The Liberals held an affordability town hall in Yarmouth Tuesday night.

Leader Zach Churchill answered questions about cost-of-living issues during the hour-long session at Meadowfields School.

Yarmouth resident Lynette Hayward brought up the issue of homelessness in the area.

“It’s not just Halifax or Sydney. There are homeless people living in Yarmouth. There are people living in trailers that can’t afford the price of rent,” said Hayward.

Churchill noted every community struggles with homelessness, and immigration needs to be managed at a sustainable rate.

He said the Houston government is building housing, but it’s not affordable.

Other topics at the meeting included the Coastal Protection Act, more doctors for Yarmouth, and high power bills.

He noted it’s hard for rural areas to get affordable housing because of access to wastewater, and all government levels need to work together on the issue.

Churchill says Nova Scotia has become one of the most expensive places to live in Canada.

“I’m glad I heard support in the room for ideas we’ve been pushing to lower the HST, and to have more fair taxes. That’s one way government can make life more affordable for Nova Scotians,” said Churchill.

Many of the province’s Liberal MLAs were also in attendance, including former Premier Iain Rankin, Derek Mombourquette, Patricia Arab, Clare’s Ronnie LeBlanc, Ali Duale, Rafah DiCostanzo, Tony Ince and Carman Kerr.

Liberal MLA and former Premier Iain Rankin speaks at an affordability town hall in Yarmouth, hosted by the Liberals on April 23, 2024 (Acadia News)