Nova Scotians use Bill 148 hearing to voice concerns over budget cuts

Nova Scotians discussed budget cuts at a bill hearing.

Dozens of Nova Scotians spoke out over changes the government is making to the Financial Measurements Act, known as Bill 148, which includes sweeping changes to 20 different laws and nearly 140 clauses or changes to legislation.

It’s an omnibus bill and one of the more complex bills before the house during the spring budget session at the Nova Scotia legislature.

“I also want to say the bill is long, it’s difficult to understand, particularly the implications of the many changes,” said Dr. Catherine Cervin, the Nova Scotia lead with the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment.

More than 40 people registered Monday to speak before the Public Bills Committee meeting on Bill 148.

One of those people was Ian Johnson, who wanted to speak to the committee about the proposed budget cuts that were initially pegged at $130 million. That number has since changed after the PC government walked back $53.6 million in cuts which mainly impacted funding for seniors, those living with disabilities and educational supports for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian students.

“I would ask the committee and all MLAs to vote against the budget and to support developing a new budget,” said Johnson, while speaking to the committee.

That prompted some pushback from Public Bills Committee Chair, Scott Armstrong, who is also the minister of Justice and attorney general.

“You’re hear talking about the budget, this is the Financial Measures Act,” said Armstrong. “Those suggestions aren’t really in order for this committee.”

The legislation touches on a broad range of issues, from tobacco and vaping regulations and electric vehicles taxes, to rules allowing government to tow and impound vehicles from Crown land.

Despite the vast scope of Bill 148, many speakers wanted to narrow in on the budget cuts which weren’t mentioned in the legislation, but opposition argued that the budget did impact the provinces finances and so it should be fair game.

“People are upset, people are scared and people are concerned and what we are seeing over the next couple of days are hundreds of people that want to express it.”

There’s more than 140 people who have registered, wanting to speak to government regarding some of the sweeping changes and so four days of public hearings have been set aside.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender told reporters there were more people who wanted to register and speak at the committee but failed to meet the deadline. Chender said that should also send a message to the government.

“Government must take the time to listen to all of these presentations and then further, they should take the time to go back and do some consultation before they bring back a budget, that actually reflects the concerns that they heard,” said Chender.

Premier Tim Houston signaled to reporters that he’s considering additional consultation ahead of the next budget and didn’t rule a provincewide spending priorities tour.

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