The Houston government is following through on many of its key campaign promises with Budget 2025, aimed at making life more affordable for Nova Scotians while strengthening the economy. From tax cuts to free hospital parking, the budget delivers significant savings and improvements for residents across the province.

Lower Taxes, More Savings

Budget 2025 includes more than $500 million in tax-saving measures, including a 1% reduction in the HST starting April 1, 2025. This move puts money back into the pockets of Nova Scotians while helping businesses grow. Additionally, the basic personal amount will increase from $8,744 to $11,744, and tax brackets will be indexed starting January 1, 2025. These changes are expected to save an average family over $1,000 per year.

Free Hospital Parking & Healthcare Investments

The government is making good on their promise to make healthcare more accessible by eliminating hospital parking fees for employees, patients, and visitors at Nova Scotia Health hospitals and the IWK. Additionally, the budget commits $26.9 million to deliver free shingles vaccines to seniors aged 65 and older, fulfilling another key campaign promise. Investments in major healthcare projects, including the Halifax Infirmary Expansion and Cape Breton health redevelopment, continue to be a top priority with $750.9 million allocated.

Cutting Costs and Raising Wages for Everyday Nova Scotians

Budget 2025 removes tolls from the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge and the A. Murray MacKay Bridge in Halifax, easing the financial burden on thousands of commuters. The minimum wage will also rise to $16.50 on October 1, 2025, following an initial increase to $15.70 in April.

Boosting Jobs & the Economy

The Houston government is delivering on its commitment to create good-paying jobs, investing $49.5 million into a $100 million plan to expand the skilled trades workforce. Additionally the PCs are investing $39 million to continue supporting the Nova Scotia film industry, met with open arms by members of the industry.

Investing in Housing

The Houston government continues, the budget dedicates $88 million toward building, renovating, and maintaining public housing—the first significant new public housing investment in over 20 years. A rebate on the provincial HST for new rental housing will also help spur construction.

A Government That Delivers

Premier Tim Houston campaigned on affordability, job creation, and healthcare improvements, and Budget 2025 demonstrates his government’s commitment to those priorities. With meaningful tax cuts, lower costs for families, and investments in healthcare and infrastructure, the budget sets a strong foundation for a more prosperous Nova Scotia.

The Houston government used the Speech from the Throne to set its sights firmly on the future, outlining a vision for economic growth, a stronger healthcare system, and a government that puts everyday Nova Scotians first.

Delivered in the Tory dominated legislature with caucus spanning both sides, the speech emphasized that division and special interests cannot stand in the way of progress. Instead, the government is focused on removing barriers to opportunity and ensuring Nova Scotia is a place where families, businesses, and communities can thrive.

A key theme of the throne speech was economic growth. The government pledged to continue cutting red tape, making it easier to do business, and unlocking the province’s full potential. Housing, infrastructure, and workforce development were highlighted as priorities to support this vision.

Healthcare also took centre stage, with the government reaffirming its commitment to improving access to care, recruiting more healthcare workers, and modernizing the system to meet the needs of Nova Scotians.

The message in the throne speech was clear: Nova Scotia must move forward with confidence and ambition. By embracing a growth-oriented mindset, the Houston government is charting a path toward a more prosperous future for all Nova Scotians.

Tim Houston’s government is taking decisive action to address the pressing need for housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM). On August 21, 2024, new regulations were introduced to eliminate barriers and create more opportunities for housing development in HRM, aiming to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.

Getting Homes Built in the HRM

The new regulations under the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter mandate that increasing the housing supply must be the central focus in all land-use planning, regulations, and development decisions within HRM. John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, emphasized the importance of this move: “Nova Scotians need more housing, and that need is especially great in HRM. These regulations will ensure that increasing supply is a key focus in the municipal planning process and the prime consideration in development decisions.”

Key Changes to Housing Regulations

The regulations introduce several significant changes designed to facilitate housing development:

• Residential Uses in Most Zones: Residential developments will now be permitted in most zones, where appropriate, to maximize housing opportunities across HRM.
• Removal of On-Site Parking Requirements: For developments in the urban service area, on-site parking requirements will no longer be mandatory, making it easier to develop new housing projects.
• Height Restrictions and Density: Height restrictions will be adjusted to ensure they do not negatively impact density, particularly for mass timber residential developments.
• Flexibility for Residential Buildings: New rules remove unit-mix requirements and reduce the percentage of ground-floor commercial space required for residential buildings started before April 1, 2027.
• Permitting Manufactured and Temporary Housing: The regulations allow for manufactured housing, including modified shipping containers, in all residential zones, and permit temporary housing in all zones for employees working on or near a job site.
• Suburban Planning Strategy: HRM must adopt a secondary municipal planning strategy for suburban areas by January 31, 2025, to better accommodate growth in these regions.

Trusted Partner Program for Developers

A notable addition is the introduction of Canada’s first trusted partner program for qualified developers. This program will streamline and expedite services for developers with a proven track record of quality developments. The municipality will be required to adopt a bylaw supporting this program, with the deadline to be determined by the Minister.

Simplifying Planning Appeals

To further expedite housing development, changes in building color, cladding material, and the arrangement of windows and doors will now be considered non-substantive in planning appeals for residential developments. This change aims to reduce unnecessary delays in the approval process.

Addressing Housing Barriers: A Collaborative Effort

These new regulations align with recommendations from the HRM Housing Development Barrier Review conducted by Deloitte, which identified obstacles to rapidly increasing housing supply. The regulations also complement ongoing municipal efforts related to the federal housing accelerator program, ensuring a coordinated approach to solving HRM’s housing challenges.