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Provincial Legislature wraps after nine-days of deliberation

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The Nova Scotia Legislature has finished the fall session after a brief nine-day run.

It lasted one day longer than last year’s fall session. It also follows a controversial spring sitting that sparked province-wide protests over $350 million worth of cuts, primarily to arts and culture.

The super majority PC government managed to pass four bills, each achieving unanimous consent from the opposition parties.

House leader Brendan Maguire said it was a first in his 10-years of being an MLA.

“I think that’s a big thing,” said Maguire during the end of Friday’s session. “It shows that we’re moving the province of Nova Scotia in a good direction.”

The bills passed include a review of Nova Scotia Power’s earnings model, updates to labour standards, a sweeping “service efficiency” bill and increased online protections and support for victims of deepfake sexual images.

Although the opposition parties supported the bills, both the Liberals and NDP criticized the Houston government for not going far enough, and for being behind the curve and implementing changes they suggested years ago.

“These changes should not have taken Tim Houston five years,” said opposition leader Claudia Chender. “While the government finally has finally begun to take action on these ideas, they didn’t go far enough to protect Nova Scotian workers in the middle of a tariff war.”

She said the lack of progress from the government has been “incredibly disappointing” for Nova Scotians who have been waiting for results.

In a press release from the Liberal party, interim leader Iain Rankin admonished Premier Tim Houston for his attendance during the short session.

Houston was in Toronto attending a global investment summit for multiple days of the nine-day session, pitching 20 projects including Wind West, the Melford International Terminal and Spaceport Nova Scotia. So far, no deals have been announced.

The PCs also faced criticism from both sides over the course of the legislative session about the fall economic update.

The update is due at the end of the month, and Houston has said he expects it to be released next week, but opposition members argue that it should have been ready before the session, so they could have a chance to discuss the province’s financials.

The premier dismissed the oppositions concerns.

“There’s always blanket statements, ‘government hasn’t done anything, what are they doing’,” said Houston. “No, that’s not true.”

In a press release from his party, Houston outlined reducing the overtime threshold, ensuring tips go to workers and enhanced security measures as wins for the PCs.

“Our government has made incredible investments in healthcare, housing and in communities, and we are seeing results,” said Houston. “There is more work to be done, and we will continue to support Nova Scotians and grow our economy.”

data centre: 2008

Liberals table new bill to tackle data centre costs

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Liberal leader Iain Rankin is tabling a bill he says will protect Nova Scotians from the costs of future data centres.

The Data Centre Water and Ratepayer Protection Act aims to protect ratepayers from the costs data centres could pose on both the electricity system and water resources.

“People cannot afford to pay more so massive data centres can operate,” said Rankin. “If these projects come to Nova Scotia, the companies behind must pay their own way.”

The legislation outlines an approval process data centres must go through, a cost-recovery agreement and makes companies have to pay the full cost of electricity and required infrastructure upgrades.

It also requires large data centres to conserve water or pay a mitigation charge to cover the impact of their water use.

“AI and data centres are expanding rapidly across the country,” said Rankin. “If these projects come here, we need the rules in place before the first shovel hits the ground, not after Nova Scotians are already on the hook.”

CUPE LTC Strike

Opposition leader defends calling Premier Houston a ‘liar’ after legislature walkout 

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NDP Leader Claudia Chender says the PC’s are engaged in a “smear campaign” to paint her as opposed to affordable housing.

Chender walked out of the legislature yesterday following a heated exchange with Premier Tim Houston and the speaker of the house.

She says it’s because she called the premier a liar after his comments about her being opposed to the Mount Hope housing project.

The opposition leader and the NDP have been pressing the Houston government about their affordable housing plan, and calling on them to establish a permanent rent cap.

“This week we have been focussed on bringing forward solutions on housing, in particular, housing people can actually afford,” said Chender. “We’ve given the government notice about all of our proposals. We’ve let them know, and what we’ve seen in response is really a smear campaign.”

On Wednesday the PC government sent out a press release linking to an article that featured Chender attending a protest of housing being built in Mount Hope, followed by photos of her attending the ribbon cutting ceremony.

