On March 25, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Finance and Treasury Board Labi Kousoulis introduced the province’s 2021 Budget “A Fair and Prosperous Future: Path to Balance” which includes a plan for restarting the economy, returning to fiscal balance, as well as a not-surprising focus on the ongoing vaccination campaign.
The Nova Scotia Government is looking ahead to a period where COVID-19 will likely not be the defining feature of policy making and the 2021 Budget is also a statement of intent by Premier Rankin on key priorities moving into a potential summer election.
This budget included four key pillars:
- An Economy Where Business Can Grow
- Modernizing Healthcare
- Environment and Climate Action
- A Connected, Affordable, Inclusive Nova Scotia
These targeted investments will support job growth and various business sectors, COVID-19 health supports, long term care and home care support, work to tackle physician and nurse shortages, and invest in hospital infrastructure. Further, investments are aimed towards a green fund and shifting towards higher energy efficiency, as well as equity and inclusion, child care, infrastructure, and social programs.
Some Highlights of Note:
An Economy Where Business Can Grow
- $1 million to continue the NSBI Digital Adoption Program that supports Nova Scotia businesses to rapidly adopt digital tools and innovations
- Setting a new target to reduce government’s regulatory burden on business by $10 million in 2021, which is in addition to the $50 million in net annual savings for business since 2017
- An additional Business Navigator at the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness
Environment and Climate Action
- $80 million this year to fight climate change and create jobs by growing the green economy through new and continued initiatives at the departments of Energy and Mines, Environment and Climate Change, and Municipal Affairs
- $26 million for new Green Fund programs to address climate change
- $16.4 million this year for green infrastructure stream projects to help reduce GHG emissions while ensuring citizens are protected from higher fuel and electricity costs
- $225,000 increase, for a total of $561,000 this year, for the Building Regional Adaptation Capacity and Expertise Program to develop climate change adaptation plans and implement actions that will enhance Nova Scotia’s resilience to climate change
- $15,000 increase in recoverable funding to the Green Jobs in Green Spaces for students – an initiative under the Canadian Heritage Rivers System program
A Connected, Affordable, Inclusive Nova Scotia
- $29.1 million this year for the third year of initiatives to provide safe, suitable, and affordable housing under the Nova Scotia Action Plan for Affordable Housing
- $7.3 million increase to housing authorities to support additional cleaning and public health compliance because of COVID-19
- $9.5 million to maintain the enhanced cleaning recommendations from Public Health to support COVID-19 safe schools
- $8 million to complete previous initiatives that support the safe reopening of schools and online learning due to COVID-19 during this school year Infrastructure in every region
$217.2 million for school capital construction projects, including major design, build, and renovation projects for schools, and for the purchase of four P-3 schools