Nova Scotia Legislature Concludes Spring Sitting with Budget 2026–27 and Powering the Economy Act
The spring legislative sitting in Nova Scotia ended on April 9, 2026, with the passage of Budget 2026–27 and the Powering the Economy Act. The budget directs major funding toward healthcare, long-term care, seniors, and housing, while the new legislation establishes a regulatory framework for offshore wind and subsurface energy development.
The spring legislative sitting in Nova Scotia concluded on April 9, 2026, with the passage of Budget 2026–27 and the Powering the Economy Act. Premier Tim Houston stated that the session focused on putting Nova Scotians first through investments in healthcare, seniors, housing, and energy.
Budget 2026–27 allocates $47.5 million to hire more paramedics and emergency medical responders across the province, along with $47.1 million to increase pay for family doctors covering shifts in long-term care facilities, hospitals, and rural emergency departments. The budget also provides $1.2 billion for the Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Health Care redevelopment project. An additional $8 million is invested in the Universal Mental Health and Addictions Care Insured Services program, and $7 million is allocated to open Integrated Youth Services sites across the province by 2027–28.
For seniors and long-term care, the government is investing $873.8 million toward building 5,700 new and replacement long-term care spaces by 2032. Seven new long-term care facilities are expected to open this year in communities from Bridgetown to Arichat, supported by $20.8 million in operating funding. The budget also allocates $26.5 million to the Home Support Direct Funding Program to help seniors stay in their homes, and the Seniors Care Grant program continues with $26.5 million in funding.
Housing starts in Nova Scotia reached a record high of 9,760 units in 2025. To build on this, a $300-million joint federal-provincial investment will support 1,430 new homes, including 930 units at Shannon Park in Dartmouth. The budget allocates $18.5 million for shovel-ready affordable housing projects, and rent supplements are being expanded to cover 11,500 unique households. Additionally, a new First Time Homebuyers Pilot Program allows eligible Nova Scotians to purchase a home with a two per cent down payment through provincial credit unions.
The newly passed Powering the Economy Act secures financial benefits from offshore wind development, modernizes the electricity system, and creates a framework for regulating subsurface energy sectors like geothermal, natural hydrogen, and carbon storage. Dalhousie University was engaged to oversee the $30-million Subsurface Energy Research and Development Investment Program.
In related energy developments, Nova Scotia signed an agreement with the federal government to streamline environmental approvals for major infrastructure and resource projects. Hydro-Québec has requested information to assess options for supply and transmission of electricity from offshore wind farms off the coast of Nova Scotia. The province also signed a memorandum of understanding with Massachusetts to work toward supplying the state with clean energy from offshore wind.