April 2, 2025

The following is a statement from Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette on President Trump’s tariff update:

The past few months have been filled with a lot of uncertainty for families and businesses in Nova Scotia. Today’s announcement isn’t as severe as we feared, but it still creates challenges.

To those feeling anxious right now: we hear you. Decisions like this have real impacts, and they highlight why strong leadership is needed to stand up for Canadian workers and industries.

I want to thank Prime Minister Mark Carney for his steady leadership through this. His government has worked tirelessly to protect Canadian interests, and I’m proud to stand with him in supporting Nova Scotians.

Our province has always been resilient, and we will continue to advocate for the supports Nova Scotians need to navigate whatever comes next.

March 26, 2025

As the spring session of the legislature comes to a close, the Nova Scotia Liberals are proud of the work done to stand up for Nova Scotians and put forward bold ideas to strengthen the economy amidst ongoing uncertainty.

“This session, our focus was on putting forward ideas that will help grow our economy and prepare Nova Scotia for the challenges ahead,” said Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette. “We introduced twice as many bills as the government, with a strong emphasis on creating a sustainable future and ensuring that all Nova Scotians have access to the opportunities they deserve.”

Throughout the session, the Liberals joined hundreds of Nova Scotians who raised concerns about the government’s decisions, including attempts to fire the Auditor General, give itself unchecked power to fire public servants without cause, and lift long-standing bans on fracking and uranium mining without proper consultation. The Liberals also successfully advocated for flags representing diverse communities to be flown again in schools on the South Shore — an important step in ensuring inclusion and representation across the province.

“The government’s priorities have been out of step with the realities facing Nova Scotians,” said Liberal House Leader Iain Rankin. “At a time when our province is facing economic uncertainty, we were disappointed to see another budget with a staggering $1 billion deficit, with no plan to bring spending under control. That’s a burden that will be felt by future generations.”

As legislative committees reconvene, the Nova Scotia Liberals remain committed to offering solutions that drive economic growth, support job creation, and secure a prosperous future for all Nova Scotians.

March 20, 2025

In 2021, women in Canada earned just 89 cents for every dollar earned by a man – a gap that has persisted for far too long. To address the inequality, Liberal House Leader Iain Rankin will table the Pay Equity and Pay Transparency Act, calling on the government to take real action to close the gender pay gap.

“Our economy is stronger when women are treated fairly in the workplace,” said Rankin. “When pay gaps persist, we’re not just shortchanging women, we’re holding back economic growth. If we want a more competitive, resilient economy, we need to remove the barriers that prevent women from reaching their full potential.”

The proposed legislation would require pay equity in the public sector, prevent employers from asking job candidates about past salaries, and introduce greater transparency in job postings.

March 19, 2025

In the face of economic uncertainty, Nova Scotia Liberals are proposing a bill to strengthen the province’s economy by ensuring more Nova Scotians have access to good jobs. Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette will table the Workforce Expansion Act, a bill that will create new opportunities for under-represented groups and help businesses address labour shortages. 

“Nova Scotia’s economic success depends on making sure everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” said Mombourquette. “This bill takes real steps to open more doors, strengthen our workforce, and create a more inclusive and resilient economy.”

Inspired by recommendations from the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, this legislation will create a workforce expansion fund to support industry-led training programs, helping Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians, and persons with disabilities access more job opportunities. It will also require a review of procurement regulations to ensure large projects include apprentices from under-represented communities and mandate a plan within six months to bring First Nations and African Nova Scotian employment rates to the provincial average by 2035.

March 18, 2025

Liberal Economic Growth and Trade critic Iain Rankin will table the Comprehensive Economic Strategy Act, aimed at establishing new long-term economic goals for Nova Scotia in the face of increasing global challenges, like tariffs.

The bill, inspired by the 2014 Ivany Report, calls for the creation of an expert panel to assess Nova Scotia’s economic landscape and identify opportunities for sustainable growth. The panel would engage with government, businesses, and community leaders to develop strategies focused on increasing exports, building a skilled workforce, and attracting investment to Nova Scotian businesses. The expert panel would provide its report within 12 months, outlining clear long-term economic objectives for the next decade.

