Budget 2019-20 Invests in Cape Breton

Communities in Cape Breton will benefit from investments in health care, education, communities and the economy as part of Budget 2019-20.

Budget 2019-20, the government’s fourth consecutive balanced budget, estimates a surplus of $33.6 million with revenue of $11.01 billion and expenses, after consolidation adjustments, of $10.98 billion. It also projects balanced budgets in each of the following three years.

“This budget builds on our strong fiscal foundation,” said Karen Casey, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board. “Managing our finances well and balancing budgets has given us the ability to invest in new and existing programs and services for Nova Scotians, in areas most important to them.”

Highlights in Budget 2019-20 for Cape Breton include:

• investing in the CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment project with expanded emergency departments at Cape Breton Regional Hospital and Glace Bay Hospital, an improved cancer care centre and a new enhanced critical care ward
• $465,000 new funding to support the Cape Breton Community Housing Association to manage a new emergency homeless shelter for men and women in Sydney
• major construction on the Cabot Trail at Trunk 30
• funding to continue revitalizing the province’s tourism icons, including the Cabot Trail
• completing renovations to Ferrisview Elementary School in North Sydney
• design work for the new Glace Bay Area Elementary School

Cape Breton will also benefit from provincewide investments including:

• $10 million increase to further develop collaborative care teams to make it easier for Nova Scotians to see a doctor or other primary care clinicians
• $2.9 million increase to open 15 residency spaces for specialty medical positions at Dalhousie University Medical School for a total of 65 seats
• $1.1 million continued funding to open 10 family practice residency seats at Dalhousie University Medical School this year for a total of 46 seats
• $10.2 million increase to expand pre-primary classes. By September 2020 every four-year old in Nova Scotia will have access to a free early learning opportunity
• $15 million increase, for a two-year total of $30 million, to continue implementing recommendations from the Commission on Inclusive Education
• $500,000 increase for incubators and accelerators that support startup companies, for a total of $1.5 million
• $620,000 increase to support growing immigration

For more information about the 2019-20 provincial budget, visit http://www.novascotia.ca/budget .