Key takeaways:
- Spending on clinic redevelopments is ramping up.
- Allan MacMaster is Nova Scotia’s finance minister.
- He unleashed the PC government’s first capital intent in Halifax on Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Capital Plan beating $1.5b:
The Progressive Conservative government’s first capital plan is the biggest in Nova Scotia’s record, with almost $1.5 billion in spending, especially on hospitals, highways, and schools.
Finance Minister Allan MacMaster unleashed the 2022-23 plan Wednesday.
“A few years have been challenging, but I believe we are arising from the pandemic with a promising future,” MacMaster said at a media briefing.
“Nova Scotians are seeing cranes in the sky and structures going up, and with this year’s capital plan, they will see more.”
The largest share of the $1.587-billion capital plan, approximately $630 million, goes to health care. That has $464.6 million for ongoing hospital projects in Cape Breton Regional Municipality and Halifax Regional Municipality.
Spending on hospital redevelopments is ramping up.
Spending on those projects is significantly higher this year than previous. The two hospital redevelopments accounted for $178.2 million in the 2021-22 capital plan.
Ryan Grant, executive director of Nova Scotia’s Finance and Treasury Board, said the more significant prices mirror the natural progression of the projects. He said a further price breakdown would be known after a tendering process for a considerable part of the QEII project in Halifax closes sometime this year.
Another health care spending has $122.6 million for building, repair, renewal, and other health projects, and $32 million to replace medical supplies — doubling the last budget for equipment upgrades.
The capital plan also comprises $507.8 million for improving or constructing highways, bridges, and roads, as was declared earlier this year in the five-year highway plan.
Public schools will receive $175.3 million this year for renovations and design and building of new buildings. Gone from this year’s capital plan is cash to purchase back schools constructed through public-private partnerships. The last of those buildings were bought in 2021-22.
