November 7, 2024
Growth is critical to the province, but it must be done sustainably. A Nova Scotia Liberal government would immediately reduce the Houston government’s unsustainable immigration levels until there is housing and services to support more growth.
“Tim Houston’s goal to double the population is reckless and it’s putting significant strain on our province,” said Liberal Leader Zach Churchill. “Year after year, Tim Houston has exceeded the Department of Immigration’s own population targets by thousands of people. We need to grow at a sustainable rate where people who move here can find a place to live, a doctor close to home, and a school for their children to go to that isn’t overcrowded.”
A Nova Scotia Liberal government would ensure immigration targets are focused on growing the number of professionals that are needed in critical areas, such as healthcare professionals, education workers, skilled tradespeople, and agriculture and aquaculture workers. The Liberals would also develop a comprehensive infrastructure development strategy based on population growth and immigration patterns for education, transportation, healthcare infrastructure, and social programs.
“The Houston government has treated newcomers as revenue sources, but we need to treat them as people. And we’ll do that by developing a smarter and more sustainable approach to immigration,” said Churchill.