REALITY CHECK: Houston government’s budget chaos continues

HALIFAX – The Houston Government ministers haven’t been able to answer the most basic questions about this budget, including about the cuts they made, the cuts they reversed or the cuts that remain.

For weeks, the Premier and ministers have ducked and dodged questions, blamed staff for cuts, blamed federal funding decisions, and denied that disability funding had been cut at all. Yesterday, the Premier apologized and reversed some cruel cuts while doubling down on others.

Premier Tim Houston hid from journalists after Question Period, leaving his Ministers to continue dodging questions Nova Scotians want answered:

• The Minister of Finance couldn’t tell reporters what specific funding was being restored and confirmed that “the final decision was literally made this morning.”
• The Minister of African Nova Scotian Affairs said she’s seen the list of the cuts being rolled back, but refused to confirm which cuts to African Nova Scotian programs remain.
• And the Deputy Premier was asked if people could expect more changes but refused to give reporters a straight answer.

“The PC Government couldn’t explain or defend their cruel, careless cuts from the start and, despite the Premier apologizing and reversing some of these harmful cuts – the ministers still can’t explain them now,” said Chender. “The Houston government created this province’s historic deficit. They spent $6.7 billion out of budget, and they’re still making thousands of Nova Scotians pay for it.

People’s trust in this government is at an all-time low. After this absolute mess, people have lost faith that the government is doing the work to understand the impact of its choices; it’s not hard to see why.”

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