批评者说，NS预算未能采取行动处理更高的生活成本

“这只是选举后才有几个月，但今天的预算显示了我们，只有触摸钟休斯顿已经成为斗争，人们面临的斗争，”NDP领导加里伯里尔说。“这只是令人震惊的是，没有什么可以帮助家庭处理生活必需品的成本。”（Click here to read the Tueday’s article with a breakdown of the budget).

虽然家庭将在每年的Nova Scotia儿童的福利增加约300美元至400美元，但收入援助支票被冻结，以支付更高的食品和燃料成本。相反，食品银行将获得更多的钱。

自由主义领袖Iain Rankin表示，“这笔预算有很好的事情，如持续的创新折扣计划我们的政府创造了创造的创造，以及更多的省级儿童福利计划的收件人的资金”。“但是，当它没有什么可以保护大多数新斯科特人的钱包没有什么，这是一个完整的麻签。”

While the NDP praised the government for committing to hire more caregivers for residents in long-term care homes, the New Democrats were disappointed there wasn’t more action on mental health.

“Tim Houston promised that there would be universal access to mental health care, but today’s budget breaks that promise. We see no action on access to same-day/next-day mental health,” said Lisa Lachance, MLA for Halifax Citadel-Sable Island and NDP Mental Health and Addictions spokesperson.

Both the Nova Scotia branch of Canadian Mental Health Association and the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers were hoping to see much bigger investments in mental health, as much as 10% of health spending, as recommended by World Health Organization. Instead of a $230-million investment — or even the $110 million for universal mental health care Tim Houston promised during the election campaign — the 2022 budget appears to contain only $20 million for mental health and treatment of addictions.

“这不是首屈一指的劳动，”社会工作者新斯科舍省的执行董事Alec Stratford说。Stratford said he’s pleased to see the hiring of additional staff for community mental health clinics and increased access to “virtual” mental health services but added, “If the premier truly values the mental health of Nova Scotians, that money needs to flow and we didn’t see that today.”

斯特拉特福德的同事在新斯科舍省分支of the Canadian Mental Health Association are also concerned the PC government didn’t allocate enough money to improve what social workers call the “social determinants of health.” These are basics such as a roof over your head and enough money to pay for food and electricity. An increase to the Nova Scotia Child Benefit is good, but an increase to income assistance rates would be better. According to Stratford, $50 million to build affordable housing this year and $17 million to help the homeless barely scratch the surface of the size of investment in co-op, non-profit, and public housing needed to make rent affordable for hundreds of thousands of Nova Scotians.

Stratford说：“将更多的高端公寓放在市场上并不应对经济适用住房的深刻需求”。“如果”经济实惠“被定义为不超过您收入的30％，对于在最低工资的全职工作的人中，每月约有600美元的租金，我们还没有看到任何拟议的住房以满足该门槛。”

Stratford estimates it would take government investment in the range of $500 million a year over 10 years to adequately respond to the housing crisis.

Reaction from doctors, teachers, business groups

“医生NovaScotia医生医生薪酬/实践支持主任Alana Patterson表示，我们很高兴地持续关注所有医疗保健专业人士的招募。“这是一个竞争激烈的市场，因此继续努力至关重要。今天，我们知道我们的25％的家庭医生和23％的专家均超过60岁，所以我们现在正在迫切需要，这将持续到未来。“

“The NSTU is encouraged that public education funding levels are being maintained and that an additional $15 million is being invested to support inclusive education — something the teachers union requested in pre-budget consultations,” states a news release issued by the Nova Scotia Teachers Union (NSTU). However, NSTU president Paul Wozney said the budget fails to address the growing need for more substitute teachers to ease the strain on teachers burnt out after two years of adaptation and concerns associated with their students and their own health and safety.

“Many teachers have not had adequate prep time since December, because their days are spent moving from class to class filling in for people who are sick. Urgent investment is needed to recruit and retain teachers, including better pay for subs,” Wozney said.

哈利法克斯商会首席执行官Patrick Sullivan，赞扬休斯顿政府在HRM的九个地区开发成千上万的住房单位的3500万美元投资。所有类型的房屋都需要赶上人口增长，沙利文表示，为哈利法克斯斯坦菲尔德国际机场提供资金，这将有助于吸引更多的国内航班也是一件好事。Sullivan表示，全省收入的持续增长应支持额外的卫生保健投资，尽管他不相信为护理家庭专用的额外1420万美元将是“转型性”，除非发现了更多的床/地方。他说，他担心预算中的新税收措施将使搬到新斯科舍或苏格兰人民的人们施加更高的成本，或者在已经拥有夏天住房的非居民和财产可能产生负面影响。

“Anything that discourages investment in Nova Scotia is a worry for the Chamber of Commerce and I think that discourages investment,” Sullivan said. “I don’t know that is going to be a significant contributor to making more housing available or increasing tax revenue”.

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