Nova Scotia Committed to Health Care

Health-care programs and services will be protected in the upcoming provincial budget, says Nova Scotia Finance Minister Peter Christie.

"We are committed to protecting health care and education, but we can't continue to add millions to these budgets without considering the impact on other areas of the budget," Mr. Christie told members of the Truro Chamber of Commerce today, March 9.

The Nova Scotia government continues to invest more in health- care programs and services, the minister said, but without ongoing support from Ottawa, it is getting more and more difficult each year.

The Conference Board of Canada released a study on Monday, March 8, that showed the federal government's ability to pay for health care is growing, while the provinces' is declining. "The federal government is getting richer while the provinces are becoming poorer," said Mr. Christie.

He said Nova Scotia's upcoming budget will reflect the values and priorities of Nova Scotians by living within our means and continuing to invest in health care and education.