Affordability
Fuel and transportation costs
PC's promises
"Eliminating tolls on Macdonald and MacKay Bridges to improve the flow of traffic in the HRM." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
"Removing tolls on the MacKay and Macdonald bridges is expected to cost $40 - $50 million and will be implemented by April 1, 2025." — pcpartyns.ca, retrieved 2024-11-10
"A feasibility study to build light rail for commuters that will give Nova Scotians more of the most precious asset: time. Less time in traffic, less time commuting means more time for what matters most: family and community. Rail routes to be explored will begin with Windsor to Mill Cove, Bedford and in CBRM." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Minimum wage
PC's promise
Public transit
PC's promise
"A feasibility study to build light rail for commuters that will give Nova Scotians more of the most precious asset: time. Less time in traffic, less time commuting means more time for what matters most: family and community. Rail routes to be explored will begin with Windsor to Mill Cove, Bedford and in CBRM." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Tax measures and rebates
PC's promises
Climate Change & the Environment
Oil and gas development
PC's promise
"Focus on the smart development of our energy and natural resources sectors through Nova Scotia's Clean Energy Plan, which will in turn provide more opportunities for families and result in fewer of our children going 'out west' for work. It will make Nova Scotia a world class energy producer in hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.
The construction of these two industries will provide a decade of new construction jobs, along with new high paying long-term jobs that will benefit the entire economy and Province."
— Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Public transit
PC's promise
"A feasibility study to build light rail for commuters that will give Nova Scotians more of the most precious asset: time. Less time in traffic, less time commuting means more time for what matters most: family and community. Rail routes to be explored will begin with Windsor to Mill Cove, Bedford and in CBRM." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Education
School safety
PC's promises
"Ensure the new Code of Conduct gives school administrators the power they deserve, including the power to suspend students and address problem behaviours. It will give administrators the ability to use their professional judgement to find the balance between an individual students' right to education with the broader student bodies' right to learn in a safe environment." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
"Hire two police officers to work within the Department of Education and focus exclusively on supporting school teams across the Province with security protocols, incident prevention and incident response." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Health & Healthcare
Health staffing
PC's promise
"The new internal nursing team will employ nurses out of the Nova Scotia Health Authority. A pilot program focussed on Emergency Department nurses will launch by the end of 2024. The estimate for the 30-nurse pilot travel nurse team is approximately $5.3 million. If the Province were to hire 30 private agency nurses, the cost would be $8.2 million, resulting in savings of $2.9 million under the PC plan." — pcpartyns.ca, retrieved 2024-11-10
Hospitals
PC's promise
Seniors
PC's promise
"Implement a universal (no cost) shingles program for all Nova Scotians 65 and older, giving free access to the vaccine to everyone." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Women's health
PC's promises
"Support women's health and create Canada's first Menopause Centre of Excellence." — Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
"In addition, the re-elected PC Government will also explore adding new MSI billing codes for menopause counselling to support family doctors as they in turn support women." — pcpartyns.ca, retrieved 2024-11-10
Housing & Homelessness
Home purchases and ownership
PC's promise
"A re-elected PC Government will enter into a new agreement with participating credit unions to expand this program to first-time home buyers purchasing a home up to $500,000 in value. Whereas today these prospective homebuyers must provide a 5% down payment, they would only have to pay a 2% down payment under the PC Plan. Participating credit unions would assess the applicants to ensure their income is satisfactory to support the mortgage they want, and the provincial government would provide a loan guarantee to participating credit unions for any deficiencies in the event of a default." — pcpartyns.ca, retrieved 2024-11-10
Public and affordable housing
PC's promise
Jobs, Businesses, & Labour
Minimum wage
PC's promise
Oil and gas development
PC's promise
"Focus on the smart development of our energy and natural resources sectors through Nova Scotia's Clean Energy Plan, which will in turn provide more opportunities for families and result in fewer of our children going 'out west' for work. It will make Nova Scotia a world class energy producer in hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel.
The construction of these two industries will provide a decade of new construction jobs, along with new high paying long-term jobs that will benefit the entire economy and Province."
— Make It Happen, retrieved 2024-11-10
Startups and small businesses
PC's promises
They may still in the future!
Biography
Jill grew up in Digby, Nova Scotia. She was raised by her mother, Wendy and her father, the former MLA of Digby-Annapolis and Cabinet Minister, Gordon Balser. She is the middle child and has two other sisters, Erin and Anne. Jill enjoys spending her time in Digby-Annapolis attending events, meeting people and running.
After graduating from Digby Regional High School, she received her BSc in Environmental Biology and a certificate in business administration from the University of New Brunswick, where she played varsity basketball for five years. Afterwards, she received her postgraduate diploma in Sport and Event Marketing from George Brown College.
Prior to being MLA, Jill was the Project Lead for the Inspiring Communities initiative for Turning the Tide, a non-profit organization in Digby. She also spent four years as the YREACH Immigrant Settlement Staff Member at the Fundy YMCA from 2014-2018.
Jill is an active volunteer in her community. She’s spent many years volunteering at events and participating on boards. She coached junior girls basketball at Digby Regional High School for four years and supported the junior girls golf team in the summer months, alongside her mom. Jill was the Co-Chair of the Refugee Sponsorship Group ‘Team Rima.’ She also led the first and second Multicultural Festival in the Digby Area.
Because of her love and commitment to community development, Jill became the first female MLA for Digby-Annapolis, after winning the riding during the 41st Provincial General Election.
Jill is the Minister of Labour, Skills, and Immigration, Minister responsible for the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act, Minister responsible for the Workers' Compensation Act (except Part II), and currently sits on the Treasury and Policy Board.
"I have worked hard to represent the people of Digby-Annapolis, and I will continue to, for as long as I have the privilege of doing so."