Hundreds of community groups and programs in Nova Scotia are preparing for funding cuts after the provincial government reduced grants by $130 million in this week’s budget.
The cuts affect scholarships, arts and sports programs, and services for Mi’kmaw, Black and Gaelic communities, as well as programs for seniors, youth, health and climate change. Some cuts are small, like $1,000 for a scholarship at Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, while others are much larger — including $10 million from the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.
The government is dealing with a $1.2-billion deficit. Grants across the province were cut from $328.6 million to $198.2 million — a drop of nearly 40 per cent. Some departments lost all their grant funding, while others saw smaller percentage cuts.
Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage Minister Dave Ritcey said the decisions were difficult but necessary. He said the province is focusing on key priorities like education and health care.
One program being cut is a student transit pass pilot in Halifax Regional Municipality. The program allowed junior high and high school students to ride Halifax Transit for free. The province said the $1.2-million program was not used enough and will instead give $600,000 to help low-income families pay for bus passes.
