NSNDP

October 28th, 2024

Houston’s millions in backroom spending hasn’t fixed health care

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia New Democrats are calling out Tim Houston for his failure to address the health-care crisis. Fixing health care was the Conservatives’ biggest promise during the last provincial election.

“Instead of fixing health care and focusing on real, tangible actions to ensure Nova Scotians have the services they need, Tim Houston is relying on quick Band-Aid solutions and pouring millions of public dollars into apps, tech deals, and shady contracts,” said Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender. “Take the Hogan Court boondoggle. Tens of millions of dollars have been spent on a half-finished hotel. Yet, this facility hasn’t helped a single Nova Scotian – the only ones benefitting are the rich developers profiting from this botched deal.”

The Houston government has also signed a nearly $50 million contract with Think Research and is funneling more than $40 million into an unsolicited partnership with Google Cloud.

Meanwhile, Nova Scotians are still stuck with a patchwork of health care options that are difficult to navigate.

“Tim Houston is spending millions of public health dollars on backroom deals that aren’t improving the care Nova Scotians receive in their communities. We can’t afford to continue subsidizing private developers and tech companies while people continue to go without the care they need,” said Chender. “Nova Scotians deserve leadership they can believe in, and a government that invests in real solutions to address the health-care crisis.”

Nova Scotians will head to the polls on Nov. 26, months before the fixed election date Houston set for July 15, 2025, in his very first piece of legislation.

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