The email had the subject line “Claudia Chender attends opening of affordable homes she protested against building”.

“Our government understands the need to build more homes,” said Eastern Passage MLA Barbara Adams in the release. “The NDP like to talk about the need for more homes, but when the time came to support building or blocking, they chose to stand against this development.”

Chender called this a lie, saying that at the time she was opposed to a number of different issues with the process, including the province overstepping its bounds with the city, cutting their own deals with developers and expediting environmental approvals.

“I went and I did a number of interviews, and in all those interviews what I said is that we need housing,” said Chender. “But we need to make sure that it’s affordable, and that it’s being built with good environmental protections.”

When Premier Houston brought the project up during the Legislature session, Chender said she called him a liar.

“I did. I did. I said that’s a lie, I didn’t say it on the microphone, I said it to the Premier, but of course, it’s a small room, the speaker heard me,” said Chender. “The premier said something that wasn’t true, and I called him out for it… Then he doubled down and said it again.”

Chender apologized and retracted her unparliamentary language at the speaker of the house’s request, but left after the second time Houston brought it up, calling him a liar again.

She later returned to legislature, and said if she needs to retract the word again she will do so, because it’s important to the people who elected her that she can be in there representing them.

Legislature

Day 3 of provincial legislature focuses on consumer protections

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Consumer protections are front and centre at Province house as the legislature enters day three.

Progressive Conservatives

Attorney General and Justice Minister Scott Armstrong introduced a bill to protect Nova Scotians safe called the Public Safety Act.

They say it will keep laws responsive to the evolving needs and public safety concerns of today’s world including better support for victims of intimate image abuse, modernizing 911 services, protecting emergency helicopter flight paths and more.

“Nova Scotians deserve to feel safe in their homes, online and in their communities,” said Armstrong. “These changes will provide stronger protections for victims, improve our ability to address serious public safety concerns and make sure our laws keep pace with new and evolving risks.” 

NDP

Leader Claudia Chender says the bill the PC’s tabled Wednesday on Nova Scotia Power was “desperately needed” but should have been done years ago.

The bill would review whether Nova Scotia Power’s earning should be tied to their performance.

Chender said the proposed bill “ties the hands” of the Energy board by saying that their recommendations must also protect the interests of Nova Scotia Power, along with the public’s.

“This Bill is a good step,” said Chender. “But the Houston government has a long way to go to make Nova Scotia Power work for the people of this province.”

Similarly, the NDP applauded the idea of further online protections for Nova Scotians, but say most of the positive changes they’ve seen from this session so far have come from ideas the NDP have championed.

Liberals

Consumer protections were the theme of both of the Liberal bills brought to the legislature on Thursday.

MLA for Lunenburg West Becky Druhan brought forth both the Click to Cancel act and the Right to Repair act.

The Click to Cancel act would require businesses to provide advance notice before subscription renewals, with clear cancellation instructions. It would also force online subscriptions to offer a straightforward “click-to-cancel” option.

Similar to a Quebecois bill passed in 2025, the Right to Repair act would mandate manufacturers to provide necessary parts and repair information, allow consumers to choose an independent repairer or repair a product themselves without voiding their warranty.

“If you bought it, you should be able to fix it,” said Druhan. “Giving Nova Scotians more repair options means lower costs, less waste and more control over the things they own.”

Interim leader Iain Rankin also provided a positive statement on the PC’s independent review of Nova Scotia Power, saying the review is “long overdue”. 

“Nova Scotians are paying more for electricity and deserve better service in return,” said Rankin. “They need a power system that is reliable, affordable and accountable.”

legislature

Provincial legislature tackles affordability on day two

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As the Nova Scotia legislature wraps on the second day of deliberation, the rising cost of living remains the focal point of all three parties.

Progressive Conservatives

Houston’s PC party is looking to review whether or not Nova Scotia Power’s earnings should be tied to their performance.

The Performance-based Regulation Act would bring in an independent reviewer to determine if performance based regulation would improve affordability, reliability and accountability in Nova Scotia’s electricity system. 

