N.S. government pushes budget close to finish line

The Nova Scotia government is one step closer to passing its budget.

The Nova Scotia government is moving one step closer to passing it’s $18.9 billion fiscal plan Tuesday, leaving only an omnibus bill to pass which is currently the focus of a four-day public hearing.

Given the ongoing public hearing over Bill 148, the financial measures act, opposition says the government should slow down while public hearings continue until Thursday, where public is weighing on the financial plan.

It’s expected the PC government will pass the Appropriations Act on Tuesday night which includes more than $17 billion in departmental spending across the government.

Leaving only the Financial Measures Act to pass which is undergoing four days of public hearings, beginning on Monday.

“There’s two parts to the budget, there’s the Appropriations Act and the FMA,” said John Lohr, the provinces finance minister. “Both need to pass for the budget to pass.”

Over the past two days Bill 148 has seen almost 80 people come forward to speak to government, mostly sharing concerns over budget cuts.

But most of the spending cuts are found at the departmental level within the Appropriations Act, the public is still being given the chance to speak to the cuts during the Bill 148 briefing.

Opposition argues once the Appropriations Act moves forward, much of the spending concerns raised at the public hearings will have very little impact.

“If appropriations passes while the premier is in Texas in the middle of the night when we are in the middle of public bills, then Nova Scotians are going to be even more upset than they are now,” said N.S. opposition leader, Claudia Chender.

Opposition argues Premier Tim Houston, who is also the province’s energy minister, should be in the legislature to vote on the Appropriations Act.

“He’s where he needs to be right now,” said Lohr. “He’ll be back as soon as he can. I understand he’ll be back Friday.”

The PC party says Houston will be at the legislature to vote on Bill 148 and fully pass the budget, later.

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