Building a Secure and Equitable Nova Scotia Economy in a Deglobalized World
At the start of February’s legislative session, the Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Well-Being (NSACCW) issued an open letter to Premier Tim Houston, urging immediate and bold action to tackle escalating economic challenges. The coalition warned that looming U.S. trade policies could worsen existing crises, including rising poverty, housing insecurity, and systemic inequality. Highlighting a 16% increase in child and family poverty and nearly half of Nova Scotia's workforce earning below a living wage, the letter underscored how soaring rents and weak protections are forcing many families to struggle with necessities, emphasizing the urgent need for action.
The NSACCW outlined broad solutions to these challenges, including raising wages to meet living standards, strengthening labour protections, and breaking down barriers to unionization. We called for policy that would brimh real and immediate action on the housing crisis through rent controls and significant investments in public housing. Additional recommendations included stabilizing the costs of essential goods, diversifying the economy with renewable and sustainable industries, expanding critical social programs like universal childcare and pharmacare, and adopting progressive tax policies to ensure equitable resource distribution. The coalition urged the government to prioritize these measures to build a fair and inclusive province.
However, the early steps of Premier Houston’s second term delivered on none of these. The government’s throne speech tried to connect resource extraction with poverty reduction (a connection that does not exist) and offered no meaningful solutions to issues like affordability, inequality, and economic sovereignty. Instead, it outlined policies that undermine democratic values, prioritize austerity, promote deregulation, and emphasize resource extraction, ignoring the need for sustainable and equitable economic strategies. NSACCW’s call to action is clear. These policy choices cannot go unchallenged
Nova Scotians are urged to reach out to their MLAs, share this message, and demand:
a focus on inclusive economic policies,
fair wages,
affordable housing,
and robust public supports.
Together, we must hold the government accountable and push for policies that prioritize the well-being of all residents, ensuring a resilient and equitable future for Nova Scotia.
The Need for a Bold Vision
Deglobalization, fractured supply chains, and widening inequality require a radical departure from outdated policies. Trickle-down economics has repeatedly failed to create shared prosperity, instead concentrating wealth while leaving workers and families behind. Nova Scotia needs a people-centered economic model that ensures fairness and stability by empowering communities, investing in public services, and tackling inequality head-on.
Here is what we need:
Policy Demands
Fostering Inclusive Economic Growth
Building a resilient economy starts with a bottom-up approach that prioritizes people. By investing in essential services like healthcare, housing, and childcare, and ensuring fair labour practices through union support and updated standards, we can empower working families and foster equitable growth. Progressive taxation further ensures that wealth is distributed fairly, providing the resources needed to build a stronger, more inclusive society.
Adopt a Bottom-Up Strategy: Prioritize investments in universal healthcare, affordable housing, childcare, pharmacare, and seniors’ care. These essential services strengthen the middle and lower classes, driving local economic participation and resilience.
Support Unionization: Remove barriers to unionization and strengthen collective bargaining rights to give workers a stronger voice.
Update Labour Standards: Extend protections to gig economy workers, ensuring security, fair wages, and safe working conditions.
Implement Progressive Taxation: Design a fairer tax system to prevent wealth concentration and ensure sustainable funding for these public services.
2. Building a Resilient Industrial Economy
Nova Scotia must prepare a forward-looking industrial strategy, focusing on renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and technology, ecotourism, and infrastructure. State-led initiatives and public ownership can reduce import dependency and promote stability, leveraging Nova Scotia’s strategic location and skilled workforce.
Pursue Green Industries: Support community owned energy projects like wind, tidal, and solar power, offering incentives for innovation to create jobs and meet climate goals.
Strengthen Supply Chains: Build well-regulated and/or publicly owned regional supply hubs for the focus section and reduce reliance on imports for inputs needed for strategic sectors
Expand Public Ownership: Establish public corporations in key sectors to fuel research, development, and long-term growth.
Invest in Workforce Development: Partner with educational institutions to provide training programs aligned with emerging industries while strengthening care-sector capacity.