“In 2014, the Ivany Report set the stage for a bold vision of a stronger and more inclusive economy for Nova Scotia,” said Rankin. “That vision has guided government action for nearly a decade, but many of the goals set out in the report remain unfulfilled. Now, as we face new challenges like tariffs, we need to renew and refine these goals to ensure our economy is resilient, competitive, and provides opportunities for all Nova Scotians.”

When the current government took office, they scrapped the Economic Growth Council established under Rankin’s leadership in 2021. Since then, no comprehensive strategy has been put in place to replace it. This bill would fill that gap to ensure the province has a focused, long-term strategy for sustainable growth.

March 7, 2025

If passed, Nova Scotians could say goodbye to the biannual time change under a bill tabled by Liberal MLA Iain Rankin. The legislation would keep the province on Daylight Saving Time year-round, eliminating the disruptive practice of changing the clocks.

“The time change isn’t just an inconvenience – it has real consequences for our health and well-being,” said Rankin. “Studies have shown that shifting the clocks forward and backwards disrupts sleep, increases stress, and even raises the risk of heart attacks and accidents. It’s time for Nova Scotia to make this change.”

Rankin first introduced the legislation in November 2021, recognizing that modern research supports the move to permanent Daylight Saving Time. The bill amends the Time Definition Act to ensure that Nova Scotians can ensure more daylight in the evenings throughout the year. However, the change would only take effect once the neighbouring provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island make the same adjustment.

March 6, 2025

Interim Liberal Leader and Sydney-Membertou MLA Derek Mombourquette will table a bill today to protect and restore the Cape Breton rail line, recognizing it as a vital piece of the province’s economic future.

The Cape Breton Rail Line Act would require the provincial government to work with the rail line’s owner to prevent further deterioration and identify the necessary upgrades to restore operations. It also proposes a creation of a dedicated fund to enhance trade infrastructure and support business development, positioning Cape Breton as a stronger hub for importing and exporting.

“With ongoing shifts in global trade and the challenges posed by tariffs, investing in our own transportation networks is more important than ever,” said Mombourquette. “The Cape Breton rail line is a key asset that, with the right investment, can support our natural resource industries, improve supply chains, and create economic opportunities for the region.”

The rail line, which connects Port Tupper to Sydney, has seen years of uncertainty under the current government. This legislation presents a clear opportunity to bring stakeholders together and explore solutions that will benefit businesses, workers, and communities across Cape Breton.

“This is about looking ahead and ensuring we’re making smart investments in our province’s future,” said Mombourquette. “By restoring this rail corridor, we can open doors for new industries, strengthen trade routes, and create long-term growth for Cape Breton and all of Nova Scotia.”

March 5, 2025

The Nova Scotia Liberals are proposing a plan to ensure that the government’s contingency fund provides direct support to workers and businesses by U.S. tariffs. 

The Nova Scotian Business and Worker Support Act, tabled by Interim Leader Derek Mombourquette, outlines a framework for how the government’s proposed contingency fund could be allocated to provide meaningful relief. The bill would require consultations with affected industries and workers, set clear eligibility criteria, and ensure a transparent process for distributing support. 

“These tariffs will have a real impact on workers, families, and businesses across the province,” said Mombourquette. “We support setting aside funds to help those affected, and we want to make sure the money is used with the most impact – to protect jobs, stabilize industries, and support the people who drive our economy.”

The bill would require the government to develop a Business and Worker Support Plan within 30 days, ensuring that funding decisions are guided by the needs of those directly impacted. The plan would also be made public to provide transparency and accountability.

“We recognize the importance of standing up against these harmful trade barriers, and we’re taking this opportunity to offer constructive solutions that strengthen our economy, support key industries, and ensure financial assistance gets to those who need it most,” said Mombourquette.

March 4, 2025

The new U.S. tariffs will have serious consequences for workers, families, and businesses across Nova Scotia. We support the measures taken by Premier Houston to push back against these harmful trade barriers and have used this legislative session as an opportunity to put forward ideas that will strengthen our natural resource industries, improve interprovincial trade, and better control spending.

We support the contingency fund and will be advocating for those supports to be targeted to ensure stability for workers, their families, and the businesses that drive our communities. 

The Nova Scotia Liberal Party remains committed to working collaboratively to protect jobs, grow our economy, and create new opportunities for our province in the face of these challenges.