Budget Includes Spending for Pugwash Hospital

The McNeil government tabled a balanced budget in the Nova Scotia Legislature today, its fourth consecutive balanced budget. But, the big news is a 200 million dollar increase in spending on health care.

The government is finally realizing the crisis and loosened the purse strings to address the needs across the province.

The long-awaited new hospital for Pugwash appears to be included. An afternoon press release says funding for the North Cumberland Health Centre project is part of this year’s spending.

There was no specific reference to when or how much is allocated to the oft-promised hospital, but this marks the first time that a spending commitment has appeared.

Budget 2019-20 estimates a surplus of $33.6 million with revenue of $11.01 billion. 

The Minister of Finance says,  “This budget builds on our strong fiscal foundation.” Karen Casey added, “Managing our finances well and balancing budgets has given us the ability to invest in new and existing programs and services for Nova Scotians, in areas most important to them.”

Highlights in Six Rivers to the Sea include:

• funding for the North Cumberland Health Centre project
• funding for construction of Springhill Elementary School
• funding for 11 mental health and addictions staff to support an adolescent outreach program in schools
• continuing support for the Vineyards and Wineries Investment Program

Province-wide investments include:

• $10 million increase to further develop collaborative care teams to make it easier for Nova Scotians to see a doctor or other primary care clinicians 
• $2.9 million increase to open 15 residency spaces for specialty medical positions at Dalhousie University Medical School for a total of 65 seats
• $1.1 million continued funding to open 10 family practice residency seats at Dalhousie University Medical School this year for a total of 46 seats
• $10.2 million increase to expand pre-primary classes. By September 2020 every four-year-old in Nova Scotia will have access to a free early learning opportunity 
• $15 million increase, for a two-year total of $30 million, to continue implementing recommendations from the Commission on Inclusive Education
• $500,000 increase for incubators and accelerators that support startup companies, for a total of $1.5 million 

For more information about the budget, visit http://www.novascotia.ca/budget.