3. Modernizing Infrastructure
A robust economy requires updated physical and social infrastructure. Nova Scotia’s aging transportation systems, unreliable internet, and underfunded public services hinder economic growth and quality of life.
Provide Affordable Housing: Introduce programs to eliminate housing insecurity and make homes affordable for all.
Invest in Coastal Protection: Construct natural barriers like wetlands, dunes, and living shorelines that absorb wave energy and reduce erosion while supporting biodiversity.
Invest in Sustainable Public Transit Infrastructure: Develop a cohesive network of rail, bus, and ferry systems to enhance both provincial and interprovincial connectivity. Prioritize clean energy-powered modes of public transit to reduce carbon emissions.
Expand Rail Freight and Passenger Services: Revive and expand rail lines to facilitate efficient shipping, reduce road congestion, and offer accessible interprovincial travel options.
Strengthen Regional Shipping Capabilities: Modernize port infrastructure to support increased maritime trade while creating jobs in coastal communities.
4. Critical Mineral Strategy:
A critical mineral strategy is essential to secure the raw materials needed for EV production, which is vital for transitioning to a green economy. By developing sustainable mining and processing practices, Nova Scotia can reduce reliance on imports, foster local manufacturing, and create high-quality jobs. Additionally, this strategy will ensure environmental protection while positioning the province as a leader in the global clean energy transition.
Develop Critical Mineral Resources: Create a well-regulated framework for sustainable mining and processing of key EV materials like lithium and nickel, prioritizing environmental standards and community engagement.
Boost Innovation and Recycling: Invest in research on eco-friendly mining, battery technology, and recycling to reduce waste and reliance on non-renewable resources.
Foster Local EV Manufacturing: Offer incentives to private investors as well as explore public ownership for manufacturers tap into regional supply chains, and position Nova Scotia as a leader in EV component production.
5. Transitioning from Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels are no longer a viable path. Nova Scotia must align with clean energy goals while supporting workers moving to green jobs.
Support Worker Transition Programs: Provide training for workers transitioning away from carbon-intensive industries.
6. Strengthening Economic Resilience
To reduce vulnerability to global disruptions, Nova Scotia must increase self-reliance and diversify trade partnerships beyond the U.S.
Promote Diverse Fair-Trade Partnerships: Focus trade agreements on ethical practices that prioritize human rights, environmental protection, and labour standards, ensuring fair wages and safe working conditions.
Diversify Trade Networks: Reduce dependency on single markets like the U.S. by cultivating relationships with global partners committed to sustainable and equitable practices.
7. Empowering Nova Scotians
A thriving, sustainable economy starts with a well-educated and supported population. By focusing on accessible education and universal care, we can unlock the full potential of Nova Scotians.
Expand Access to Education: From early childhood to post-secondary, education should be accessible and affordable for all. By reducing tuition fees and increasing investment in childcare and schooling, we can ease financial barriers while ensuring students are prepared for the future.
Strengthen Training for Key Sectors: We must enhance our capacity to train individuals in high-demand fields that drive economic growth. With targeted programs, we can prepare Nova Scotians for sectors that need skilled workers, fostering a stronger, more sustainable workforce.
Ensure Universal Care Services: Expanding universal care services like mental health support, healthcare, and housing is essential. With these supports in place, we can break down socioeconomic barriers and create opportunities for success at every stage of education and development.
By building a stronger foundation in education and care, we can empower Nova Scotians to thrive, ensuring a sustainable and prosperous future for all.
A Blueprint for Transformation
Canada's post-World War II economic success demonstrates the vital role of active government involvement in shaping a thriving society. Through deliberate policies like robust social safety nets, right touch regulations, and high levels of unionization, the foundation was laid for an economy where workers could enjoy quality lives and contribute to shared prosperity. These same principles are needed now to meet modern challenges, strengthen economic sovereignty, and create a future where fair wages, equitable opportunities, and sustainability drive progress. By rising to the occasion with decisive action, we can build a resilient economy that meets the demands of our times while ensuring long-term well-being for all.
