Houston government unveils another $1.6B capital budget

The Nova Scotia government is once again planning to spend roughly $1.5 billion on capital projects in the coming fiscal year.

It's the third year in a row the governing Progressive Conservative governmenthasearmarked around that amount to spendon roads, schools, hospitals and other construction projects.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Finance Minister Allan MacMastersuggested the province's capital spending plan was being dictatedin partby an ongoing shortage of skilled workers in the construction trades.

"We can't be putting out more work than the marketplace can handle," hesaid.

"We have a large capital budget because we're trying to build the infrastructure we need for a province that's growing, and we are faced with the reality that there are labour shortages and there are not enough people, in some cases, to complete projects."

ButMacMaster was quick to addthat a stable workforce would not necessarily trigger more capital spending.

As it hasdone previously, the Houston government is planning to spend the largest share of its capital budget on health-related infrastructure, including the single largest and most expensive project in the province's history: the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre.

That project is still in the planning and design stages, with no money in this year's capital plan for construction. The provincial government won't say how much money is earmarked for that redevelopment this year. Instead it's offering up a $302-millionbudget figure for that work as well asanother major upgrading project at the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Hospital.

There's another $108 millionfor other "health-care builds,"including work on the:

• Cumberland Regional Healthcare Centre in Amherst.
• IWK Health Centre'semergency department in Halifax.
• North Cumberland Memorial Hospital in Pugwash.
• South Shore emergency department in Bridgewater.
• andYarmouth Regional Hospital's emergency department.

There is also moneyto buildseven schools, some of which are already well underway:

• Breton Education Centre.
• Eastern Shore Consolidated School.
• Ecole BaieSainte-Marie.
• Ecole sur la peninsule d'Halifax.
• Ecole Wedgeport.
• SpringhillElementary School.
• St. Joseph's A MacKayElementary School.

There is no money set asideto build four schools in the Halifax region, aspromised by the Houston government last summer. A Finance Department official told reporters those projects were "still going through [the Education Department's]process."

The Houston government announced its plans forabout $500 millionworth of roadwork late last year. TheDepartment ofPublic Works has also set aside money to begin construction of new ferry terminals in Blandford and Big Tancook Island, so that the province can start the ferry service promised by the previous Liberal government.

The department recently re-tendered that work when the original bid came in at nearly double the cost anticipated by the department.

Former Liberal cabinet minister Kelly Regan, MLA for Bedford Basin, saidthe lack of progress on the QEIIredevelopment, as well as the lack of information on the schools promised for Halifax, as proof the governing PCs "don't care" about the capital region.

"If they did, we'd know where those schools are going," said Regan. "They'd be under construction and the [Halifax Infirmary]would be under construction, as well."

Asked why she felt the Houston government didn't care about Halifax, Regan responded:"Because they don't need it to get a majority government."

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