Nova Scotia’s capital budget tops $2.35 billion, largest spending in province’s history

Nova Scotia’s capital budget tips the scales at $2.35 billion.

Nova Scotia Finance Minister John Lohr introduced a $2.35 billion capital plan that will see major spending on new health-care infrastructure, public housing, schools, roadways and highways.

The plan marks a record in spending, almost $725 million more than the $1.6 billion capital plan that was tabled last year. This is primarily because of spending on health-care facilities like the new Halifax Infirmary expansion project and the Halifax Harbour Bridges improvement project.

“Moving our province forward requires a new mindset,” said Lohr. “These investments will support Nova Scotians and unlock opportunities to grow the economy.”

The capital spending is broken down into six categories:

- $1.7 billion on buildings and land

- $518.6 million for highways and structures

- $480.3 million for capital grants

- $90.2 million for information infrastructure

- $45 million in contingency spending

- $41.8 million for vehicles and equipment

A major portion of the capital budget includes significant spending on health care:

- $750.9 million for the Halifax Infirmary expansion project and Cape Breton Regional Municipality health-care redevelopment project

- $139.9 million for construction of other hospitals and medical facilities

- $90.9 million for the digitalization of medical records as part of the “One Person One Record” project

- $42 million for Nova Scotia Health to repair and replace medical facilities

The plan also includes $47.4 million in spending for new public housing which the government says is the first new funding for public housing in 20 years. Of that spending, $10.6 million will go towards 242 new units with the bulk of the money – $31.6 million – going to modernizing and repairing existing buildings.

“I would say that you simply need to look at the waitlist for public housing to know why we are building more public housing,” said Lohr.

Tenants living in public housing don’t pay more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. Opposition leaders were encouraged by the province’s push to increase the public housing supply.

“This is acknowledging begrudgingly how many people are in core housing need and that they actually have to do something about it,” said NDP Leader Claudia Chender. “But the fact that we haven’t seen anything around actually creating sustainable long-term housing that people can afford in non-market sectors continues to be a concern of ours.”

As for education, $210 million is needed to build and renovate schools, which includes three schools set to open in the next year and two new schools – one in Bedford and another in Dartmouth – that were announced Wednesday.

Other spending includes $85.9 million on the Harbour Bridges improvement projects and $191 million in highway construction and development.

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