Daycare fees are to drop a further 25 per cent in Nova Scotia beginning December 31st.
The new reduction announced Monday builds on a 25 per cent fee cut that took effect April 1st.
Early Childhood Development Minister Becky Druhan says fees will be 50 per cent lower, on average, compared to 2019 for infants, toddlers and preschoolers.
The latest cut will cost 76 million dollars and will be funded by a 605-million dollar fund that was set up under the joint provincial-federal child-care agreement signed in 2021.
A new report says Atlantic Canada was home to the highest and lowest welfare rates among the provinces last year.
The report from Toronto-based anti-poverty think tank Maytree says New Brunswick had the lowest rate, with a single person receiving $7,499 including tax breaks in 2021.
In Nova Scotia that number is $8,385. PEI had the highest rate at $13,838 for the year, including tax breaks.
Maytree says poverty deepened across the country in 2021 as inflation increased and pandemic benefits ended.
The parliamentary budget officer says the Liberal government did not show fiscal restraint in its recent fall economic statement.
Yves Giroux told M-Ps at a House of Commons finance committee that Ottawa is spending a significant portion of the new fiscal room it has this year.
High inflation and the COVID-19 recovery have boosted government revenues, resulting in a lower-than-projected federal deficit.
But the Liberals have earmarked about 52-billion-dollars in new spending out of the 81.2-billion in new fiscal room since their spring budget.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is leaving for a week-long trade mission to Boston and Washington on Wednesday.
Houston says the trip will also provide an opportunity to share ideas on other issues, including healthcare delivery and fighting climate change.
His visit to Boston will include the annual lighting of the Christmas tree donated by Nova Scotians in recognition of help received in the aftermath of the Halifax Explosion.
Houston will also be speaking to a digital health summit in Washington next week where he says he will focus on Nova Scotia’s success with increasing access to virtual care to enhance healthcare delivery.
Today is GivingTuesday, a day that encourages people to do good.
It was created in 2012, and has grown around the world, inspiring hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.
You’re encouraged to mark GivingTuesday by giving to your favourite charity, or doing a simple act of kindness for someone else.
