca/stuff-a-backpack to learn more.

Youth Invitation Joining the Halifax West Constituency Youth Council is the perfect opportunity for youth 14-26 to have a voice and discuss viewpoints on issues, learn about politics in Canada, and get involved in our community! Apply here https://forms.gle/eE7VZ2H2BoCH5EMF8 & learn more by visiting geoffregan.ca #YouthMatters #HalifaxWestCYC

It is important for families to be together, especially during a global pandemic. Canadians & permanent residents who wish to sponsor their parents & grandparents to come to Canada can submit an interest to sponsor form online from October 13 - November 3, 2020. To ensure equal opportunity, a random selection of those who submit the interest form will be invited to submit an application. The #ParentsandGrandparentsProgram is a vital part of Canada’s immigration system. Learn more: https://www.canada.ca//government-of-canada-announces-deta

In Halifax West and across Nova Scotia, we're seeing less affordable housing. The government has taken important steps to help people find an affordable home with the National Housing Strategy. Still, many Nova Scotians are concerned about paying rent. In yesterday's Question Period, I asked Hon. Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development for an update on the measures being taken to make housing more affordable.

Today marks #TreatyDay and the start of Mi’kmaq History month in #NovaScotia. This day commemorates the role of treaties in the relationship between NS Mi’kmaq and the Crown. Take time today to learn more about our shared history, and the rich culture of Mi’kmaq people: https://youtu.be/0JvtHpR7zqg https://www.halifaxpubliclibraries.ca//treaty-day-a-virtu/

Community #Funding Opportunity New Horizons for Seniors Program (#NHSP) funding applications are OPEN until Oct. 20th. Organizations are invited to apply to help fund projects that foster seniors’ social inclusion & wellbeing. Service Canada is offering virtual information sessions about this funding over the coming weeks. If you would like to participate, please send me a direct message or e-mail [email protected]. Access the NHSP application and more information here: https://www.canada.ca///programs/new-horizons-seniors.html

It’s #NationalSeniorsDay! Today, let’s show our gratitude to the seniors in our lives and celebrate our elders for everything they have done for us, our families and our communities. #ThankYou

September 30th is Orange Shirt Day. Today, Canadians wear orange to raise awareness of the tragic legacy of Residential Schools, and to honour survivors and their families. I encourage you to take time today to learn about more about this part of our past: https://www.orangeshirtday.org/about-us.html #OrangeShirtDay

Joining a Constituency Youth Council is the perfect volunteer opportunity for youth 14-26 to have a voice and discuss viewpoints on issues, learn about politics in Canada, and get involved in our community! If you, or a young person you know might be interested, apply here: https://forms.gle/eE7VZ2H2BoCH5EMF8 or at geoffregan.ca #YouthMatters #HalifaxWestCYC

In yesterday’s Speech from the Throne, the federal government outlined its key focus areas on the road to recovery: Keep Canadians safe and leave no person behind Build a better society for all while at the same time making the economy better for all... End chronic homelessness and build more affordable housing Establish new national standards for long-term care and accelerate universal pharma care Create a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system Fight climate change and invest in green technology More progress on reconciliation and fighting systemic racism Together, we will get through this as we build a stronger economy and more resilient country! Full Speech from the Throne: https://www.canada.ca//s/2020/speech-from-the-throne.html