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.

Nova Scotia has taken a major step toward establishing Canada’s first Menopause Centre of Excellence, announcing plans for a new specialized clinic dedicated to menopause care.

The clinic will focus on treating symptoms related to perimenopause, menopause and post-menopause, expanding access to specialized services for the nearly 350,000 women in the province over the age of 40 who are navigating this stage of life. The move is aimed at addressing longstanding gaps in care and improving health outcomes for women across Nova Scotia.

We’re strengthening women’s healthcare in Nova Scotia.

Our government is proud to launch the first phase of Canada’s first Menopause Centre of Excellence.

Nearly 350,000 women over 40 in our province need better access to menopause care. This new clinic will provide… pic.twitter.com/wrv60wOAQl

— Tim Houston (@TimHoustonNS) February 18, 2026

The centre of excellence will be developed in phases, beginning with clinical care. Research and education components will be introduced over time, building a comprehensive provincial hub focused on menopause treatment, innovation and learning.

A request for proposals has been issued for clinic space, with the facility expected to open in winter 2026–27. The clinic will deliver both in-person and virtual care to ensure access for patients throughout the province.

The care team is expected to include a general practitioner, registered nurse, pelvic floor physiotherapist, dietitian and gynecologist, offering coordinated, multidisciplinary support.

The initiative is being led by the Department of Health and Wellness in partnership with the Menopause Society of Nova Scotia, IWK Health and Nova Scotia Health.

The Nova Scotia PC government is investing in new training equipment to enhance firefighter safety and expand hands-on training capacity across Nova Scotia.

The Department of Emergency Management is purchasing two mobile burn units and four propane-fuelled training props to ensure firefighters have access to safe, modern and consistent training, regardless of where they serve.

Mobile burn units are portable, self-contained training trailers that allow firefighters to practise live-fire scenarios in a controlled environment. Using propane-fuelled fires, smoke and adjustable layouts, the units simulate real emergencies while meeting strict national safety standards. With two additional units based in the western and central regions, Nova Scotia will have three mobile burn units in operation, including one in Cape Breton. The units can be moved throughout the province to support local training needs.

The four new training props are modular simulators designed to recreate a range of fire scenarios, including propane tank and pressure-vessel fires, as well as multi-point ignition fires. The equipment allows firefighters to practise essential skills such as hose operations, fire suppression, shutting off fuel sources and making critical decisions under pressure.

The investment comes as work continues on the development of a new long-term firefighter training program. It also builds on broader efforts to strengthen fire services, including the introduction of the Fire Safety and Services Act during the fall 2025 sitting of the legislature, which commits the Province to improving fire safety and supporting the long-term stability of fire services across Nova Scotia.