A message from Premier Tim Houston:
Two weeks ago, our government introduced Nova Scotia’s annual budget. It was a plan that tried to be honest about the financial pressures facing our province and what we believed we could responsibly afford.
Since then, Nova Scotians have spoken clearly. Many people reached out to share concerns about parts of the budget. I want to say this plainly: on some of those decisions, we got it wrong. And for that, I am sorry.
The Legislature is still reviewing the budget, which means we have the opportunity to make adjustments before it is finalized. After listening to Nova Scotians and to members of our caucus who travelled across the province and brought forward real examples from their communities, we will restore funding in three key areas:
- Supports and programming for people with disabilities
- Supports and programming for seniors
- Support for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students pursuing higher education
In the coming days, the Minister of Finance will bring forward revised estimates to restore approximately $53.6 million in funding for these programs.
When we reviewed the impacts, it was clear that these supports make a real difference in people’s lives. Programs that help seniors remain supported, assist people with disabilities, and open the door to advanced education for students are priorities for Nova Scotians. Restoring this funding ensures services like Assisted Care, meals, and essential supports remain available, while also protecting opportunities for students who are working to build their future through education.
These changes will increase the deficit in the short term. But Nova Scotians made it clear that even as we deal with serious financial challenges, we must protect the services people rely on the most. I agree with that.
There are other organizations that will be disappointed these adjustments are focused on a few key areas. I want to speak directly to the arts community.
Art and culture are a big part of what makes Nova Scotia special. They remind us who we are and why we love this province. They also help attract people to live, work, and visit here.
The budget still includes $66 million in funding for the arts and culture sector, and that support remains in place. For perspective, that number was $51.5 million in 2021. Under our government we have been able to increase support, and I hope that upward path can continue in the future.
That said, I wish we could do more today. I truly do.
But the bigger challenge facing Nova Scotia is clear: if we want to sustain the services people depend on, we must grow our economy.
That work is ahead of us. The good news is that real opportunities exist. Nova Scotia has potential in natural resources, in defence industries, and in the companies already choosing to build their future here.
My responsibility is to help make sure we realize those opportunities. Because when our economy grows, we can strengthen services, support communities, and do more for Nova Scotians.
Today’s changes mean the deficit will be larger in the short term. That is a risk we are taking to protect some of the most vulnerable people in our province.
Listening to Nova Scotians matters. And when we get something wrong, it’s important that we say so, fix it, and keep moving forward together.