QP - Massive Budget Cuts
CLAUDIA CHENDER : Speaker, this government has been spending outside their budget with no oversight despite repeated entreaties just to know how the money is being spent for years, $6.7 billion, and it is Nova Scotians who are paying the price and I am glad the Premier is here today to answer these questions, finally.
Jobs, services, and programs that help run our province are on the chopping block: cuts to municipalities, cuts to the scientific management of our natural resources, cuts to tourism, cuts to arts and culture, cuts to libraries, and cuts to social services. If this government expects hard-working Nova Scotians to stay within their budget especially once they have lost their jobs, why cannot they stay within theirs?
THE SPEAKER : The honourable Minister of Finance and Treasury Board.
HON. JOHN LOHR : Speaker, I will remind the member that we follow the exact same process that the previous two governments including the previous NDP government followed. I had tabled additional appropriations today as is required by the Act of the Legislature. So, we are following that exact same process. We will make no apologies for continuing to invest. When we have the opportunity, we will invest in things like student loans and things like wildfire supports. When we have that opportunity, we will continue to support Nova Scotians. I will make no apologies for that. I am proud of our investments in Nova Scotia, and this budget continues that investment. In fact, a 7.7 percent increase in things that Nova Scotians need like affordability in . . .
THE SPEAKER : Order.
The honourable Leader of the Official Opposition.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : I wish that the Premier would be clear with Nova Scotians. Yes, that is the way the Legislature works. The Auditor General and every opposition party have tried to change that. The most money ever spent under appropriations before this government - COVID, $300 million - $1 billion per year, it is apples and oranges. Power bills are up by $400 per year for the average family. This budget does not have any money to help Nova Scotians with their bills or reverse the cruel cuts that kicked 46,000 people off the Heating Assistance Rebate Program.
After five years of unprecedented spending with very few results for the average family, Nova Scotians have to wonder who this government is defending.
JOHN LOHR : Speaker, our students in schools are getting school lunches today. Do not tell me that there are no results for the average Nova Scotian.
Every family benefits from that with a child in school. So, I would ask the member why did her party . . .
THE SPEAKER : Order. Order, order, order, order. Sorry, I used my Mom voice. Please respect any individual who is speaking. I would expect the same for everybody in this room.
The honourable Minister of Finance and Treasury Board.
JOHN LOHR : I will ask the member which appropriation did they not agree with? We met the needs of Nova Scotians. We are investing in school lunch programs. We are investing in health care. Speaker, we are working hard to meet the needs of Nova Scotians. We are continuing to do that.