Industry Highlights and Impacts from Nova Scotia Provincial Budget 2026-27

Growing our economy 

• $1.5 million for Invest Nova Scotia to drive more GDP growth in six priority sectors, including housing and construction
• $1 million in targeted programs to attract and convert investment attraction in strategic sectors
• $46.3 million to keep the small business tax rate at 1.5% and increase the threshold to $700,000.
• $2.5 million to help businesses diversify their trade markets

Building futures and communities

• $373,000 for upgrades to the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility (capital)
• $5 million to help make improvements to the Victoria Highland Civic Centre
• $10.8 million for modular child-care centres on school properties (capital)
• $110.3 million to build and renovate schools, including two that will open in the 2026-27 school year (capital)
• $30.8 million for post-secondary student housing for NSCC Cumberland and NSCC Kingstec
• $46.4 million to build new public housing units and maintain existing units (operating and capital)
• $18.1 million provincial investment to address housing needs through the National Housing Strategy Action Plan
• $25.2 million to create 378 new supportive housing units across the province
• $18.5 million to support shovel-ready, community-owned projects through the Affordable Housing Development Program
• $24.7 million to continue MOST, a tax refund to young workers under 30 in high-demand occupations, including skilled trades
• $34.3 million to continue the Actions to Accelerate Skilled Trades Growth plan to create good-paying jobs in the skilled trades, including $5 million this year for the new Institute of Skilled Trades

Rebuilding care

• $1.8 million for a new operations centre to improve emergency health services in the Halifax area
• $873.8 million toward the plan to build 5,700 new and replacement long-term care spaces by 2032, with seven new facilities opening this year (capital)
• $1.2 billion for the Halifax Infirmary Expansion Project and Cape Breton Regional Municipality Health Care redevelopment project (capital)
• $144.5 million for construction and renewal of other hospitals and medical facilities in Amherst, Yarmouth, Bridgewater and the IWK (capital)
• $24.7 million for the construction of modular units to expand dialysis service
• $21 million for medical facilities repairs and renewals across the province

Transforming transportation

• $120.1 million for Halifax Harbour Bridges (capital)
• $476.1 million for highways and structures (capital)
• $52.5 million to buy land for future needs (capital)