Houston government plans to spend $1.6B again this year on roads, hospitals, schools

The Houston government's capital plan for the coming fiscal year will be just as expensive and expansive as last year's, with the governing Progressive Conservatives looking to spend about $1.6 billion on infrastructure in 2023-24.

Finance Minister Allan MacMaster, who unveiled his capital plan to reporters in Halifax on Monday, said he expected Nova Scotians to "appreciate" all that spending — despite the hefty price tag.

"This money is going to fix essential items like schools and hospitals and the roads they drive on," MacMaster said. "I know that's something that's very important to Nova Scotians and I think when they look at investments that are being made like that, that are core investments that they derive value out of every day, I think they will appreciate the way this money is being spent."

According to documents provided by the province, the money will be spent on:

The province is also setting aside $52 million to cover inflation or unforeseen expenses.

"With the growing population, we need to address our aging infrastructure in health care, education, housing, roads and highways," said MacMaster. "All of these areas support our communities and keep our economy moving. In these times of change, it's time to move into high gear."

MacMaster was willing to talk about the $40 million the province plans to spend on modular classrooms for "bursting at the seams" Halifax-area schools and the $30 million it will shell out for school repairs. But he left it to Education Minister Becky Druhan to announce how the province plans to spend the lion's share of her department's $241-million capital budget. 

"In the near future, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development will be sharing its updated five-year school capital plan which will outline their school capital projects for coming years, which will include new schools," said MacMaster.

The province is also setting aside $50 million in a new "strategic land investment envelope."

MacMaster said the money could pay for land or property the province might need to acquire in future.

"When it comes to property we don't want to put all our cards on the table," said MacMaster. "If we did we wouldn't get as good of a deal for taxpayers.

"So by socking this money away, it gives us the chance to be more visionary, taking a longer-term view and more strategic and, hopefully, getting better value when we purchase properties for things that we may need in the future, whether it's for a school or for expansion of a medical facility and so on."

The provincial government has come under fire in recent months for having paid top price for an unfinished hotel it plans to convert into a health facility to house patients that no longer need hospital care but cannot go home or be transferred to a care home.

Provincial parks are also getting some attention from the province this coming year. The capital plan includes $10 million for upgrades and repairs, including a new washroom at Lawrencetown Beach, accessibility improvements at Rainbow Haven Beach, and a parking lot, toilet and beach access at Carters Beach.