CITYnews halifax: Premier touring across the province speaking about issues with businesses

CITYnews halifax / By Natasha O’Neill

Tim Houston is touring across Nova Scotia, stopping in several communities over the next few weeks, to speak with residents about challenges and opportunities.

“There is so much opportunity in Nova Scotia, and I’m extremely optimistic about the future,” he said in a release. “Yes, Nova Scotia is in a difficult fiscal position with a $1.24-billion deficit, and we still need to make major investments in affordability, healthcare, long-term care and education. But the good news is we have tremendous opportunities ahead in defence, wind, energy and local businesses who are ready to take the world stage.”

Houston will be speaking at chamber of commerces in:

• July 15 – Annapolis Valley
• July 16 – Yarmouth and Area
• July 28 – Bridgewater and Area
• July 29 – Pictou County
• Aug. 4 – Truro and Colchester
• Aug. 12: Strait Area
• Aug. 13 – Cape Breton Regional

He’s set to speak to Nova Scotia business owners, addressing his plans for the future.

$1.2 billion deficit

Finance Minister John Lohr projects that the deficit for the 2026-27 fiscal year will be slightly smaller than the $1.25-billion deficit the province will end the current fiscal year with.

“We’ve had to make some tough decisions. We started by looking inward,” Lohr told reporters before tabling the budget.

The minister told reporters the $18.9-billion budget is focused on building the economy, while “protecting the core services Nova Scotians rely on.”

The province’s population growth is expected to slow considerably over the next two years, according to the budget documents, and the government projects that its economic growth will be 1.5 per cent in 2026, down from 1.8 per cent in 2025.

Lohr’s budget makes five per cent cuts to the civil service every year for four years, which he said will save $95 million by the fourth year. It also includes three per cent cuts over the same period for the broader public service, which includes those in the health-care and education sectors and Crown corporation staff.

Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press