Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston apologizes and reverses some budget cuts amid outcry

HALIFAX — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says weeks of pointed feedback forced him to recognize his government made some mistakes when it announced $130 million in cuts in his government’s last budget.

The premier apologized Tuesday, as he reversed some of those cuts, restoring about $54 million in spending on programs for people with disabilities and seniors, and for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students.

The unusual and stunning reversal comes just over two weeks after Houston’s government tabled its budget.

But the premier explained it was necessary because he could no longer live with the plan to slash funding for vulnerable Nova Scotians.

“Many people told us that they were worried about certain parts of the budget, and I want to start by saying on some of the decisions, we got it wrong. And for that, I’m sorry,” Houston told a news conference.

Since the Progressive Conservative government tabled its cost-cutting budget last month, the legislature has been the scene of several boisterous protests, with another rally on Tuesday. Houston and his ministers have also been booed and heckled at public events.

The premier previously said the unpopular cuts were needed to deal with the budget’s projected $1.2-billion deficit.

“The process, in some areas, probably got more clinical when it should have been more human,” Houston said. “And I would say that really started to weigh on me, certainly over the last week as I was hearing from people.”

Tom Urbaniak, a political scientist at Cape Breton University, said while it’s common for governments to make major amendments to legislation, it’s “unusual” to see it happen with a budget.

“This is a reminder to citizens that active engagement can work …. but it shouldn’t have to take mass mobilization for elected officials to give serious and sober second thought to public policy,” Urbaniak said in an interview Tuesday.

Vicky Levack, a disability rights advocate in Halifax, agreed that Houston’s reversal was proof that public pressure and protests work. “When we use our voices, our government does the right thing. It’s unfortunate they have to be shamed into doing it … but democracy is not dead,” she said in an interview outside of the legislature Tuesday.

Levack said she remains angry over the government’s cuts to arts and culture programming, and she will continue to protest in support of these sectors. “The arts are also disability support. Those grants allow people with disabilities and other minorities to tell their stories where commercial art spaces don’t allow us those opportunities,” she said.

Houston said his government will restore $21.4 million in grants to support seniors and people with disabilities, and to help African Nova Scotians and Indigenous people access educational opportunities. And another $10 million will go back to organizations that support those groups. As well, the government is also re-establishing $22.2 million in funding for community programs that support seniors, disability groups and the African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities.

“The deficit got bigger today with this announcement, but it’s a risk that we are taking in order to protect some of our most vulnerable,” Houston said.

He explained he and members of his caucus heard from constituents who shared concrete examples of how some of the proposed cuts would affect them.

“Not this yelling and screaming, but sitting down and people saying: ‘this is the impact,'” he said. “So I think it really started to become obvious and weigh heavily, certainly, over the last few days.”

Houston also said the government has the chance to make adjustments now while the legislature reviews the budget.

“One kind of rule that I always have …. is can I put my hand on my heart and (ask) — ‘we did the right thing there?’ And I think when I put hand on my heart and said, ‘well, what would the impact be on people living with disabilities?’ I couldn’t live with that,” Houston said.

The premier said when it comes to cuts to other sectors, he wishes he “could do more. But I have to live with that.”

He acknowledged that some, including people in the arts and culture sector, would be disappointed they were not included among the programs he’s choosing to reinstate.

“To the arts community, even though the program adjustments will remain, you are valued. Art and culture is a big part of what makes this province special. It’s a big reason why people want to live here, it’s a reason why others want to come here,” Houston said.

Another demonstration outside the legislature on Tuesday followed Houston’s announcement. It featured performances from several musicians and bands. Chants and music from the rally could be heard clearly from inside the legislature for more than three hours.

Chris O’Neill with the Nova Scotia Arts Coalition said it’s a good first step to reinstate some cuts, but the province owes it to Nova Scotians to reverse all of the $130 million in cuts to arts, tourism and culture programs, a youth transit pass, and Indigenous and African Nova Scotian projects.

“We applaud any politician who listens and who makes right the mistake they’ve made. Today he (Houston) has done that a little bit,” she said in an interview at Tuesday’s rally outside the legislature.

O’Neill said the hundreds of protesters at Tuesday’s demonstration represent just some of the Nova Scotians who are calling for a revamped budget that supports vulnerable and marginalized communities while continuing to strengthen the province’s vibrant arts and culture scene.

“They have squandered the economy of Nova Scotia, and Houston talks about how they’re going to bring it back, and he talks about revenue generation. We’re already here. We generate revenue,” O’Neill said of the province’s many artists and musicians.

Interim Liberal leader Iain Rankin said credit for Tuesday’s reversal goes to the many Nova Scotians who protested and those who contacted their MLAs to speak out against the cuts. “But the work isn’t over. There are still many unfair and punitive cuts in this budget,” he said.

“The Houston government tried to hoodwink Nova Scotians into thinking the only way to deal with a deficit his government created was to make the most vulnerable people in our province pay the price. Nova Scotians saw right through that,” he said in a statement Tuesday.

NDP leader Claudia Chender said Houston’s plan to reverse some cuts at this stage of the budget process tells her “this government is in chaos.”

“I have never seen a budget amended in the middle of the budget process,” Chender told reporters.

“This is a government that went through with cruel cuts, that sent out messaging to their cabinet ministers and MLAs over the weekend to defend and explain those cut, poorly, and now they are feeling some pressure and walking it back.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 10, 2026.

Lyndsay Armstrong, The Canadian Press