We are a family of three generations living in Colchester County, Nova Scotia. My husband is a veteran, we are both retired due to disability, and we are raising our grandson. Our son is on the autism spectrum. Our daughter lives with us to assist with tasks that we can no longer do, and help with her nephew also resides with us.

Our desire is simple - to age in place while providing suitable accommodation for all members of our family. We have been permitted by the county to redo the original house, to an accessory building in our backyard but not as a separate living dwelling. This situation has left us feeling frustrated and helpless as we navigate the bureaucracy.

This issue extends beyond just our family; it affects many others who wish to provide comfortable housing solutions for their multigenerational families within their own property boundaries. As per Statistics Canada 2016 Census data, 6.3% of Canadians live in multigenerational households - that's nearly 2.2 million people (Source: Statistics Canada).

We urge Colchester County officials to reconsider and amend bylaws prohibiting separate backyard suites for multigenerational living arrangements. This change will not only benefit families like ours but will also contribute positively towards addressing housing affordability issues prevalent across Canada.

Please sign this petition if you believe that families should be allowed more flexibility when it comes to creating homes for their loved ones within their own properties!