Nova Scotia’s Premier is once again out of province to talk energy.
Tim Houston is attending onshore gas meetings in Calgary this week.
It’s his second trip during the current sitting of the Nova Scotia legislature, he was in Texas two weeks ago for an energy conference.
Last week the Premier was asked if this trip could have waited until after the house rises.
“We feel a sense of urgency to move forward. These meetings have been planned for a while. But the business of government carries on, and we fulfill our obligations there,” Houston told reporters Thursday.
He says people need to know about energy opportunities in the province.
“We’re always just pushing the awareness. We’re hoping that more people start to think about Nova Scotia when we leave than when we arrived to these meetings.”
Opposition leader Claudia Chender said the trip to Calgary isn’t urgent, and the Premier should be in the House to defend his unpopular choices.
“Nova Scotia has a wealth of natural resources that are in high demand, and it’s incredibly important that we take full advantage of them in safe and responsible ways to boost Nova Scotia’s economic and energy security,” he said.
“World events continue to demonstrate the importance of making sure Nova Scotia’s economy is more resilient and ready to play a part in Canada’s energy future by further developing our energy capacity and attracting new investments.”
The province says they are working responsibly to develop offshore resources including oil, natural gas, offshore wind and permanent carbon storage.
“Nova Scotia has attracted some of the largest oil and gas companies from around the world and hosted safe exploration and development for more than 25 years,” says the province in a news release.
Houston will return from the conference on Thursday, March 26.
Nova Scotia is walking back some of the $130 million in planned budget cuts.
They’re restoring over $53 million in three areas: disability support, seniors and funding for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students.
Premier Tim Houston says they were honest about the financial situation of the province, and admit some decisions were wrong.
“For that, I’m sorry.” said the Premier during a news conference on Tuesday.
“I never want Nova Scotians to feel that the government is working against them. We did not do enough ahead of time to explain the seriousness of the challenges we’re facing, we moved too quickly.”
He says after listening to the public outcry and concrete examples brought forward, they decided to restore some funding.
Houston says this will increase Nova Scotia’s $1.19 billion deficit, but these programs make a difference, and it was the right decision.
Arts and culture cuts not restored
The cuts to the arts, culture and tourism sector will remain.
Houston says the arts community is valued.
“Arts and culture is a big part of what makes us special. Even though the adjustments remain, I do wish we could do more today.”
A rally is planned outside Province House Tuesday, hundreds attended one last week, and several smaller rallies across the province.
Rally for arts and culture in Halifax. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /Acadia Broadcasting
Chender calls cuts ‘total mismanagement’
The leader of the NDP slammed the government on how they handled the cuts, saying it was “chaos” and “total mismanagement.”
Claudia Chender tells reporters that the situation raises questions about how the decisions were communicated and how government spending is managed.
“I think what we see is total mismanagement,” Chender says. “Again, we have ministers of departments with cuts who cannot speak to those cuts or who say one thing and then say another thing the next day.”
She also pointed to what she described as issues with oversight and budgeting practices.
“Well, I think for one thing we need to know that Nova Scotians are getting value for money,” she says.
Rally for arts and culture in Halifax. PHOTO BY NATALIE CHIASSON /Acadia Broadcasting
‘We chose Nova Scotia’
Artists employed with the Gale Force Theatre say as far as they know their funding has been completely cut.
Lily Falk works as an artist at the theatre, and she says she’s, “really devastated at the cruelty of the cuts.” As an artist who’s in a collaboration, who has a theater company that specifically moved here to this province to make work together, we chose this as our home.”
Franziska Glen says losing the program will affect youth on the Eastern Shore and in Halifax and Dartmouth.
“All of these things are going to be so deeply affected and are also affecting the people that we serve which are kids and families all across the province,” Glen explains.
Glen says some students have told her the improv group she helps run was the only reason they finished high school, and she worries losing it could also harm kids’ mental health.
