EAST HANTS/FALL RIVER: Nova Scotians will have an opportunity this fall to help shape the province’s 2027-28 budget, with a series of community and virtual sessions planned across the province.
The provincial government is inviting residents to build their own version of the budget and identify the priorities they believe should guide spending decisions.
People can submit their proposed budget online at yourbudget.novascotia.ca.
The government will also hold facilitated sessions where Nova Scotians can learn more about the budgeting process and the province’s financial position before making their recommendations.
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Community sessions
The in-person sessions will be held at the following locations:
Monday, Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m. — Dr. Carson & Marion Murray Community Centre, Springhill
Thursday, Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. — Louis Millett Community Complex, New Minas
Monday, Sept. 28, 6:30 p.m. — Rodd Grand Hotel, Yarmouth
Thursday, Oct. 1, 6:30 p.m. — Centre 200, Sydney
Monday, Oct. 5, 7 p.m. — Halifax Forum, Halifax
Thursday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m. — Eastern Shore Community Centre, Musquodoboit Harbour
Registration is encouraged for the in-person sessions, as space will be limited by venue capacity.
Virtual sessions
Three virtual sessions are also planned:
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m. — session facilitated in French
Friday, Oct. 2, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6:30 p.m.
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Nova Scotians can register for any of the facilitated sessions through yourbudget.novascotia.ca.
“Nova Scotia is at a pivotal moment. Demand for healthcare continues to grow. Infrastructure is aging. The cost of delivering services the public relies on like housing, education and seniors’ care keeps on rising, and with affordability already stretched, raising taxes is not an option we’re exploring,” Premier Tim Houston said.
Houston said the sessions will be different from a traditional town-hall consultation.
“We’ll give Nova Scotians the information they need to help build their own budget, one that reflects their priorities and shows us the trade-offs they’re willing to make to support them,” he said.
An independent advisory committee has been appointed to attend the sessions and report publicly on what it hears from Nova Scotians. The committee is chaired by Public Service Commission Minister Twila Grosse, who is also Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs.
The government says stakeholder feedback will also be collected as part of the budget engagement process.
People who cannot attend a facilitated session can still submit their budget ideas online. Feedback can also be submitted by email or mail to the Department of Finance and Treasury Board.
The advisory committee is expected to publish a report outlining what it heard from Nova Scotians on yourbudget.novascotia.ca before the 2027-28 provincial budget is released.
