Good morning!

Well, the provincial budget is out, and it’s as bad as could be expected.

We have an story below going over some of the particulars and how the province managed to toss itself into this deep deficit hole, but as I often do, I’ll give my opinion on it here.

Staffing cuts mean services will be cut. Expect vital programs in your region to reduce in capacity or dissipate. Non profits and community groups that rely on provincial grants will be hit hard—funny, considering how much the conservatives love their big grant announcement photo ops.

This is an austerity budget, and there’s no one else to blame but Houston and the PCs. Their rusting shovels are coated in earth.

If you, your organization, or your business is likely to feel the impacts of this budget, my inbox is always open.

Take care of yourself.

– B

📷 @creamy_yet_smooth

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

When Premier Tim Houston announced the province’s $1.4-billion deficit in January, most of us saw the writing on the wall. Major cuts are coming.

Labelled “Defending Nova Scotia”, which the PC Party calls a “means of empowering our people, our businesses, and our communities,” the budget for 2026-27 will see more than $300 million in cuts with more expected over a four-year period, a 7.8 percent increase in spending, and a $1.2-billion deficit that the province won’t wrangle in.

On the chopping block is the civil service, which will experience five percent cuts every year for four years, and three percent cuts to other public service sectors such as education, healthcare and Crown corporation staffing. Discretionary grants are getting axed by $130 million. In total, the government hopes these cuts will save the province around $304 million.

Despite these cuts, the province is also introducing a $3.5-billion capital plan that will see expansions to healthcare, technology—including AI, which some economists are saying doesn’t promote job growth—and what the government is calling “strategic priorities”.

Since coming to power in 2021, Tim Houston’s government has spent around $7 billion outside of their annual budgets. These expenditures were never voted on in the legislature. Before the budget’s release, the province’s auditor general called for more transparency on out-of-budget spending so taxpayers know where their money is going.

For three years now, the auditor general has made the recommendation to change the Finance Act to give more financial oversight to the legislature. Nova Scotia is the only province not requiring out-of-budget spending to go through the legislature.

🚗 A new electric vehicle levy introduced in the 2026-27 provincial budget has left some EV drivers feeling punished for their choices—the new levy is expected to raise $1.6 million during this fiscal year.

💡 New legislation will make offshore wind developers pay $7,000 per megawatt of their turbines capacity annually—the levy would apply for the first 10 years of a project, and then could transition into a percentage of gross revenue depending on which amount is greater.

🚨 The RCMP says trafficking workers is becoming a bigger issue throughout Atlantic Canada after an Ontario man was arrested for trafficking a foreign national to Digby County—the worker was paid $300 for a year’s work.

🎤 Live Art Dance partners with suddenlyLISTEN to present “Graveyards and Gardens”, a mesmerizing dance piece and concert in one. Limited tickets – don’t miss out!*

*Sponsored Post

Constant stress can take a toll on the body, often showing up as tension, low energy, mental overwhelm or trouble sleeping.

CanPrev’s Magnesium Stress Release is formulated with magnesium, ashwagandha, vitamins B5, B6 and C to support relaxation and to help the body manage the effects of everyday stress.

📕 Rachel Reid, writer of the beloved Game Changers series that spawned the international hockey phenomenon Heated Rivalry, says her next book in the enemies-to-lovers story is delayed to January 2027—Reid says this is due to her health and her schedule due to the success of the TV adaptation.

🗳️ Engage Nova Scotia is sending out its 2026 Nova Scotia quality of life survey, the first since 2019—the last survey was sent to about 20 percent of homes in the province and often asks unique questions around social cohesion, democratic engagement and time use.

🦉 The snow is causing Nova Scotia’s saw-whet owl population to move closer to human-populated areas—while most owls can dive in the snow to look for food, the small size of these owls makes it difficult for them.

Since 1903, Alliance Française Halifax has been a welcoming gateway to experience French language and culture. Today it offers in-person or online courses for all ages and levels. Enjoy accessible and inclusive vibrant cultural programing to learn, practice and connect.

À très bientôt !

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

🗓 Comedy! Featuring some of the stars of 22 Minutes: Some of the stars of This Hour Has 22 Minutes have some on-stage fun in this stand-up and sketch comedy show. Happening at the Bus Stop Theatre. | Feb. 25 | 8PM | $22.63 |

🗓 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. | Feb. 26 | 7:30PM | $15 |

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

➡️ The CGA CGM Verdi container vessel departed Halifax for New York at 4am.

🚢➡️ The APL Oregon container ship arrives in Halifax from Marsaxlokk at 5:45am and departs for New York at 11pm.

➡️ The MSC Nahara container vessel departs Halifax for Philadelphia at 6:45am.

🚢 The CSL Tacoma bulk carrier arrives in Halifax from Sydney (Cape Breton) at 8:21am.

🚢➡️ The MSC Sao Paulo V container ship arrives in Halifax from Liverpool at 10:15am and departs for Montreal at 9:45pm.

🚢➡️ The Atlantic Sail container ship arrives in Halifax from Norfolk at 15:20pm and departs for Liverpool at 11:30pm.

🥪 Try WaveFoods’ Vegan Chop Cheese! Made with chopped beyond beef, vegan cheese, lettuce, pickles, crispy onions and guacamole.

🍄 It’s the final week of 2 Doors Down’s Dine Around menu and they’re offering a special with their Mushroom Toast. Get it with an entree and dessert for $50. Made with Maritime Gourmet mushrooms, garlic cream sauce, pickled shallots, toasted sourdough or gluten-free bread.

🚲 Last week, we asked our readers about potential cuts to Halifax’s plans to develop a AAA bikeway network. The proposed networks consisted of 57 kilometres of connected bikeways—protected bike lanes, multi-use pathways, and local street bikeways—meant for use by folks of all ages and abilities (hence the term AAA). Unfortunately, the municipality is looking to make cuts to prevent what Mayor Andy Fillmore calls a potential 10 percent tax hike on property owners within HRM. Fillmore, who came after bike lanes back in the summer, once again proposed a motion for staff to look at potential cuts to the AAA bikeway, some of which could leave the network with lanes that are not for all ages and abilities. The Coast’s Brendyn Creamer breaks down the polling results and what our readers have to say on the issue.

🚗 An 81-year-old woman was rushed to hospital after a vehicle collided with her while she was on a marked crosswalk—a 76-year-old driver was ticketed for failing to yield to a pedestrian.

💸 The law firm representing businessman John Risley in his tax battle with the CRA has dropped him over unpaid invoices—Risley is also facing the loss of his investment holdings company due to over $1 billion in debt and a lawsuit from a former business associate.

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