Federal Government Confirms Equalization Payment Coming to Nova Scotia

The Department of Finance has received a letter from the federal finance minister confirming the province will receive all the funding it is entitled to under the national equalization program this year.

The province's finance department first raised the issue when changes were announced to the equalization program in November. Work began immediately to correct the problem with the federal government.

"Our finance officials recognized this last fall," said Premier Rodney MacDonald. "We began working on the issue immediately. The finance minister raised the issue with his federal counterpart, and I raised it with the prime minister. They assured us it would be fixed. We accepted them at their word, and they have delivered."

The letter from the federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty to Nova Scotia Finance Minister Michael Baker confirms that the province will receive the $74 million in question.

"I have assured Nova Scotians we would receive this money and here it is," said Premier MacDonald.

The letter is available on the Department of Finance's website at www.gov.ns.ca/finance/site-finance/media/finance/Flaherty_re_Equalization.pdf.