“Many Nova Scotians are feeling the pressure of higher electricity costs, but don’t feel they’re getting good value for what they pay,” said Premier Tim Houston, who is also the Minister of Energy. “As part of our work to modernize the electricity system and protect Nova Scotians, we want to examine whether changing how Nova Scotia Power earns its income will result in better service and greater accountability for Nova Scotians, our communities and a growing economy.” 

NDP

Official opposition leader Claudia Chender outlined three pieces of legislation the NDP say would help Nova Scotians tackle affordability issues like housing stability.

The Renters’ Rights Act and Affordable Homeownership for Nova Scotians Act would both look to tackle rising cost of living in Nova Scotia.

The Renters’ Rights Act aims to protect renters by tying rent increases to inflation, something the NDP say would “close the fixed-term lease loophole that the former Liberal government left in place”.

Affordable Homeownership for Nova Scotians Act is a bill that would introduce a combined land trust and shared equity program, something the party claims would reduce the cost of becoming a homeowner by up to 25 per cent. 

“Nova Scotians have been patient: they’ve given the Houston government five years to move the needle on housing, and too many people are still rightfully worried about how they’re going to keep a roof over their head or afford to stay in our province,” said Chender. “Meaningful changes are desperately needed, and it’s our hope that we can bring some solutions forward for debate that the government will sincerely consider.” 

Bradley’s Law

Bradley’s Law is named for Bradley Lowe, who passed away in 2023 while living in his tent in an encampment. Lowe had applied for enhanced income assistance and was denied, but appealed the decision until the time of his death. 

Last month, the Nova Scotia Court of Appeals ruled that tents legally count as accommodations, and that Lowe was wrongfully denied the enhanced assistance amount.

Since then, the Houston government has made changes to the program that make those living in tents ineligible for the enhanced amount, arguing that the enhanced amount is specifically meant for costs like rent, utilities and other associated costs.

Chender has called the decision “cruel”, and says Bradley’s Law would repeal those changes.

At Feed Nova Scotia, they deal directly with the impacts of food insecurity, which is typically caused by inadequate income, according to Ash Avery, the executive director.

She previously told our newsroom that they want to see income assistance increased, because it is already below the poverty line, and this court of appeal win gave them “a glimmer of hope.”

“To see that the law was then changed or the language was rewritten was disappointing because people living in tents are already experiencing one of the most extreme forms of poverty,” says Avery.

She says people living in tents are in a state of deprivation.

“Living in that form of survival takes up an enormous amount of energy just to be able to survive.”

That does not leave much opportunity to get out of that situation, she says.

Avery says she could understand some people having valid concerns about how recipients of income assistance are chosen, but taking away the increased support outright is a major blow.

Liberals

Interim leader Iain Rankin and the Liberal party brought two bills to the table, with both being focused on quality of living.

The first bill would establish a rent bank to help low and moderate income renters by providing interest-free loans of up to 36 months to help cover rent arrears, utility bills and other mandatory housing costs. 

“Every day, we hear from people in our constituency offices who would benefit from a rent bank,” said Rankin. “When housing is already this unaffordable, an unexpected expense shouldn’t be the difference between keeping a roof over your head and losing your home.”

The bill program is based on a similar program in British Columbia. 

Their second bill is the Safe Indoor Temperatures Act, requiring certain public and multi-residential buildings, like long term care facilities, to maintain temperatures of 26C or below during the summer.

It would also amend the Residential Tenancies Act to require carbon monoxide alarms and regular radon testing in rental units across the province.

With contributions from Jacob Moore

Legislature

Opposition tables uranium exploration petition with 10,000 plus signatures

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With legislature back in session for the fall sitting, opposition parties tabled a petition for the immediate reinstatement of the province’s ban on uranium exploration and mining with more than 10,000 signatures.

According to organizers, it is the largest petition in Nova Scotia history with over 80 per cent of postal codes across the province and marks the third time it’s been tabled since last October.

It calls for the government to immediately reinstate the decades-old moratorium on uranium exploration and put a legislative ban on it.

The PC’s lifted the ban in March of 2025.

Despite no companies responding to the province’s request for proposal’s last year, Sarah Trask, a homeopath from Vaughan, Nova Scotia says, “communities continue to feel vulnerable.”

