Nova Scotia’s 2025-26 Budget: Key Investments in Housing, Healthcare, and Economy

by Rob Lough

Nova Scotia’s 2025-26 Budget: What It Means for You

Nova Scotia’s latest budget is packed with big changes aimed at making life easier. With $17.6 billion in spending, the province is tackling key issues like housing, healthcare, and economic stability. So, what does this mean for you? Let’s break it down.

More Housing, Less Stress

If you’ve been struggling with rent or trying to find an affordable place to live, there’s some good news.

$88 million is going into public housing—building, renovating, and maintaining much-needed units. Over the last year and a half, 515 new units have been announced.
$73.9 million will be used for rent supplements, with 400 more people getting financial help. That brings the total number of rent supplements in the province to 8,900.
A $54.1 million HST rebate is coming for developers building new purpose-built rentals. If a project starts between September 14, 2023, and December 31, 2030 (and is completed by the end of 2035), it qualifies for the rebate. This could mean more rental units on the market in the near future.

Better Healthcare, More Support

Healthcare is getting a major boost, with a strong focus on long-term care and disability services.

$45.8 million is being spent to add new nursing home beds, with five new facilities opening this year.
$44.8 million is allocated to help people with disabilities move out of large institutions and into community-based settings.

Fighting Homelessness

Housing affordability isn’t just about rent—it’s also about keeping people off the streets.

The province is adding $10.5 million to its homelessness support programs, bringing the total budget for these initiatives to $130.5 million.

Tax Changes: Some Good, Some Not So Good

The budget also comes with tax changes. Some will ease the financial burden, while others might hit harder.

HST is dropping by 1% starting April 1, 2025, bringing the tax rate down to 14%. That means you’ll pay a little less on purchases.
If you’re a non-resident buying property, expect to pay more. The deed transfer tax is doubling from 5% to 10% as of April 1, 2025. This is meant to discourage speculative real estate investments and keep more homes available for locals.

Investing in the Economy and Climate Preparedness

Beyond housing and healthcare, the budget also makes big investments in infrastructure and emergency management.

$2.3 billion is being poured into capital projects, boosting jobs and economic growth.
Healthcare spending is jumping by 8%, with nearly $6 billion now allocated to improving services.
A new Department of Emergency Management is getting $25 million to help the province better handle climate-related disasters.

A Big Deficit, but a Long-Term Plan

All these investments come at a cost. Nova Scotia is looking at a $697.5 million deficit for the year. The government argues that this spending is necessary to fix long-standing problems and set the province up for long-term stability.

What’s Next?

The real test will be how these policies play out in the coming months. Will rent relief help enough people? Can healthcare investments keep up with demand? Will the HST cut make a noticeable difference?

One thing is certain—this budget will have a big impact on Nova Scotians. Now, it’s a matter of seeing if these changes deliver on their promises.