Tim Houston missing in action while power rates increase and budget chaos continues

HALIFAX –Nova Scotians are waking up to news that, by the end of next year, families will be paying $600 more for power than they were before Houston was elected. In their decision, the Energy Board made it clear that support for Nova Scotians dealing with the high cost of power must come from the legislature.

This morning’s rate hike decision comes after the PC government tried to force a midnight vote on their harmful cuts in their budget last night. Today, Opposition Leader Claudia Chender called on Premier Tim Houston to come back from the U.S. and face these challenges head-on.

“It’s not okay for the government to keep passing the buck,” said Chender. “The Houston government has had years to launch a full review of how Nova Scotia Power operates and why people are paying so much for unreliable service. They have had years to review the ownership structure to decide how best to serve the people of the province. They have repeatedly delayed putting in place an affordable energy rate program with on-bill discounts, arrears management, and energy efficiency measures to help the hundreds of thousands of Nova Scotians making tough choices to keep the heat on.

“The premier still hasn’t reversed the terrible decision he made to kick 46, 000 people off the heating assistance rebate program.”

The Nova Scotia Power rate increase comes on the heels of widespread protests against Houston’s cruel budget cuts, which impact the province’s arts sector, education, African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities, youth, people with disabilities, seniors, vulnerable Nova Scotians, and many more.

Hundreds of Nova Scotians have spoken out against the budget cuts during Public Bills, and a peaceful protest late last night disrupted the Houston government’s plan to lock in these harmful cuts while Houston was still away.

“The government doesn’t seem to understand how frustrated Nova Scotians are feeling,” said Chender. “This budget has been a disaster from the beginning. We still have cuts that no minister can explain, no analysis of the impact to thousands of jobs and industries that generate billions of dollars in GDP, and no explanation for the thousands of Nova Scotians whose lives will be affected by these cruel and senseless cuts. The premier needs to come back from the U.S. and start dealing with these issues.”

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