Houston Spends Billions, Workers Pay the Price

Yesterday, the Houston government introduced the 2026 Blizzard Budget, which delivered cuts to programs and jobs.

The government tabled a budget that contains a $1.2-billion deficit. The largest deficit Nova Scotia has ever faced. This comes after four years of this same government taking in more revenue than any other government in the province’s history.

Tim Houston created this problem and rather than take responsibility, he is cutting good paying public service jobs.

At the same time he is cutting these jobs and services, he is increasing the budget of his own Premier’s Office, as well as the ministerial budget for the Department of Energy, of which he is the self-appointed Minister.

This is not leadership. These are not the solutions Nova Scotians were promised. This is not responsible fiscal management.

Families continue to wait hours in emergency rooms, while corporations receive untendered million dollar contracts. At this rate, in four years’ time, the cost to service this debt will be the second largest government expenditure, with only health care costing more.

The full impacts of this slash and burn blizzard budget are still not completely known to us yet.

But the union is ready to mobilize and stand up for members across the province! Tomorrow (Wednesday Feb. 25), the NSGEU will hold a rally outside the Legislature from noon until 1:00 p.m. If you are able to come out at lunch and take a lap with the union, there will be signs and flags on site. We encourage all who can to come out and help support those who have already lost their jobs, and those whose jobs are under threat.

We also ask that you take time to send a message to politicians through our e-action: https://win.newmode.net/novascotiagovernmentandgeneralemployeesunion/protectourpublicservices

This campaign contains a generic message, but we encourage members to edit the message to reflect these cuts may affect their lives and the communities you serve. Please ensure that your messages do not attack government policies, programs, or officials, and that you do not use your government email or equipment to participate.