Good morning, Halifax!

We asked our readers last week about the provincial budget, and while Tuesday’s news of some reversals may be a positive in light of a lot of negatives, I think the general sentiment you’ll find down below will still hold true.

The Houston government walked back grant cuts in three specific areas: programs impacting people with disabilities, seniors, and African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students.

Like I said, this is good news, but according to the Houston government, we shouldn’t expect any more than what we just got. Deputy premier Barbara Adams said no more cut reversions are coming, with even more cuts expected to follow in budgets until 2030.

If anything, this reeks to me as a desperate attempt to recover some good will after a devastating few weeks of press, especially from ministers who couldn’t even explain the cuts coming to their departments. Houston saying sorry looks good to some people, and that’s what this feels like to me.

Let’s not buy into this facade. This austerity budget is a product of Houston’s own making. He spent billions outside the budget. Took away revenue from bridge tolls, hospital parking, and the HST. His government has outright refused transparency around what they spend outside of their annual budgets and have been bragging about annual surpluses as a way to tide us all over.

Now he wants to spend more, more, more on his energy projects as the self-proclaimed Minister of Energy.

Our premier is a clown, and unfortunately, we all have to pay for his funny business.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

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🚗 Driving, biking or busing today? Check out the current traffic conditions and ongoing road closures.

Last week, we asked our readers in our daily newsletter about the provincial budget.

The Nova Scotia government released its 2026-27 budget on Feb. 23, titled "Defending Nova Scotia." The budget originally axed $130.4 million in grants to organizations, as well as a five percent annual cut to the civil service, and a three percent cut in public service and Crown corporations, expected to save an additional $95 million.

The impact of these cuts? Organizations going without funding or vying for smaller pots of grant money, weakened government services and programs, and a deficit that is only marginally less than the $1.4 billion reported by Premier Tim Houston in January, expected to go down to $1.2 billion. The deficit was originally reported as $1.2 billion by Finance Minister John Lohr last September, which the PC government defended as they invested more into healthcare and housing.

The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer breaks down the results from our poll on the provincial budget.

🏛️ The Halifax Forum redevelopment plan will go ahead with an incredibly narrow 8-8 vote, avoiding a motion from Mayor Andy Fillmore to see it delayed for one year—some councillors criticized the mayor for proposing the motion without giving any hard numbers.

👩‍⚕️ A Halifax woman was saddled with a seven-year wait time for an MRI in 2019—while Nova Scotia Health says these long wait times are an exception, the woman says she has spoken to several people in an endometriosis support group who have also dealt with multi-year long wait times.

⚖️ A man has been acquitted of charges relating to creating and sending AI nude images of high school classmates—the deciding judge believes the law does not adequately cover situations such as this.

🦕 Before extinction, dinosaurs fought to survive! Dinosaur Exploration 2 is a sequel to the hit 2024 exhibit, featuring some of your favourite dinosaurs.*

🇨🇦 This March Break, enjoy FREE programming and admission at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 from March 14th to 22nd!*

🧑‍🌾 Meet Your Farmer at Cole Harbour Place Sunday, March 29 anytime between 10:00 and 3:00. Learn about food and farming at this free drop-in event!*

*Sponsored Post

Explore Downtown Halifax this March Break!

With family-friendly attractions, restaurants, shops, and more, there's plenty to keep the whole family entertained.

Plus, from March 16 to March 21, enjoy free rides on the Alderney/Halifax ferry between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Plan your Downtown March Break adventure today!

🚨 A second round of polygraph tests have been conducted by RCMP in the disappearance of Jack and Lilly Sullivan of Pictou County—the children have been missing since May 2, 2025.

🎒 Parents in Kingston are voicing their anger regarding threats made towards the village’s middle school, which allegedly included a mass shooting—RCMP say their investigation deemed these threats not credible.

⚡ Nova Scotia Health is replacing a transformer after the Victoria General Hospital lost power last weekend, forcing operations to be scheduled elsewhere—21 surgeries were relocated and 39 rescheduled.

Oodles of Noodles on Quinpool Road is a delicious celebration of noodles featuring creative dishes from local restaurants along the street. From March 11 to 17, visitors can explore a variety of noodle-inspired specials while supporting the vibrant and diverse dining scene that makes Quinpool a foodie destination. Learn more.

Looking for something to do this week? Check out these Coast picks:

🗓 Bedford Players Presents Gibson & Sons: The Bedford Players present this comedy from Kristen Da Silva, directed by Randy Burt, at the Bedford Players theatre. | March 12-21 | 7:30PM | $17.00+

🗓 Better Times Comedy at Good Robot Brewing: This weekly comedy show features regulars like Clare Belford, Dan Hendricken, Travis Lindsay, Adam Myatt, and a rotating cast of local and visiting comics. | March 12 | 7:30PM | $15 |

🗓 Halifax Thunderbirds vs. Toronto Rock: The Thunderbirds take on the Toronto Rock at the Scotiabank Centre. | March 13 | 7:30PM | $31.75 |

Have an event to share? Let us know at [email protected].

🚢➡️ The One Munchen container vessel arrived in Halifax from Singapore at 4:45am and departs for New York at 11pm.

🚢 The Federal Yukina bulk carrier arrives in Halifax from Baie Comeau at 6:45am

🚢➡️ The Bakkafoss container vessel arrives in Halifax from Portland (Maine) at 8:15am and departs for Argentia at 6pm.

🚢 The Sovereign supply vessel arrives in Halifax from New York at 8:19am

🚢 The Nolhan Ava container vessel arrives in Halifax from St Pierre at 10:15am

🚢 The Algoluna tanker arrives in Halifax from Quebec at 11:15am.

➡️ The Algoscotia tanker departs Halifax for Sydney (Cape Breton) at 6pm.

🍗 The Honey Dill Crunch is on this week over at WaveFoods. Buttermilk fried chicken, honey dill remoulade, bacon, lettuce, pickle, and crunchy onions on a brioche bun.

🥦 Beef and broccolini, only at Larry’s Sandwiches this week! Roasted eye of round from Vessel Meats, sauteed broccolini, chili-garlic mayo, aged cheddar and crispy onions on a toasted bun.

💸 By now, many people have heard of Premier Tim Houston’s budget cuts. To save $130 million, the Houston government has slashed 287 program grants and funding in Nova Scotia. Cambree DC, a high school student, writes into The Coast to give her opinion on the provincial budget.

🏛️ The provincial opposition slowed debate on the provincial budget Monday evening by moving a reasoned amendment, asking members of the legislature to really think through the proposed cuts before making them—NSNDP leader Claudia Chender says she is concerned that ministers cannot explain the rationale behind some of the cuts.

🪧 Visitors to the Nova Scotia Legislature are now restricted after protests in front of province house—visitors are allowed to watch from the third floor gallery, but are not permitted to mingle on the second floor, says house speaker Danielle Barkhouse.

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