Following a landslide election victory a month ago, Nova Scotia’s premier is adopting a more measured tone in assessing the province’s relationship with the federal government.
Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservative Party returned to power on November 26, winning 43 of the 55 seats in Parliament, after attacking Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s Liberal government on various fronts during the election campaign. In fact, by arguing that he needs strong powers to stand up to Ottawa, he has threatened to call a snap election in defiance of the province’s fixed-date election law, which sets voting for July 2025. Justified the decision.
But in a recent year-end interview with Canadian Press, Houston was more conciliatory, saying his meeting with Trudeau at his Halifax office on Dec. 9 was done in a “spirit of cooperation.”
“We quickly started to see that the tone was different,” he said, adding that no matter what happens with Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal leadership, Nova Scotia will maintain an important relationship with the federal government. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Trudeau is facing increasing pressure from within his own caucus to resign.
High on Houston’s list of grievances is Ottawa’s imposition of a carbon price in the province and its refusal to pay the full cost of costly works needed to protect Houston. It is. Chignecto Isthmusa low-lying landmass connecting New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that is increasingly prone to severe flooding.
During the provincial election campaign, the premier accused the federal government of shirking its responsibility for the Isthmus, at times accusing Ottawa of trying to “rip it away from us.”
However, since his election victory, his language has become visibly softer.
“I think they were more open to looking at different ways that (the Isthmus project) could be funded, so I’m going to put that out there,” Houston said. “It’s not resolved yet. I don’t want to give the impression that it is, but certainly we are working towards a mutually acceptable solution.”
The federal government has said it is willing to pay for 50% of an estimated $650 million project to strengthen levee systems and railways along land routes essential to combat sea level rise. Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are to split the remaining half of the cost, with each province then Nova Scotia Court of Appeal to determine whether responsibility for the work rests entirely with the federal government.
Huston said the legal challenge (Ottawa must file a response in January) is moving forward and public hearings are expected to begin in March.
“They have not applied yet and we have not withdrawn,” he said. “It’s still on paper and will remain on paper until we get a resolution.”
Nova Scotia cannot afford to be distracted by its dispute with Ottawa as it tries to fend off the U.S. president-elect’s threat to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods when Ottawa takes office. January unless border security improves. Houston said he supports Trudeau’s Team Canada approach to President Donald Trump because of the important trade relationship Nova Scotia has with its neighbor to the south.
According to Nova Scotia government statistics, nearly 70 per cent of the province’s exports from January to September 2024 went to the United States, with exports reaching $3.5 billion, an increase of 6.6 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. The majority were seafood and seafood. From agricultural products to lumber to tires.
“We want to be part of a positive resolution. The prime minister is united on this and it’s a top priority,” Houston said, with talks set to be held with governors from major trading partners, possibly in the new year. Deaf added.
When it comes to responding to Trump, Houston said it’s best to take Trump at his word, whether he makes his point on social media or through traditional channels.
“He’s the next president of the United States, so no matter how he expresses his thoughts and ideas, he has to be taken seriously,” Houston said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024.
