by Finance Minister Allan MacMaster unveiled the province’s latest budget in the legislature this afternoon.
The Progressive Conservative Government’s first budget projects the deficit at $506.2 million for the coming fiscal year.
A total of $5.7 billion is being spent on healthcare, including $14.5 million the province says will make virtual care available to everyone on the wait list for a family doctor.
Also part of the health spending is $2 million for recruiting healthcare workers, and $3.2 million to add 200 new nursing seats, including 28 at Cape Breton University.
Other funding for Cape Breton includes money to expand operating room capacity at the Regional Hospital, and support future growth and repairs at the Sydney McCurdy Airport, as well as $1 million for the redesign and upgrade of Charlotte Street in Sydney.
The budget also doubles funding for rural road maintenance.
The total spending in the budget is $13.2 billion.