2026-2027 Budget: Investments

$84.8M to expand primary care recruitment. $47.5M for more paramedics and emergency responders. $40.1M for the Multidisciplinary Oncology Partnership. $8M more for Universal Mental Health and Addictions Care. $3.2M to improve 811 access. $9.6M for digital health tools. $1.2B capital for Halifax Infirmary expansion and Cape Breton healthcare redevelopment.

$26.5M more for the Home Support Direct Funding Program. $25.9M more for Seniors’ Pharmacare (total $235.9M). $12.3M more for seniors’ attendant care. $10.2M more for home care agencies. $4.9M for specialised equipment in long-term care. $20.8M operating for 7 new LTC facilities opening this year.

Indexed tax brackets, increased basic personal amount and age amount. HST held at 14% (maintaining prior 1% cut). Continued Your Energy Rebate (electricity bills). Average family saves $1,400/year. $32.5M Heating Assistance Rebate permanently raised to $400/year. $1.6M more for Property Tax Rebate for Seniors (up to $800/year).

$96.7M for the Nova Scotia School Lunch program and $3.7M for Student Healthy Eating Program (breakfast) — every student in every school. $56.5M in student assistance (+$6.7M) for 40,000+ post-secondary students. $110.3M to build and renovate schools. $8.6M for enrolment growth.

$59.1M in new funding to transition adults with disabilities to community living as part of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy. This is a major equity investment responding to a human rights ruling, distinct from the day program funding that was cut and then restored.

$5M more to reach 10,500 active rent supplements. $46.4M for new public housing units including Shannon Park, Dartmouth. $9.6M for 75 new emergency shelter beds. New housing initiatives in Central and Southern Nova Scotia.

$476.1M for highways and structures. $120M for Halifax Harbour bridges. $33.4M for trunked mobile radio and Cellular for Nova Scotia expansion. $33.8M for cybersecurity. $4.4M for AI capability development. $110.3M for schools.

$46.3M to hold small business tax rate at 1.5% with threshold raised to $700K (saving 19,000 businesses money). $25M for Dalhousie Subsurface Energy R&D (natural gas). $3.6M for Green Hydrogen and offshore wind. $5M Innovation Rebate Program. $2.5M trade diversification. $1.6M seafood/agri-food market diversification.