HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s capital plan for the 2025-26 fiscal year outlines a significant increase in the province’s public housing supply, aiming to address the growing demand for affordable housing, as thousands of individuals remain on the province’s housing waitlist.
Growth and Development Minister Colton LeBlanc revealed that the $2.4-billion plan includes the construction of 242 new public housing units, totaling an investment of $136.4 million. This comes in addition to the 222 housing units and 51 modular homes that were announced over the last 18 months—marking the first public housing investments in the province in three decades.
LeBlanc emphasized that expanding public housing is a crucial step in meeting the housing needs of Nova Scotia’s communities. He pointed out that these new units are expected to accommodate approximately 600 individuals. Despite the provincial government’s long-standing position that the private sector would address the demand for housing, LeBlanc did not place blame on the private market for the ongoing shortage of affordable housing. Instead, he stressed that the province needs to maximize the number of housing units available, with public housing being an essential part of the solution.
“There are still many Nova Scotians facing housing insecurity, but we are committed to ensuring they have access to a safe place to live,” LeBlanc stated.
However, Finance Minister John Lohr was more direct when questioned about the government’s decision to expand its public housing stock. “The need for more public housing is clear when you look at the waitlist, which currently has over 7,000 people on it,” Lohr explained.
While officials have not specified when the new housing units will be completed or where they will be located, they did indicate that the units will be built in areas with high demand for affordable housing, such as Halifax.
Updates were also provided regarding the initial batch of new housing announced in September 2023. Officials stated that 22 units in Glace Bay and 20 units in Lower Sackville are expected to be ready this summer, with 11 units in Kentville scheduled for completion in the fall. The target completion date for 22 units in Bridgewater and 11 units in Grand Etang is set for the summer of 2026. Additionally, 100 units in Lower Sackville, 30 in Halifax, and seven in Bible Hill are expected to be completed by the summer of 2028.
NDP Leader Claudia Chender welcomed the government’s announcement, acknowledging that it was timely and necessary. However, she noted that further efforts are required to meet the full demand for affordable housing, as many individuals are ineligible for public housing. “We need to encourage the creation of affordable, non-market housing to truly address the needs of our population,” Chender said.
In addition to housing, the capital plan includes significant investments in other sectors. A total of $1.4 billion is allocated for health, with $750.9 million designated for hospital projects in Halifax and the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. The plan also includes $210 million for school construction and renovations, as well as more than $518 million for highway development and upkeep.
Lohr emphasized that this capital plan will provide a degree of protection for the province against the potential impact of tariffs from the United States. “By stimulating our economy, this plan will help buffer us from potential tariffs and generate significant economic activity within Nova Scotia,” Lohr stated.