Nova Scotians are anticipating substantial government spending cuts as Finance Minister John Lohr prepares to unveil the budget for the new fiscal year. Lohr previously surveyed government departments on the potential impact of a 10 percent rollback in programs and grants, though not all recommendations are expected to be implemented. The government has already begun cutting services, recently announcing the closure of three provincial museums and several tourist information centers.
The minister has explicitly ruled out any increases to taxes or fees. This move comes as governments nationwide grapple with fiscal challenges. Nova Scotia's deficit, initially projected at $700 million for the current fiscal year, had expanded to nearly $1.3 billion by December and later climbed to an estimated $1.4 billion in January.