After a resounding election victory a month ago, Nova Scotia’s premier is taking a more measured tone when it comes to assessing his province’s relationship with the federal government.
The Progressive Conservatives of Tim Houston were returned to power on November 26, winning 43 of the 55 seats in the Legislative Assembly after a campaign in which Tim Houston attacked the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on several fronts.
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Tim Houston on the evening of his re-election, November 26.
Photo: The Canadian Press / Darren Calabrese
He had justified his decision to call an early election and ignore the province’s fixed election law — which had set the poll for July 2025 — by saying he needed a strong mandate to stand his ground. in Ottawa.
But in a recent end-of-year interview with The Canadian Press, Tim Houston was more conciliatory, saying that a December 9 meeting at his Halifax office with the Prime Minister of Canada took place in a spirit of collaboration
.
We immediately saw that the tone was different
he said, adding that whatever the outcome of the challenge to Justin Trudeau’s leadership of the Liberal Party, Nova Scotia will retain its important relationship with the federal government. Justin Trudeau, meanwhile, faces growing pressure from his caucus to step down.
Houston puts water in his wine on Chignecto
At the top of the grievances of Tim Houston include Ottawa’s imposition of carbon pricing in the province and its refusal to foot the entire bill for costly work needed to protect the Chignecto Isthmus, the land link between New Brunswick and New Scotland, which is increasingly prone to severe flooding.
During the provincial election campaign, the Prime Minister accused the federal government of avoiding its responsibility for the isthmus, occasionally accusing Ottawa of try to scam us
.
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The Isthmus of Chignecto, on the border of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Photo : - / Patrick Morrell
However, his language has become noticeably less strident since his election victory.
I would say they are more open to looking at different ways to finance the isthmus project, so I’ll let things play out
said Tim Houston. It’s not resolved yet, I don’t want to give that impression, but we’re certainly trying to work toward a resolution that both sides can live with.
The federal government has said it is prepared to pay 50% of the project, estimated at $650 million, to strengthen the sea wall system and rail line along this vital land corridor against rising sea levels.
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A Canadian National freight train and, to the left of the photo, the Trans-Canada Highway in the Chignecto Isthmus.
Photo : CBC / Shane Fowler
Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are to split the other half of the cost, and the provinces then asked the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal to rule on whether responsibility for the work lies entirely to the federal government.
The Prime Minister Houston recalled that the legal challenge — Ottawa should file its response in January — was continuing, with hearings scheduled to begin in March.
They have not yet filed a response and we have not withdrawn our request, he said. These things are still on the list and I will keep them on the list until a resolution is found.
The vital trade relationship with the United States
Nova Scotia can’t afford to be distracted by squabbles with Ottawa as the province tries to fend off threats from the U.S. president-elect, who said he would impose a 25 per cent tariff on goods Canadians when he takes office in January, unless border security is improved.
Tim Houston confided that he agreed with the approach Team Canada
of Justin Trudeau with regard to Donald Trump because of Nova Scotia’s vital trading relationship with its southern neighbor.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, on Friday to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.
Photo: Taken from Justin Trudeau’s X account
According to Nova Scotia government statistics, nearly 70% of the province’s exports between January and September 2024 were destined for the United States. Exports increased 6.6% from the same period in 2023, reaching $3.5 billion, the bulk of which ranges from seafood and agricultural products to lumber and tires.
We want to be part of a positive resolution. Prime Ministers are united on this, it is their number one priority
argued Tim Houstonwho added that meetings would likely be held with the governors of major trading partner states in the new year.
As for how to deal with Donald Trump, Tim Houston believes it was better to take his word for it, regardless of whether he sent his message on social media or through traditional channels. He is the president-elect of the United States, so he should be taken seriously no matter how he presents his ideas and thoughts, argued Tim Houston.
