Budget cuts put seniors and vulnerable Nova Scotians at risk: CCANS

An advocacy group representing continuing care workers in Nova Scotia is adding its voice to the growing number of organizations protesting the province’s budget cuts.

Since the Nova Scotia government released its 2026-27 deficit budget on Feb. 23, arts and culture organizations, along with Indigenous groups, African Nova Scotian leaders and others have urged Premier Tim Houston to reconsider its budget cuts.

Now, the Continuing Care Association of Nova Scotia is warning that services supporting seniors and vulnerable residents in the province are being put at risk.

In a release, the CCANS says a 3 per cent reduction in provincial funding raises serious concerns as providers are already getting by with minimal staffing, rising costs, and residents with increasingly complex care needs.

The non-profit organization says more cuts will impact community programs and workforce supports, including adult day services and sector-wide training, such as Aware NS. In addition, it says cuts will make it harder to sustain essential services for seniors.

The Continuing Care Association says they were caught off guard by the announcement, with no prior consultation or discussion with the government.

President Lee Kelly adds the group remains committed to a strong a sustainable continuing care system but “providers must be treated as partners, not bystanders, in decisions that shape the future of care for Nova Scotia’s most vulnerable citizens.”

CCANS is governed by the same providers who operate long-term care homes and services funded by the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care and the Department of Opportunities and Social Development, and advocates for sustainable funding and care for seniors and vulnerable Nova Scotians.