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The $53 million in budget funding Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced would be restored includes the cancellation of a planned cut of three per cent to nursing home staff.
The Nova Scotia government released on Wednesday the list of grants and programs that will see their funding reinstated. It includes about $6.7 million earmarked for nursing homes and home care agencies.
When the budget was tabled more than two weeks ago, it included $130 million in cuts to discretionary grants and an additional $174 million related to job cuts.
The latter called for a five per cent reduction across the civil service and a three per cent cut across the broader public sector in a way that would not affect frontline services.
Seniors and Long-Term Care Minister Barbara Adams confirmed Wednesday that that three per cent cut would no longer apply to nursing home staff.
“While we were confident that we would be able to work with [homes] to have that go out through attrition and retirement, this is good news for the facilities themselves and they were very happy when they heard the news,” Adams told reporters at Province House.
Houston announced Tuesday a reversal of some cuts following several weeks of public blowback over cuts to programs aimed at people with disabilities, the arts sector and the African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities.
The cuts to 287 grants administered by the province prompted thousands of people to rally outside Province House.
On Wednesday, the province said $53 million in funding will be restored to the budget, including some grants. Many of the restored grants are administered by the Department of Seniors and Long-term Care.
More than half of the restored funding will go to four programs:
- Meal Delivery Program: $16 million
- Operating Grants for Long-Term Care Facilities and Home Care Agencies: $6.7 million
- Operating Grants for Disability Support Facilities: $3.3 million
- Enhanced Adult Day Programming: $2.4 million
Staffing cuts in future years
The budget includes a sustainability plan that calls for cuts in each of the next three years, as well. In each of those cases, the five per cent and three per cent staff reductions are slated to continue.
Adams would not speculate today about whether nursing homes will face a staffing cut next year.
Houston told reporters that the government is contending with a deficit of more than $1.2 billion and steps must be taken to rein it in.
“It’s our expectation that government gets more and more efficient and maintains the frontline services to Nova Scotians,” he said.
‘This government is not honest’
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said she was surprised to hear that the three per cent cut to nursing home staff was being reversed because that was not spelled out during the premier’s public remarks Tuesday.
Chender said it appears the government is focused on dealing with a political problem it created.
“This government is not honest with Nova Scotians, they’re not honest with the members in this House and they don’t seem to be honest with each other judging from the cabinet ministers’ reactions to this budget,” she told reporters.
Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin said the situation leaves him wondering if planned cuts of three per cent for other entities, such as Nova Scotia Health, will go ahead.
Education Minister Brendan Maguire confirmed Wednesday that the cuts for regional centres for education are still happening.
Rankin said he’s not so sure those cuts will hold up if the pressure on the government gets high enough.
“I think you’re going to see another political problem that the premier is going to have to face,” he told reporters.
Here is a full list of the grants and program and funding that will be reinstated:
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