N.S. opposition says arts and culture cuts will hurt provincial economy

Nova Scotia MLAs continued to debate the budget on Friday.

Staring down a record $1.24 billion deficit, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston said his government must shrink spending to better match revenues which are down.

Protests over proposed budget cuts of up to $130 million have been a sizeable and steady presence outside the legislature since the budget was tabled late February.

Under pressure this week, Houston walked back $53.6 million in cuts for seniors and disability programs as well as educational supports.

While opposition credits the government for the partial walk-back, they want all cuts reversed and a new budget tabled, but the PCs aren’t willing to go that far.

“We have a limited resource, and we only have so much, and government can only afford to do so much,” said Houston.

Opposition argues the cuts to the arts, culture and tourism sector were poorly thought out, noting tourism revenues from the sector topped $3 billion.

“This government has not done the work to understand the impacts of this budget on Nova Scotians and as such they need to pause and take it back,” said N.S. NPD Leader Claudia Chender. “It’s not working for people.”

Houston wants to grow the economy through energy and natural resource development but in the meantime, spending must match declining revenues and points to other provinces who are dealing with similar spending and revenue challenges.

“Look at the deficits in Ontario, Quebec and B.C. and look at the federal government,” said Houston. “Every other province is making similar decisions.”

Arts, culture and tourism is a major economic driver, said Chender, and cuts like these risk impacting revenues right now.

“Whether it’s our publishers or our museums or artists in schools, whether it’s theatres, these all form the backbone of our tourism industry,” said Chender.

The Houston government is spending $66 million on arts and culture programming, arguing it’s an increase in annual spending and more than the previous Liberal government spent on arts and culture.

“All of us right across government had to make tough decisions,” said Communities Culture Tourism and Heritage Minister, Dave Ritcey. “And we are still investing $66 million and that is a $15 million increase and above 2021 spending.”

Premier Houston will miss several days of the budget debate when the legislature resumes following the March break. He’ll be travelling to Houston, Texas, to attend an energy conference, hoping to attract industry to Nova Scotia.

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