The Nova Scotia NDP are criticizing Premier Tim Houston for his continual absence from the legislature.
Last month, the controversial provincial budget bill passed without Houston’s attendance. During that time, he was in Texas for an oil and gas conference. Now, with the legislature continuing its spring session, Houston has once again taken off to Calgary to meet with major energy companies as the province moves toward offshore energy developments.
In a press release on April 7, the NSNDP targeted Houston’s inconsistent attendance as it looks to table a bill that will require both Houston and Finance Minister John Lohr (who was allegedly in a meeting when the vote was called) to vote on the bill and stand by their decisions.
The budget itself has been deemed disastrous by many, particularly in the cuts made to many non-profits, community groups, organizations and the provincial government, a total of $304 million. Government jobs, services and grants will be impacted. While $53.6 million was reversed for seniors care, disability programs and education for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students, Houston said before the vote that the Tories did not plan to reverse any more cuts.
The budget comes after news of a $1.4 billion deficit, caused in part by the provincial government cutting HST, removing bridge tolls in Halifax, and a willingness to spend outside the annual budget, which the auditor general has criticized to no avail. As of last month, Houston said he will continue to spend outside of the budget, despite the 2026-27 budget expected to have a deficit of $1.2 billion.
NSNDP leader Claudia Chender believes Houston should be held accountable for the budget bill, and should have to vote on the bill to make his stance clear.
“The Premier shouldn’t be able to make cruel cuts to supports that people need, decimate entire sectors that have kept our province going for generations, and take away Nova Scotian jobs without standing behind those decisions,” she says in the press release.
“If your choices hurt people in the province, you don’t get to run away and hide. Elected leaders showing up when things are hard is the very least Nova Scotians should be able to expect.”
According to the NSNDP, Houston is on track to miss 40 percent of the current legislative sitting days.
As the opposition continues to blast Houston for his absence, he says Nova Scotia must build up its energy sector in the wake of rising energy costs.
“We can see how volatile gas prices have become with global uncertainties. While demand for energy is going up, we have a wealth of natural resources that are untapped,” says Houston in the press release announcing his visit to Calgary. “I’m having conversations that are paving the way for responsible, safe development that can boost our economy and energy security while providing reliable, high-paying jobs for Nova Scotians.”
Okay, so I’m retired these days, but I worked one or more jobs for all of my life since I was a preteen working four paper routes.
I have worked for warehouses, retail, restaurants, the library, factories – the list is long.
But I’ll tell you this.
If I was missing 40 percent of ANY job, I’d be fired.
Meanwhile, this dude is being wined and dined and staying in comfortable lodgings drawing a yearly pay of nearly three hundred thousand.
And yes, I am aware that he famously cut his salary down to one hundred ninety thousand in 2022, but by early 2025 he was back up to his current pay of two hundred seventy-five thousand dollars a year.
Nice work if you can get it, I reckon.