Here’s what to watch for as Nova Scotia politicians head back to the legislature

HALIFAX – Nova Scotia’s legislature resumes Tuesday after a rocky spring sitting and a minister’s resignation over rap music lyrics from 2013. Here’s what to watch for.

Fallout from budget cuts

Nova Scotia’s 2026-27 deficit budget came with cuts to arts, culture, tourism, Mi’kmaq and African Nova Scotian programming, disability supports and other community programs, which sparked protests in and outside of the legislature earlier this year.

The province’s budget forecast a $1.2 billion deficit and included $304 million in cuts to grants, government jobs and operational expenses.

Six days after releasing the budget, Premier Tim Houston said his government had made some mistakes. He restored about $54 million in spending for people with disabilities and seniors, and for African Nova Scotian and Indigenous students.

Despite the partial reversal, people protested the cuts in the legislature and at Houston’s speaking events through the summer.

A person smashed the windshield of the premier’s vehicle during a protest after Houston’s appearance in Wolfville, N.S., this summer, said RCMP. Police later arrested a 19-year-old suspect.

Disruptions in the legislature

The Speaker of the Nova Scotia legislature banned 36 people from the legislature for protesting earlier this year. But late last week, she overturned those bans.

Some protesters in the gallery broke into song during a demonstration against budget cuts on March 24. Other protesters began yelling.

The disruption delayed a vote that went on to be passed the following day.

Some demonstrators then blocked exits and prevented vehicles from leaving. One man was arrested and later released, police said.

Speaker Danielle Barkhouse banned the participants beginning Sept. 1, but she reversed that decision on Friday, saying the Progressive Conservative government, opposition parties and the Nova Scotia Arts Coalition all expressed their opposition to the bans.

“If disruptions of the House are permitted to occur unfettered, the house will be paralyzed and the work of elected (representatives) stymied,” Barkhouse said in a statement. “There is nothing democratic about this.”

Questions about former energy minister

Houston has said he expects questions on Tuesday about his former energy minister.

Marco MacLeod resigned from cabinet last week over a rap song he performed and published in 2013. The lyrics included misogynistic terms for women and references to cocaine use.

MacLeod apologized and said he met with women’s advocacy groups in an effort to take accountability for his actions.

The premier said last week that he expects the opposition parties will bring it up when the legislature resumes, but he will not participate in a “pile-on.”

“People will look to make political gains off of one person’s mistake and tragedy. I’m not on that page,” he told reporters in Halifax after a cabinet meeting Thursday, adding that Macleod feels “incredible remorse.”

This means Houston is back in the role of energy minister, a portfolio he’s said is a top priority for his government. He held the role for about seven months before appointing MacLeod in late May.

Priorities of the parties

House leader Brendan Maguire said the government is focused on growing the economy “by pursuing opportunities in energy, mining and critical minerals, and defence,” as Canada and the United States remain locked in a trade war.

Maguire said the Progressive Conservatives will use the fall session to support workers and “and protect communities so that Nova Scotia can seize these opportunities.”

The official Opposition NDP say they’ll push for rent protection and better access to health care for women. 

NDP leader Claudia Chender said her party will table a proposal to cover the costs of birth control, hormone replacement therapy for menopause and a full cycle of IVF. She also wants to introduce new protections for renters. 

Interim Liberal leader Iain Rankin said his party’s focus is affordability. 

Rankin said his party will table bills aimed at strengthening competition between grocery stores and removing the provincial portion of HST on all food items in the grocery store. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 7, 2026.