Economy
Expanding Rural Cellphone Service: Making Rural Nova Scotia Safer
Last year, the PC government of Nova Scotia announced an ambitious plan to address the significant gaps in rural cell phone service throughout the province. For too long, rural Nova Scotians have faced issues like dropped calls, slow data speeds, and the anxiety of not being able to reach out for help in emergencies. Recognizing this critical need, Premier Tim Houston and his government introduced the Cellular For Nova Scotia Program.
The Plan:
The Cellular For Nova Scotia Program has set high goals to improve connectivity:
• 99% Coverage for basic voice call service in areas where Nova Scotians live, work, learn, and travel on primary roads. This ensures clear audio calls.
• 95% Coverage for standard-definition service in these areas, supporting quality audio or video transmission for emails, internet browsing, and social media.
• 85% Coverage for high-definition service in these areas, providing high-quality audio or video transmission for video conferencing, social media, and streaming movies.
Achieving these benchmarks is expected to enhance safety, boost business growth, and unlock the full potential of rural communities, thereby driving economic growth in the province.
How Will They Get There?
Implementing such an ambitious plan requires decisive action. On July 31st, 2024, the PC government announced a major step towards a future where Nova Scotians can stay connected virtually everywhere. Over the next two years, the government will:
• Collaborate with industry partners to upgrade 27 existing sites and connect them to a 5G network.
• Construct 27 new provincially owned telecommunication towers in unserved areas, in addition to the 4 announced in October 2023.
These significant investments are poised to be a game changer for rural communities across Nova Scotia. The Cellular For Nova Scotia Program marks a crucial step forward, and the PC team remains committed to building up rural Nova Scotia every day.
As global uncertainty continues to shape local realities, the Nova Scotia PC government says Budget 2026–27 is designed to defend and strengthen the province for the years ahead.
Over the past several years, Nova Scotians have experienced firsthand how quickly international events, from supply chain disruptions to inflation, can affect daily life at home. In response, government leaders point to significant investments aimed at addressing what they describe as a decade of underspending in healthcare, housing, affordability measures, and aging infrastructure.
Budget 2026–27 builds on that approach, with a focus on economic growth, community resilience, healthcare transformation, and long-term financial sustainability.
Today we tabled our 2026-27 budget, “Defending Nova Scotia: A Plan for the Long Term”. In the face of global uncertainty due to Donald Trump’s trade war, this is a plan that controls spending while continuing to invest in healthcare, housing, and growing Nova Scotia’s economy.… pic.twitter.com/eQ15d8UfQw
— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) February 23, 2026
Growing the Economy in Key Sectors
Nova Scotia is well positioned to meet growing global demand in several strategic industries. The budget outlines targeted investments to create conditions that attract private capital and stimulate job creation.
Six priority sectors are identified as central to long-term economic growth:
- Defence and aerospace
- Clean and conventional energy
- Forestry and mining
- Fisheries and agri-food
- Housing and construction
- Artificial intelligence and the digital economy
Expanding these industries will not only diversify trading partnerships but also strengthen Nova Scotia’s role in global supply chains.
Affordability and Community Safety
Budget 2026–27 also introduces measures aimed at improving affordability and strengthening communities.
Among the headline commitments is tax relief expected to save the average Nova Scotian family more than $1,400 annually. The government has also committed to making the School Lunch Program universally available to students across the province.
Housing access remains a key focus, with continued investments to increase supply and address demand pressures.
In addition, the province is enhancing coordination around community safety and emergency management, with updated approaches to disaster preparedness and response.
Continuing the Healthcare Transformation
Healthcare remains one of the largest areas of investment.
Through its four-year Action for Health plan, 2022 to 2026, the government has made what it describes as generational investments in system reform. Budget 2026–27 continues that work with funding to:
- Expand access to primary care
- Strengthen inclusive mental health and addiction recovery services
- Improve supports and infrastructure for seniors.
$3.5 Billion Capital Plan and Fiscal Discipline
The province’s Capital Plan for 2026–27 includes more than $3.5 billion in infrastructure investments. Funding will support healthcare facilities, long-term care homes, housing developments, and other critical projects across Nova Scotia.
At the same time, the government has signaled an emphasis on fiscal discipline.
While growth in the public service was necessary to support healthcare reform and housing expansion, that pace of expansion is not sustainable long term. Over the next four years, the province plans to moderate public service growth, invest in technology to improve efficiency, and concentrate resources on strategic priorities.
The stated goal is to protect essential services while maintaining the flexibility to respond to future economic shocks.
A Strategy Focused on Stability and Results
Budget 2026–27 is a plan grounded in action, responsibility, and long-term thinking. By combining targeted economic development, affordability measures, healthcare reform, infrastructure investment, and fiscal restraint, the province aims to position Nova Scotia for sustained growth and resilience.
As global conditions remain uncertain, the government’s message is clear. Strengthening Nova Scotia at home is the best way to meet the challenges that face the province abroad.
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.
