Chender: Liberal budget shows lack of planning, foresight

HALIFAX -- NDP Finance spokesperson Claudia Chender made the following statement in response to today’s provincial budget update:

“Although it is not surprising to see this level of spending associated with COVID-19, the budget shows a lack of planning and foresight for our province’s recovery. The Liberals have failed to take into account the need for increased investment in education, child care, long-term care and housing.

The budget update made no mention of the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on women, who are being pushed out of the economy due to lack of certainty around child care and education, and lack of guaranteed employment flexibility. A truly fiscally responsible government would have recognized the significant return on investment of child care funding and built investments in this sector into its recovery plan.”

The NDP caucus has called for an economic task force that would engage stakeholders and reflect the priorities of communities in Nova Scotia in the wake of COVID-19.

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