The Nova Scotia government plans to spend over $1.6 billion on capital projects in the coming fiscal year, which includes hospitals, schools, and roads and highways. Finance Minister Allan MacMaster presented the 2024-25 capital plan this week that also earmarks funds for new housing projects.

“I am pleased this plan supports efforts to build more housing faster and includes the first new funding for public housing construction in more than 20 years,” he said.

Investments that are part of the More, Faster: The Action for Health Build plan include a range of projects, such as, $301.7 million for the Halifax Infirmary expansion and Cape Breton Regional Municipality healthcare redevelopment project and about $146 million for constructing and renewing other hospitals and medical facilities in places like Pugwash, Yarmouth and Amherst and at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax.

The plan also unveiled $208.5 million to build and renovate schools, four of which will open this year, and $50 million to buy land for future needs. Over $30 million for provincial park upgrades and storm damage repairs is also on the list.

Like most provinces in Canada, housing remains a key issue. It’s been more than 20 years since Nova Scotia set aside new funding for public housing construction. For the coming fiscal year.

The government is funnelling $15.5 million into new public housing units. That is part of a $47.1-million investment in building and repairing public housing that also includes $11.8 million for new modular housing. Another $11.8 million will go toward new modular housing and about $27 million will fund Nova Scotia Community College student housing projects at various stages of development.