• Proposed remedy for workers affected by Bill 148 could cost N.S. $470 million

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-19 20:15:49.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Labour, Finance, Justice, Governance]

  The Nova Scotia government has agreed to pay an estimated $470 million in compensation to roughly 81,000 public sector employees following a court ruling on Bill 148. Introduced in December 2015 by the former Liberal government and enacted in 2017, the legislation imposed four-year wage restrictions and eliminated long-term service awards. In February, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Ann Smith ruled that Bill 148 infringed upon public servants' Charter rights, ordering a legal remedy. Nova Scotia Minister of Finance John Lohr stated that the $470 million settlement cost is reflected in the 2025–26 provincial budget, though Justice Smith must still give final sign-off on the proposed remedy.

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• Market diversification added to focus of renewed Atlantic Fisheries Fund

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-15 20:43:09.0
  Tags: [National, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Trade, Fisheries, Industry, Finance]

  The federal government and the Atlantic provincial governments are replenishing the Atlantic Fisheries Fund with more than $300 million over the next five years, funded 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially, in response to ongoing trade disputes and tariffs with the U.S. Federal Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson announced that market diversification has been added as a new funding pillar alongside innovation, infrastructure, and science partnerships to assist harvesters and processors such as Cooke Inc., the P.E.I. Fishermen’s Association, Scotia Harvest, and Icewater Seafoods in entering new international markets. Over the past nine years, the fund has previously distributed $370 million to more than 1,300 projects across Atlantic Canada.

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• Atlantic Canadian businesses can now apply for nearly $40M in AI funding

  Source: Prince Edward Island - Regional News
  Date: 2026-10-14 18:00:00.0
  Tags: [Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, National, Technology, Economy, Industry, Finance]

  The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency has launched a federal funding program offering nearly $40 million for small and medium-sized businesses pursuing large-scale artificial intelligence projects costing at least $1 million. The funding supports two primary tracks: adopting AI into internal business operations, such as proposal development tools utilized by Cabco Technologies, or developing new AI solutions to bring to market. Applications for the program remain open until November 20. The initiative aims to address a regional adoption gap highlighted by the Atlantic Economic Panel, which reported that approximately 15 per cent of Atlantic Canadian businesses with 10 or more employees use AI, compared to 20 per cent nationally.

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• Provinces call on Ottawa to expand mining credit

  Source: Global News Politics
  Date: 2026-10-10 12:17:12.0
  Tags: [National, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Taxation, Economy, Resources, Mining, Finance]

  Nearly half of Canada's provinces and territories—specifically Nova Scotia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, and Yukon—are urging the federal Liberal government to fulfill its 2025 election promise to expand the mineral exploration tax credit to include engineering and feasibility study costs. The Association for Mineral Exploration and the Nunavut and N.W.T. Chamber of Mines argue this measure is crucial to help junior mining companies navigate the late-stage 'valley of death' financing gap. An Ernst & Young report commissioned by the association indicates that covering feasibility and economic viability studies could generate between 14,000 and 34,000 jobs and add $5.2 billion to $12.2 billion in GDP over 10 years. While Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne's office highlighted recent federal initiatives such as the Productivity Mega Deduction and the Critical Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, federal expenses under the Canadian exploration expenses framework still exclude economic assessments and feasibility studies.

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• 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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• Nova Scotia’s government spent a record $1.9 billion outside of the budget process

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-24 17:50:09.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Finance, Economy, Emergency]

  The Government of Nova Scotia announced that it spent a record $1.9 billion outside of the regular budget process through additional appropriations during the 2025-26 fiscal year. Finance Minister John Lohr stated that this off-budget spending contributed to a record-high provincial deficit of $1.4 billion, driven by total spending of $19.4 billion against revenues of just under $18 billion. Specific unbudgeted expenditures cited include $40.4 million for public works projects and $13.8 million for emergency management related to the 2025 wildfire season.

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• Nova Scotia selling off remaining U.S. booze inventory, liquor profits dip

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-23 19:16:09.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Trade, Economy, Finance]

  The Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. reported a 6.8 percent decrease in net income to $62 million for the first quarter, with total sales reaching $219.4 million between April 1 and June 28. Beverage alcohol sales declined by 1.7 percent, while cannabis sales increased by 11.2 percent. The provincial government previously directed the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. to remove all U.S. alcohol from shelves in response to U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump, leading to a sell-off of an inventory valued at approximately $14 million. During the first quarter, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corp. sold more than $1.8 million in American products, leaving an estimated remaining U.S. inventory of $1.5 million as of August 17.

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• New poll: Nova Scotia government’s approval rating has recovered from recent plunge

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-16 15:43:07.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Finance, Governance]

  A new Abacus Data poll indicates that Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston's government approval rating has partially recovered to 35 per cent in August/September 2026, up from a low of 31 per cent in May following the February provincial budget that cut over $300 million in spending. Following public protests, the government previously reinstated $53 million in grant reductions primarily impacting people with disabilities, seniors, African Nova Scotians, and Indigenous students. The online survey of 600 Nova Scotians also found that voting intentions for the Progressive Conservatives remained steady at 40 per cent, while the Opposition New Democrats rose to 33 per cent and the Liberals stayed at 22 per cent.

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• N.S. premier invites the public to build and submit their own provincial budgets

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-11 17:17:45.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, Finance, Governance, Healthcare]

  Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston and Public Service Commission Minister Twila Grosse launched a new public budget consultation process allowing Nova Scotians to build and submit their own provincial budget versions via a dedicated website. The interactive tool prohibits users from raising taxes and fees, increasing the deficit, or cutting funding from the Health and Wellness Department, but permits a five per cent increase or decrease to all other departmental budgets and individual program funding. Provincial officials will host online and in-person public meetings across Nova Scotia, after which an independent committee will review submissions and present a report to the finance minister for consideration in the next fiscal plan.

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• N.B. and N.S. gaming Crown corps fined for lax money laundering reports

  Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
  Date: 2026-09-03 15:54:15.0
  Tags: [Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, National, Public Safety, Finance, Governance]

  The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (Fintrac) has fined the New Brunswick Lotteries and Gaming Corporation nearly $400,000 and the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation almost $232,000 for failing to submit suspicious transaction reports regarding potential money laundering or terrorist activity financing. Fintrac's acting director and CEO Stéphane Sirard noted that both organizations failed in their legal obligations under federal anti-money laundering frameworks. Additionally, the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation was cited for failing to develop up-to-date written compliance policies and failing to document the specific risks of money laundering or terrorist activity financing offenses.

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