Nova Scotia says it will spend $1.6 billion on infrastructure in coming year
CTV
Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative government says it will spend $1.62 billion on its capital plan in the coming year to strengthen health-care infrastructure and respond to the province's population growth.
Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative government says it will spend $1.62 billion on its capital plan in the coming year to strengthen health-care infrastructure and respond to the province's population growth.
Finance Minister Allan MacMaster said Monday that the province's planned 2023-24 spending on highways, schools, hospitals and land is the largest single-year infrastructure budget in the province's history. Last year the government budgeted spending of $1.58 billion.
"This is an ambitious plan, but we are a growing province and we need to invest in our infrastructure," MacMaster said during a press conference.
The minister said this year's capital funding plan includes "generational investments that (will) make a big impact today and prepare us well for the future."
For the year beginning April 1, Nova Scotia will spend $275.1 million on the province's two biggest hospital projects: the Halifax Infirmary expansion and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality health-care redevelopment.
It will also spend $91 million on other medical facility upgrades in Bridgewater, Pugwash, Yarmouth and Halifax.
The province plans to spend $498.5 million on its five-year highway improvement plan, which includes $60 million more than last year for secondary highways and $15 million more for gravel roads.