Province may seek public input ahead of future budgets: Houston

CITYnews halifax / By Mark Hodgins

Nova Scotia’s Premier is suggesting there could be more engagement on next year’s provincial budget after the backlash to this year’s fiscal plan.

On Tuesday, Premier Tim Houston said his government got it wrong on some of its budget cuts, and offered an apology as he restored around $53 million in funding for disabilities and seniors supports as well as some education programs.

The premier also said the budget process had become quote clinical instead of human.

Houston told reporters, he’s planning to do a debrief on this year’s process, and says his thoughts now include the potential for some kind of tour next year.

“I’ve done, in the past, a health care tour around the province,” Houston said. “I would certainly be open to that kind of a tour, where we sit with Nova Scotians in communities and listen to them, talk to them about the challenges we face.”

Released on Feb. 23, Houston’s 2026-27 budget originally included $130 million dollars in cuts to programs and grants.

Many cuts to the arts, culture and heritage sector have not been reversed.