Nova Scotia’s Auditor General released a report examining how the province plans and approves new school construction and major renovations. The findings raise serious concerns about transparency, accountability, and whether public dollars are being spent based on community need.
Background
Nova Scotians believe in the importance of education and we’re right to. With over 133,000 students in 372 schools, and more than $1 billion in new school construction announced since 2024, decisions around where and how schools are built matter deeply. These are public dollars meant to serve our communities now and in the future.
But last week’s Auditor General’s report confirmed what many educators, parents, and communities have long suspected: the Province is making major infrastructure decisions without a clear or transparent process.
What the Report Says
The AG’s report is scathing. It shows that while Regional Centres for Education (RCEs) submitted detailed and evidence-based proposals for replacement schools and renovations, the Department’s internal scoring lacked transparency. Worse, the government made decisions on new “growth schools” in 2023 without any clear process or ranking system. They actually approved projects in a different order than recommended by local education authorities.
The Auditor General also flagged serious issues in the data the Department is using to plan its investments. As of this year, more than 20% of schools lack a recent condition assessment, and 30% of schools are listed in poor condition. Meanwhile, $162 million has already been spent on temporary portables and modulars just to keep up with rising enrolment, this is especially true in Halifax Armdale and across HRM.
My Take
Planning new schools in growing communities should not be a political guessing game. When schools are selected without a clear, evidence-based, and community-driven process, everyone loses, especially students.
What’s worse is this isn’t happening in a vacuum. We’re facing economic uncertainty, driven in part by global populist trends and the return of Donald Trump’s hard-right politics in the U.S. Nova Scotians deserve a government that puts transparency and community priorities first, not one that keeps us in the dark. The job of public service is to unite, not divide, our province around fair and equitable investments.
Transparency is the Least We Should Expect
I’ll keep fighting to bring transparency to government decision-making—especially when it comes to schools. And I’ll continue pushing for evidence-based planning that respects the expertise of the local communities they serve. Nova Scotia’s future depends on it.
