• Power bills in Nova Scotia may spike as utility looks to refinance $1B in assets

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-09 15:30:07.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Energy, Finance, Affordability]

  Nova Scotia Power Inc. is applying for regulatory permission to refinance nearly $1 billion worth of assets, including coal plants scheduled for closure by 2030, through a financial scheme known as securitization. The utility states that the mechanism could impose a 2.9 per cent surcharge on residential power bills next year, contributing to a total projected rate increase of 6.8 per cent in 2027 when combined with previously approved hikes. While Nova Scotia Power maintains that lower interest rates from securitization will save customers $265 million over 30 years, Premier Tim Houston has expressed doubts regarding whether the accounting change will yield actual savings for ratepayers.

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• Narrowed rebate eligibility leaves some Nova Scotians worried about heating costs

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-01 21:16:24.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Affordability, Energy, Social Services, Finance]

  The Government of Nova Scotia has narrowed the eligibility criteria and lowered net income thresholds for the Heating Assistance Rebate Program (HARP), reducing individual caps from $55,000 to $30,000 and family caps from $70,000 to $45,000. Minister of Service Nova Scotia Jill Balser defended the changes, citing a $1.4 billion provincial deficit and a $33 million budget allocation for the program, which provides eligible households with up to $400. Advocacy groups, including the Ecology Action Centre, ACORN, and the Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, raised concerns over rising heating oil costs and high energy poverty rates, noting a 25 per cent increase in demand for emergency heating supports.

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• Minimum wage hikes set to begin across 5 provinces

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-01 12:34:05.0
  Tags: [National, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Labour, Economy, Affordability]

  Minimum wage increases ranging from 25 to 40 cents take effect in Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan, bringing their respective rates to $17.95, $17.30, $17.00, $16.40, and $15.70 per hour. Ontario has tied its adjustment directly to the rising cost of living. With these changes, Alberta maintains the lowest minimum wage in the country at $15.00 an hour, having not increased it since 2019, while Nunavut leads the country at just over $20.00 an hour following an increase at the beginning of September.

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• How Nova Scotia’s rent asks topped other provinces

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-27 12:29:42.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Housing, Affordability]

  Nova Scotia has recorded the highest average asking rents for apartments and condos among Canadian provinces for four consecutive months, with landlords' average asking price reaching $2,356 in August—a 3.1 per cent year-over-year increase—according to Rentals.ca and Urbanation. Legal advocates, real estate experts, and institutional reports attribute the soaring prices and high tenant vulnerability to a combination of Nova Scotia's five per cent rent increase cap, the lack of tenant renewal rights under fixed-term leases, high development and operating costs, and a market increasingly concentrated among corporate and institutional investors who own 38 per cent of the assessed value of rental properties in the province.

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• N.S. government tables bill to review new regulation system for Nova Scotia Power

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-09 20:24:12.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Energy, Environment, Governance, Affordability]

  The Government of Nova Scotia, led by Premier and Minister of Energy Tim Houston, tabled a bill requiring the Nova Scotia Energy Board to review the regulation system for Nova Scotia Power Inc. The proposed legislation examines implementing a performance-based regulation that would link a portion of the utility's revenues, earnings, incentives, or penalties to measurable outcomes such as reliability, emissions reduction, and customer service. The review is mandated to begin 30 days after the law takes effect, with a final report to be published publicly.

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• N.S. government changes income assistance rules to exclude people living in tents

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-08-27 12:01:07.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Housing, Social Services, Affordability, Governance]

  The Nova Scotia provincial government, acting on the recommendation of Susan Corkum-Greek, Minister of Opportunities and Social Development, introduced regulatory changes via an order-in-council to exclude unhoused individuals living in tents from receiving enhanced income assistance rates. The regulatory amendments replace the term "accommodation" with "lives in a home" and narrow the definition of "home" to self-employed units, rented spaces, lodging houses, or single-occupancy rooms. This policy change directly overturns an August 5, 2026 Nova Scotia Court of Appeal ruling in favour of the late Bradley Lowe, which had established that individuals living in tents were eligible for enhanced disability and income support. Human rights lawyer Vince Calderhead criticized the policy as forcing vulnerable individuals deeper into poverty, while the department stated the changes provide clearer administrative direction.

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