{"id":64131,"date":"2026-04-30T12:18:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:18:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/?p=64131"},"modified":"2026-04-30T12:18:40","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T15:18:40","slug":"budget-cuts-mean-job-loses-program-cuts-for-african-nova-scotian-communities-ns-ndp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/?p=64131","title":{"rendered":"Budget cuts mean job loses, program cuts for African Nova Scotian communities: NS NDP"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56501\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56501 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Mini Header 1\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56501\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56501\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-63456 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2026-03-30 13:24:56\" data-filename=\"Mini-Header_Amy-Seymour200x600.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.royallepage.ca\/en\/agent\/nova-scotia\/enfield\/amy-seymour\/56178\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Mini-Header_Amy-Seymour200x600.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56501 slide-63456 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Mini Header_Amy Seymour200x600\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-61393 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-12-31 14:34:23\" data-filename=\"Banner-Ad-Lightworks-2-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightworksbookkeeping.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banner-Ad-Lightworks-2-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56501 slide-61393 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Banner Ad Lightworks 2\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56502 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 03:55:38\" data-filename=\"Laker-Ad-2025-600-x-200-px.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.barracudamechanical.com\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Laker-Ad-2025-600-x-200-px.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56501 slide-56502 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Laker Ad 2025 (600 x 200 px)\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HALIFAX:<\/strong> Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender urged the Houston government to meet with communities affected by their budget and reconsider the cuts made this spring that disproportionately affect already underserved communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The PC government\u2019s budget cut hundreds of millions in funding to tourism, education, arts and culture, African Nova Scotian Affairs, L\u2019nu Affairs, and jobs in communities across the province.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve heard a lot about the Houston government\u2019s cruel budget cuts in recent weeks. But it\u2019s only now that we\u2019re fully learning about the real impact. The government\u2019s cruel cuts have disproportionately targeted communities that are already underserved,\u201d said Chender. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOrganizations like LOVE do important work that help all Nova Scotians lead fulfilling lives in the province we love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The Houston government clearly didn\u2019t put much thinking into what they were cutting. They certainly didn\u2019t consult the organizations and the communities that are being impacted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;As the dust settles, it\u2019s even more clear that these decisions were made behind closed doors without understanding, or considering, the impact on the ground.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>ADVERTISEMENT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56530\" style=\"max-width: 600px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56530 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"In Story Ad 2\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"600\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56530\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56530\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-62340 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2026-02-12 23:09:57\" data-filename=\"Eye-Exams-e1770937786634.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sackvilleoptometry.com\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Eye-Exams-e1770937786634.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56530 slide-62340 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Eye Exams\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56531 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-06 10:52:27\" data-filename=\"BLONDE_780x250-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninelocksbrewing.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/BLONDE_780x250-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56530 slide-56531 msDefaultImage\" title=\"BLONDE_780x250\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-60758 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-12-02 17:37:33\" data-filename=\"The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578-1-e1769907115378-600x200.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thelaker.ca\" target=\"_self\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578-1-e1769907115378-600x200.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"600\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56530 slide-60758 msDefaultImage\" title=\"The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Chender was joined by NSNDP African Nova Scotian Affairs Critic Suzy Hansen and representatives from LOVE Nova Scotia, which works with youth in North Preston. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They lost $317,500 in funding and have had to lay off some workers and cut programming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;This has been a devastating time for us and for the youth in North Preston who rely on these supports. These cuts were not well thought out and we\u2019ve heard no good explanation about why this government is targeting a program that\u2019s made a real difference in young people\u2019s lives,&#8221; said Dennis Adams, executive director of LOVE Nova Scotia. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Black-led organizations like ours are doing the work and delivering results. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;We should be supported to keep growing that work, and we shouldn\u2019t have to fight just to keep our funding.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56179\" style=\"max-width: 500px; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56179 ml-slider ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden nav-hidden nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Biz Card\" data-height=\"200\" data-width=\"500\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56179\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56179\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: block; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56181 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 15:55:00\" data-filename=\"FR-Guardian-Biz-card-with-phone-300-x-200-1-1000x400.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.guardian-ida-remedysrx.ca\/en\/nova-scotia\/fall-river\/fall-river-guardian-7001327?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=maps&amp;utm_campaign=local_presence\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/FR-Guardian-Biz-card-with-phone-300-x-200-1-1000x400.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56181 msDefaultImage\" title=\"FR-Guardian-Biz-card-with-phone-300-x-200\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56187 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 16:03:34\" data-filename=\"Cathy-ad-Laker-1000x400.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-1\/deputy-mayor-cathy-deagle-gammon\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Cathy-ad-Laker-1000x400.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56187 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Cathy-ad-Laker\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56184 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 15:59:09\" data-filename=\"Fourth-lock-biz-card-300-by-200-1000x400.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefourthlock.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Fourth-lock-biz-card-300-by-200-1000x400.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56184 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Fourth-lock-biz-card-300-by-200\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56180 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 15:53:39\" data-filename=\"Maritime-Car-Wash-Biz-Card-300-x-200-1000x400.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maritimecarwash.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Maritime-Car-Wash-Biz-Card-300-x-200-1000x400.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56180 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Maritime-Car-Wash-Biz-Card-300-x-200\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56190 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 16:16:30\" data-filename=\"Billy-councillor-ad-1000x400.