Nova Scotia graduates will no longer need to reapply each year to keep their provincial student loans interest-free, following a new change aimed at reducing paperwork and improving access to support.

The PC government has streamlined its zero per cent interest program so that all new graduates who qualify will automatically continue receiving the benefit throughout their repayment period. The update removes the previous requirement for borrowers to submit annual applications to confirm eligibility.

We’re making it easier for Nova Scotia graduates to get ahead.

Our government has removed the need to reapply each year to keep provincial student loans interest-free. That means less paperwork and no risk of losing support.

✔️ 0% interest continues automatically
✔️ Fewer… pic.twitter.com/0wRbD5ZPbM

— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) April 14, 2026

“Graduates should be able to focus on the new, exciting stage they are starting – not worrying about whether they have filled out the paperwork to keep loan repayment affordable,” said Brendan Maguire, Minister of Advanced Education. “By removing the need to reapply each year, we’re making the zero per cent interest program simpler and more reliable for the Nova Scotians who depend on it.”

The program is designed to support graduates who choose to stay in Nova Scotia after completing their studies. Until now, participants were required to reapply annually to verify they still met the criteria, creating an added administrative step that could interrupt support if missed.

With the new approach, eligible borrowers will experience uninterrupted access to interest-free repayment, helping them stay focused on paying down their loans. The Province has already notified individuals currently repaying provincial student loans of the change via email.

Officials say the update is part of a broader effort to cut red tape and improve service delivery across government programs, making it easier for Nova Scotians to access the support they need.

Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia has received approval to begin new work at the Touquoy gold mine site in Moose River, Halifax County, allowing the company to process previously stockpiled ore.

The industrial approval, issued April 10 by the PC government’s Department of Environment and Climate Change, permits the processing of approximately three million tonnes of gold-bearing ore that has remained on site since operations ceased in 2023. No new mining or extraction will take place, and all work will be limited to the site’s existing disturbed footprint.

Processing is expected to take between 10 and 14 months. As part of the plan, all resulting waste material will be returned to the site’s existing open pit.

The project is expected to deliver economic benefits to the province, including the creation of about 197 jobs and an estimated $151 million contribution to Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product.

Last week our government announced that industrial approval has been granted to process existing gold ore at the Touquoy site in HRM.

This work will support nearly 200 jobs and add $151 million to Nova Scotia’s economy.

There is no new mining or expanded footprint. This project… pic.twitter.com/BNpifoctP9

— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) April 14, 2026

Reclamation of the Touquoy site began in 2024 and will continue during this phase of work. While activity in the mill area will be temporarily paused to allow for processing, cleanup efforts will proceed in other parts of the site.

To ensure the site is fully restored, the Province continues to hold a $79.9-million bond from Atlantic Mining. The bond is in place to guarantee that reclamation is completed in accordance with the Environment Act.

The approval allows previously extracted resources to be processed while maintaining environmental safeguards and ongoing site rehabilitation.

Nova Scotia workers earning minimum wage are seeing a boost in their paycheques today, as the province’s hourly rate rises to $16.75 as of April 1.

The increase marks another step in the PC government’s ongoing effort to adjust wages in line with the rising cost of living. A second adjustment is already scheduled, with the minimum wage set to reach $17 per hour on October 1, 2026.

These changes follow the province’s established formula, which ties minimum wage increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) plus one per cent, as outlined in Nova Scotia’s minimum wage regulations.

Steady Climb Since 2021

Today’s increase comes up from the previous rate of $16.50 per hour and represents the eighth wage hike since April 2021, when the minimum wage stood at $12.95.

The steady upward trend reflects a broader strategy to provide predictability for both workers and employers, while helping wages keep pace with inflation.

Supporting Workers Amid Rising Costs

Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Nolan Young emphasized the importance of the increase for workers across the province.

“Minimum wage workers show up every day in workplaces across Nova Scotia,” said Young. “This increase means more money in the pockets of hard-working Nova Scotians to help pay for groceries, rent and everyday expenses. We will continue to raise the minimum wage in a fair and predictable way.”

Broad Support Behind the Decision

The increases follow a unanimous recommendation from the Minimum Wage Review Committee, a group that includes representatives from both employees and employers. The consensus signals a shared recognition of the need to balance affordability for workers with sustainability for businesses.

Complementary Measures to Ease Cost Pressures

Alongside wage increases, the province points to a range of programs aimed at supporting households and strengthening workforce participation. These include:

• More than $680 million in tax-saving measures, expected to save the average Nova Scotian family over $1,400 this year
  
• Making the Heating Assistance Rebate Program permanent at $400 annually
  
• A $1.7 billion investment in housing through the Our Homes, Action for Housing five-year plan
  
• Increased support for individuals on income assistance, now indexed to inflation
  
• Expanded skills development and training programs to connect more people with job opportunities

Looking Ahead

With another increase already scheduled for October, Nova Scotia’s approach to minimum wage continues to focus on predictability, gradual growth, and alignment with economic conditions.

For workers across the province, today’s change offers immediate relief—while the planned fall increase signals that further support is on the way.