Premier and Finance Minister skip vote for disastrous budget

HALIFAX – Today, NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender made the following statement after the Houston government pushed through the Appropriations Act with both the Premier and Finance Minister absent:

“This is the definition of governing behind closed doors. The Houston government is banning Nova Scotians from the People’s House, the Premier is out of the country, and the Minister of Finance couldn’t be bothered to show up to vote in favour of cuts that he can’t even explain. This chaotic budget is so bad that the people in charge of it didn’t even have the courage to stand behind it with their vote.

The Houston government shut people out of the Legislature for singing peacefully to disrupt last night’s vote. They haven’t been listening to valid criticism and now people are deeply frustrated.

Today’s vote means Nova Scotians are getting the worst of both worlds: irresponsible spending behind closed doors and deep cuts to vulnerable people and thriving local sectors.”

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