“We moved too quickly.” That was from Premier Tim Houston, who reversed some cuts previously announced in the provincial budget two weeks ago. The premier walked back cuts in three major areas, including restoring funding for supports and programming for people with disabilities and seniors, and African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students seeking to further their education. Houston says the budget process became more clinical than human, and he apologized for that. Tuesday’s announcement adds $53.6 million to the provincial deficit, which already sits at $1.24 billion. Arts, culture and tourism were not included in the budget walk back. Houston says the province must grow the economy and outlined opportunities in natural resources, defence, and the companies already building their future in the province.
Official Opposition Leader Claudia Chender says “This government is in chaos, and the real harm done by these cruel cuts doesn’t go away with today’s announcement, and the changes still aren’t clear."
Investigation continues into protests against cannabis storefront searches