“We all deserve to clean air to breathe, safe water to drink, and healthy communities in which to raise our children,” says Dr. Catherine Cervin, a retired physician and chair of the Nova Scotia chapter of Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.

“Irreversible, long-term harm can begin at the exploration stage, before any active mining, by disturbing uranium deposits releasing radioactive elements into the environment and groundwater.”

Houston has said that any projects would have to meet environmental standards.

close-up of lighted candle

Former Digby area MLA remembered for years of public service

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The former MLA for Digby–Annapolis has died at the age of 73.

Harold Theriault was first elected in 2003 and went on to spend a decade representing his constituency at the Nova Scotia Legislature.

In his obituary, family members remember him as a devoted husband, father, and friend, known for his kindness and generosity toward others.

They note that even after his time in politics ended, Theriault continued to give back to his community in whatever way he could.

According to his obituary, Theriault spent endless hours caring for the East Ferry Cemetery, which was something he took great pride in. It will now be home to his last wood-carving project, a replica of the East Ferry Baptist Church.

Legislature

Spring sitting of N.S. legislature wraps after 27 days

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The spring sitting of the Nova Scotia Legislature has wrapped.

The session ended Thursday afternoon after 27 days, it was the longest under Premier Tim Houston.

A controversial budget with millions in cuts to arts and culture programs caused protests outside and inside the House, leading to restrictions on public access.

Finance minister John Lohr says every budget contains difficult decisions.

“We are well aware that we’re nearly $1.3 billion in debt, and we still need to borrow money. We’re doing a massive infrastructure build of things that were deferred maintenance, and continuing to invest in affordability, healthcare and housing,” said Lohr.

Lohr says he doesn’t know what next year’s budget will look like.

He says the world is changing, and they’re meeting needs where they can.

Opposition say trust in Premier is low

Meanwhile, NDP leader Claudia Chender said trust in government is at an all-time low.

She criticized cuts and out of budget spending, and Premier Tim Houston for missing time in the House due to meetings in Texas and Alberta.

“By our calculations, he’s missed over 40 percent of this session. We’ve heard from Nova Scotians across this province that question what the Premier’s job is, and demanding that he come back and stand up for the decisions that he’s made,” said Chender.

Houston is currently in Calgary attending meetings on natural gas with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.

Liberal MLA Derek Mombourquette says the public engagement during the session was encouraging to see.

He says it likely helped the cause on government walking back some of the planned cuts earlier in the session.

province house

Part of Province House off-limits to public following protests

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The public is no longer able to access part of Province House in Halifax.

As tensions rise over provincial budget cuts to arts and culture, guests are not allowed on the second floor.

That’s an area where the public would normally interact with MLAs.

Protesters filled the streets outside the building on Wednesday.

House Speaker Danielle Barkhouse says the change is in place until further notice, but people are still allowed inside Province House.

“As most people know, emotions are high here in the House. Therefore, people are allowed downstairs and up in the gallery. This is the people’s House, and we don’t want to impede people entering and watching legislation being made,” said Barkhouse.

She says it’s to make sure there’s a safe environment for all MLAs at the house.

“We’ve seen what’s been happening outside, and sometimes inside. This is a way to make sure everyone feels safe so they can perform their duties.”

Barkhouse wouldn’t say if it was a specific incident that caused the change, and the decision was made after after a group discussion.

Ontario Legislature

Ford expected to focus on U.S. trade, tariff protection in fall session of legislature

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A five-month break for MPPs ends today.

As the fall session of Queen’s Park starts, the Ford government is expected to continue with its agenda it says is aimed at protecting Ontario from the impact of U.S. trade tariffs.

Legislation impacting school boards and trustees is also anticipated.

The opposition also has several proposed bills carrying over from the spring session they hope will find government support.

Meanwhille, a group of environmental advocates is renewing their call for the province to repeal the controversial bill 5.

It was passed in June and lets the government designate land as “special economic zones.” That exempts the area from certain laws to speed up development.

Several First Nations say it goes against their right to be consulted before any new builds.

CUPE Ontario, the National Farmers Union, and environmental groups will present a petition against the bill later today.

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