Nova Scotia weighs risks of online gambling as other provinces expand access

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Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-10-30 20:11:56.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Healthcare, Public Safety, Governance]

The Nova Scotia government, through Finance Minister John Lohr, is evaluating whether to expand government-regulated online gambling after seeing Ontario and Alberta open up their markets in 2022 and July respectively, currently relying solely on the Atlantic Lottery Corporation for authorized platforms. Opposition leaders, including NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin, have cautioned that the province must proceed very carefully and conduct public health risk assessments first. This comes as studies from institutions like the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health highlight significant concerns regarding online gambling harms, noting that Ontario emergency department visits for gambling disorders doubled following expansion and high school youth participation rates rose from one per cent in 2019 to nine per cent.

Patients face challenges when seeking medical care not offered in Nova Scotia: audit

Source: Nova Scotia - Halifax & Regional News
Date: 2026-09-15 16:19:33.0
Tags: [Nova Scotia, Healthcare, Governance]

Nova Scotia Auditor General Kim Adair released a report detailing systemic challenges and inefficiencies within the province's out-of-province and out-of-country medical claims program. The audit found that administrative duplication between the Nova Scotia Health Department and program administrators slowed response times for patients seeking necessary specialized treatments not offered locally, such as care for eye cancer, lymphedema, gender dysphoria, and lung transplants. The review also revealed that program information was not readily accessible to the public or physicians. Health Minister Michelle Thompson accepted the report's eight recommendations and indicated they will be implemented over the coming year.

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.