April 8, 2026
Today, Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin will table legislation to establish a wellbeing budget framework in Nova Scotia – a more modern approach adopted in other jurisdictions like New Zealand to measure success that puts people’s quality of life at the centre of government decision-making.
The proposed framework would shift how government evaluates spending, moving beyond traditional economic indicators like GDP to include the real-life impacts policies have on Nova Scotians. This includes physical and mental health, affordability, environmental sustainability, and access to arts and culture.
“There is a better way to define progress in our province. A strong economy is important, but it’s not the full picture,” said Rankin. “When dealing with taxpayer dollars, we need to be asking whether government decisions are improving people’s lives, supporting their wellbeing, and creating a strong economy for future generations.”
This legislative session has been marked by significant budget cuts from the Houston government with little clarity from cabinet ministers on how those decisions were made. That lack of transparency highlights the need for a better approach. A wellbeing framework would require government to clearly assess how spending decisions impact people’s lives to ensure public dollars strengthen communities and support long-term sustainability.
“Wellbeing should not be viewed as at odds with economic growth, it is foundational to it,” said Rankin. “When people are healthy, supported, and able to participate fully in their communities, our economy is stronger. This is about building a province where success is measured not just in dollars, but in the lives people are able to live.”