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.halifax.ca\/city-hall\/districts-councillors\/district-15\/councillor-billy-gillis\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Billy-councillor-ad-1000x400.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56190 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Billy-councillor-ad\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56183 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 15:57:24\" data-filename=\"KW-Realty-Biz-card-300-x-200-1000x400.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/jerryandannettemurphy.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/KW-Realty-Biz-card-300-x-200-1000x400.png\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56183 msDefaultImage\" title=\"KW-Realty-Biz-card-300-x-200\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56185 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 16:00:31\" data-filename=\"Fall-River-Health-biz-card-1000x400.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fallriverhealth.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Fall-River-Health-biz-card-1000x400.jpg\" height=\"200\" width=\"500\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56179 slide-56185 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Fall-River-Health-biz-card\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"alignnormal\"><div id=\"metaslider-id-56191\" style=\"width: 100%; margin: 0 auto;\" class=\"ml-slider-3-108-0 metaslider metaslider-flex metaslider-56191 ml-slider has-carousel-mode ms-theme-default-base nav-hidden nav-hidden nav-hidden nav-hidden\" role=\"region\" aria-label=\"Banner Slideshow\" data-height=\"289\" data-width=\"718\">\n    <div id=\"metaslider_container_56191\">\n        <div id=\"metaslider_56191\">\n            <ul class='slides'>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56195 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:05:09\" data-filename=\"steve-mac-new-ad-laker-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefinancialengineer.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/steve-mac-new-ad-laker-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56195 msDefaultImage\" title=\"steve-mac-new-ad-laker\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56194 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:04:44\" data-filename=\"BLONDE_780x250-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninelocksbrewing.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/BLONDE_780x250-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56194 msDefaultImage\" title=\"BLONDE_780x250\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-60460 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-11-21 22:47:45\" data-filename=\"Banner-ad-fixed-Laker-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dowandduggan.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"Dow and Duggan\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Banner-ad-fixed-Laker-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-60460 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Dow and Duggan Banner ad\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56773 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-11 11:44:17\" data-filename=\"The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thelaker.ca\/contact\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/The-laker-ad-Banner-advertize-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56773 msDefaultImage\" title=\"The laker ad Banner advertize\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-57365 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-07-30 20:19:19\" data-filename=\"Mini-Header_Amy-Seymour200x600-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/royallepageatlantic.com\/contact-us\/agent-profile\/amy-seymour\/12487\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Mini-Header_Amy-Seymour200x600-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-57365 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Mini Header_Amy Seymour200x600\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56202 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:08:39\" data-filename=\"GNS-cruiser-ad-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gnsequipmentrentals.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GNS-cruiser-ad-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56202 msDefaultImage\" title=\"GNS-cruiser-ad\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-63327 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2026-03-25 08:57:02\" data-filename=\"opendoor-Laker-ad-2_780x250-Main-Pg-1436x578.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/opendoor.construction\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/opendoor-Laker-ad-2_780x250-Main-Pg-1436x578.png\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-63327 msDefaultImage\" title=\"opendoor-Laker-ad-2_780x250-Main-Pg\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-60461 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-11-21 22:48:49\" data-filename=\"Senior-Penguins-Laker-News-Ad-1436x578.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=61576976667957\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"East Hants Senior Penguins\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Senior-Penguins-Laker-News-Ad-1436x578.png\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-60461 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Senior Penguins Laker News Ad\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-61939 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2026-01-27 03:44:29\" data-filename=\"Banner-Ad-Lightworks-2-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lightworksbookkeeping.ca\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Banner-Ad-Lightworks-2-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-61939 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Banner Ad Lightworks 2\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56198 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:06:40\" data-filename=\"Laker-Ad-2025-600-x-200-px-1436x578.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/barracudamechanical.com\/category\/your-home-heating\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Laker-Ad-2025-600-x-200-px-1436x578.png\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56198 msDefaultImage\" title=\"Laker Ad 2025 (600 x 200 px)\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56201 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:08:21\" data-filename=\"fr-animal-hospital-1-1436x578.png\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/fallriveranimalhospital.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/fr-animal-hospital-1-1436x578.png\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56201 msDefaultImage\" title=\"fr animal hospital 1\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56196 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:05:28\" data-filename=\"The-McCooeye-Group-Laker-News-Ad-February-2026-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/themccooeyegroup.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/The-McCooeye-Group-Laker-News-Ad-February-2026-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56196 msDefaultImage\" title=\"The McCooeye Group - Laker News Ad - February 2026\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n                <li style=\"display: none; width: 100%;\" class=\"slide-56193 ms-image \" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" data-date=\"2025-06-26 18:03:34\" data-filename=\"ckg-local-choice-ad-1436x578.jpg\" data-slide-type=\"image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ckggroup.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"View Slide Details\" class=\"metaslider_image_link\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/ckg-local-choice-ad-1436x578.jpg\" height=\"289\" width=\"718\" alt=\"\" class=\"slider-56191 slide-56193 msDefaultImage\" title=\"ckg-local-choice-ad\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>HALIFAX: Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender urged the Houston government to meet with communities affected by their budget and reconsider the cuts made this spring that disproportionately affect already underserved communities. The PC government\u2019s budget cut hundreds of millions in funding to tourism, education, arts and culture, African Nova Scotian Affairs, L\u2019nu Affairs, and jobs [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[957],"tags":[4584,10893,9749,3124,1378,2517],"class_list":["post-64131","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-african-nova-scotia","tag-black-led-communities","tag-budget-cuts","tag-claudia-chender","tag-n-s-ndp","tag-premier-tim-houston"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64131","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=64131"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64131\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/35774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=64131"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=64131"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/staging-z.thelaker.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=64131"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}