Halifax Tenants Endure 10 Days Without Power Post-Hurricane Lee, NDP Demands Action

In the heart of Halifax, a dire situation has unfolded for tenants at 2370 Robie Street, who have been plunged into a harrowing ten-day ordeal without electricity following the wrath of Hurricane Lee. This prolonged outage has transformed daily life into a desperate struggle, prompting Nova Scotia's NDP to issue an urgent plea for immediate provincial intervention.

The apartment building, home to a vulnerable demographic including seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families with young children, has become a symbol of neglect.

Tenants describe a living nightmare where basic necessities are luxuries. Refrigerators are rendered useless, leading to widespread food spoilage and significant financial loss. The lack of heat in the encroaching autumn chill makes apartments unbearable, forcing residents to layer up or seek refuge elsewhere – an option many cannot afford.

Beyond the discomfort, the outage has severe practical implications.

Without power, cooking is impossible, and those who work remotely have lost their livelihoods due to an inability to connect to the internet or charge essential devices. The pervasive darkness also raises serious safety and security concerns, leaving residents feeling exposed and vulnerable in their own homes.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender, expressing profound alarm, brought the issue to light, directly criticizing the provincial government for its perceived inaction.

"We're talking about basic human needs here," Chender stated, emphasizing the unacceptable duration of the outage. "Ten days without power is not just an inconvenience; it's a crisis that demands an immediate, coordinated response from the province to ensure these tenants are not left behind."

The property, managed by Winnipeg-based Akman Management, has faced scrutiny alongside Nova Scotia Power.

While NS Power asserts its crews are diligently working to restore power, prioritizing critical infrastructure, the tenants at 2370 Robie Street feel forgotten. Their building's status, or perhaps its lack of perceived "criticality," has left them in an agonizing limbo.

Chender's critique extends beyond the immediate response, questioning the government's preparedness for such prolonged outages and the lack of proactive measures to support residents in the long term.

This incident, she noted, highlights a recurring pattern of vulnerability for tenants during significant weather events, underscoring the need for robust policies that protect renters.

As the days drag on, the emotional toll on the residents is palpable. Many feel abandoned and unheard, trapped in a situation that feels increasingly hopeless.

The call for accountability from both property management and utility providers grows louder, as tenants simply yearn for the return of basic services and the dignity of a safe, habitable home. The question remains: how much longer will these Halifax residents be forced to live in the dark?