The McNeil government tabled a balanced budget with a $29.4 million surplus today.
That surplus is relying heavily on an estimated $20 million from taxes and duties on recreational cannabis sales.
Finance Minister Karen Casey presented the budget at Province House today.
“Achieving that fiscal sustainability is so important as it gives us the ability to make further investments in healthcare and education as we continue to live within our means,” she told the legislature.
Some healthcare highlights include $8 million for new collaborative care teams, $5.5 million for home care support including expanding the caregiver benefit, and $8.8 million to provide 350 more hip and knee surgeries.
On the South Shore the province has promised work on dialysis units at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater.
They also say they’ve committed to an expansion of South Shore Regional’s emergency department and intensive care unit.
There’s also funding being provided to improve a primary healthcare facility in Shelburne.
Casey told the legislature her government is making progress on healthcare.
“There has been progress … but I clearly want to acknowledge on behalf of our government that we know there is more work to be done.”
On education reform, the province is increasing funding to the Council to Improve Classroom Conditions by $10 million to start implementing their recommendations.
The Commission on Inclusive Education will get $15 million.
Some other highlights for the South Shore include money committed to a bridge rehabilitation project in Lunenburg County and to restoring Perkins House Museum in Liverpool.
The museum has been closed and in disrepair since 2015.
The province also promised investments in fisheries including $3 million for the new Building Tomorrow Fund to support innovation in agriculture, fisheries, and aquaculture sectors and $5.8 million added to the Atlantic Fisheries Fund.
The budget will see revenues of $10.81 billion and expenses of $10.78 billion.
