About PHANS

Public Health News

Public Health Advocacy

Andrea Hilchie-Pye, President of the Public Health Association of Nova Scotia (PHANS), will be giving a brief to the Accounts Committee of the Nova Scotia Legislature on Monday, 23 March 2026 regarding the potential impact of the N.S. 2026 Budget on public health.

Good Intentions, Grave Concerns: PHANS Responds to Nova Scotia’s 2026–27 Budget
Public health advocates welcome targeted care investments but warn that deep cuts to
social programs risk long-term harm to Nova Scotians’ health

HALIFAX, NS — The Public Health Association of Nova Scotia (PHANS) today
released its response to the 2026–27 provincial budget, acknowledging meaningful
gains in seniors’ and community care while sounding the alarm about cuts that could
deepen health inequities across the province.

The budget includes several welcome investments: $25.9 million for seniors’
pharmacare, $10.2 million to expand home care, $12.3 million in seniors’ attendant
care, and $59.1 million to transition adults with disabilities into community living.
Additional funding for digital health navigation tools, the 811 health information service,
public housing, and supports for survivors of gender-based violence also reflect
progress on the social conditions that shape health.

“These targeted investments show the government understands that
health happens outside the hospital walls,” said Andrea, Hilchie-Pye
President of PHANS. “Supporting people to age at home, access mental
health care, and find stable housing are exactly the kinds of upstream
investments that improve lives and reduce long-term costs to the
healthcare system.”

However, PHANS is raising serious concerns about other aspects of the budget, with
over 250 million in cuts to jobs and government programs. Significant reductions to
select programs including heritage, culture and tourism and numerous public sector job
losses threaten community stability — particularly in rural and lower-income regions.
This is a sector that already has precarious employment as well as arts are known to
support community health and well-being.

“When we cut programs that address the root causes of poor health, we
don’t save money — we simply shift costs downstream into emergency
rooms and crisis services,” Hilchie-Pye warned. “Nova Scotia cannot
afford to be penny-wise and pound-foolish when it comes to prevention.”

The association also highlighted longer-term fiscal risks. Nova Scotia is projecting a
deficit of approximately $1.2 billion — the largest since 2013–14 — and net debt is
expected to exceed the province’s 40% of GDP guardrail. Debt servicing costs,
currently around 5% of the provincial budget, are forecast to rise to 7.6% of revenues by
2029–30. PHANS cautions that as interest payments grow, the province’s ability to
invest in prevention and social programs will shrink.

While Health and Wellness spending is growing to approximately $6.7 billion, PHANS notes that much
of this increase reflects rising costs from staffing, facilities, and service demand — not new
investments in population health or prevention.

“Spending more on healthcare is not the same as investing in health,” said Hilchie-Pye. “Evidence
consistently shows that the strongest predictors of a healthy population are stable housing, income
security, quality education, and strong mental health supports. We urge the province to protect and
grow these investments, even in fiscally challenging times.”

Sustainable population health requires both adequate healthcare investment and robust social
infrastructure. Public health advocates, frontline physicians, social workers, and Indigenous
leaders are calling on the Nova Scotia government to align its fiscal recovery plan with a Health
in All Policies approach — one that protects upstream investments in income security, affordable
housing, cultural well-being, and community capacity as essential, not discretionary, pillars of a
healthy province.

PHANS will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize prevention, equity, and the social
determinants of health. The association calls on the provincial government to ensure that the
programs most critical to reducing health inequities are shielded from further reductions in the
years ahead.

Bulletin Board

PHANS Awards

PHANS awards the Public Health Champion Award each year at the PHANS AGM. This is an honour intended to recognize an individual or organization who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, innovation and commitment to improving the health of Nova Scotians. The Marie McCully Collier Population and Public Health Student Award is presented to a part time or full time student who demonstrates a passion for public health as well as leadership in the field.

Become a Member

Advocate

Collaborate

Grow

Connect

Learn