Nova Scotia Budget 2022-23 Invests in Valley Region
Providing solutions to Nova Scotia’s most pressing challenges, including fixing healthcare, strategically growing the population and economy and investing in supports for Nova Scotia families and communities, will benefit the Valley region.
Today, March 29, Finance and Treasury Board Minister Allan MacMaster tabled Budget 2022-23: Solutions for Healthcare, Solutions for Nova Scotians.
“At its core, Budget 2022-23 is about people. It invests thoughtfully in the areas Nova Scotians care about most, while also planning for the needs of a province that is growing,” said Minister MacMaster.
With revenues of $12.7 billion and consolidated expenses of $13.2 billion, Budget 2022-23 estimates a deficit of $506.2 million. Spending in healthcare is estimated at $5.7 billion, an increase of $413.4 million from last year.
Highlights of 2022-23 investments that will benefit the Valley region include:
- new funding to make virtual care available to everyone on the Need a Family Practice Registry and expand the kind of care available through virtual care
- additional funding for Valley Hospice
- more support for efforts to recruit healthcare professionals
- Kentville Justice Centre renovations
- Highway 101 twinning from Three Mile Plains to Falmouth
- creation of an African Nova Scotian Affairs regional office in Digby
- funding to continue the new Healthy Schools Grant for all public schools
- expansion of the gravel road program and additional funding of $30 million for bridge repair and renewal
- introduction of the More Opportunities for Skilled Trades program, which, starting in the 2022 tax year, will return provincial personal income tax paid on the first $50,000 of earnings for eligible people under the age of 30
Quick Facts:
- Budget 2022-23 contains $1.6 billion for capital projects, the largest single-year capital investment in the province’s history
- the Capital Plan includes generational projects like the QEII New Generation and CBRM Healthcare Redevelopment projects and highway twinning
- the budget also contains the final forecast for 2021-22, which updates the surplus to $107.7 million
- additional appropriations related to the forecast, totalling $304.7 million, are required by seven departments and offices since the December forecast
Additional Resources:
To view the budget documents, visit: https://novascotia.ca/budget