Budget 2022-23 Provides Solutions for a Bright Future, Op-ed

NOTE: The following is an op-ed from Allan MacMaster, Minister of Finance and Treasury Board.

Nova Scotia’s future is bright. With a thriving economy and record population growth, there are tremendous opportunities ahead for our province.

This government’s first budget, Budget 2022-23: Solutions for Healthcare, Solutions for Nova Scotians, reflects our optimism for our province’s future.

We are investing in solutions to our most pressing challenges, while planning for the needs of a growing, more sustainable and prosperous province.

Nova Scotians told us that improving healthcare is their most pressing concern. We’ve responded with a historic level of nearly $5.7 billion in funding to improve healthcare for Nova Scotians.

Our need for better mental health support drives the hiring of more mental healthcare professionals, opening the province's first mental health acute day hospital at the QEII Health Sciences Centre and improving virtual mental health services.

Access to primary care will improve by making virtual care available to everyone on the Need a Family Practice Registry, training 200 more nurses per year and performing more surgeries by expanding operating room hours and opening new beds.

We’ve introduced a new rebate for Nova Scotians who are struggling to expand their families through fertility treatments and surrogacy.

Seniors will benefit as we train and attract more continuing care assistants, provide more hours for one-on-one care in long-term care homes and continue to fund a $500 Seniors Care Grant, which helps older Nova Scotians living in their own homes.

It is clear Nova Scotia is a place where people want to live, work and build a life and this budget reflects our renewed focus on growing our economy.

We want more people moving to Nova Scotia. People drive the economy, especially young people. This is why we are choosing to invest in our young people and address labour shortages by returning the provincial personal income tax paid on the first $50,000 of earnings for people under the age of 30 in eligible sectors.

This budget also makes thoughtful investments in more affordable housing, immigration and tourism that benefit the entire province.

This is a compassionate budget that helps people live more independent lives, increases access to affordable child care and inclusive education, supports families with an increase to the Nova Scotia Child Benefit, and connects those experiencing homelessness with shelter and other support services.

Budget 2022-23 reflects the promises we made to Nova Scotians and has now received approval from the House of Assembly. There’s more work to do, and we will continue to deliver solutions to Nova Scotia’s challenges.