Elections Nova Scotia Presents 2025-2026 Budget Estimate to the Special Committee of the House of Assembly
Elections Nova Scotia Presents 2025-2026 Budget Estimate to the Special Committee of the House of Assembly
Media Release: January 30, 2025
Elections Nova Scotia – On January 29, 2025, Li Chao, the Chief Financial Officer for Elections Nova Scotia (ENS) presented a budget estimate of $7.523million for the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the Special Committee of the House of Assembly that convenes annually by law to consider the budget submissions of ENS and the Auditor General.
ENS’s 2025-2026 budget submission includes an additional $2.8M, which is required to continue to fulfill our mandate. This amount includes:
1. $1.5M to purchase new IT equipment in preparation for the next election. Approximately 1100 pieces of IT equipment used in the last three general elections have reached the end of their life cycle and must be replaced to ensure security and connectivity.
2. $839K to wrap up the 42nd Provincial General Election. Major activities planned for the upcoming fiscal year include compliance review of candidate financial reports, post event debrief, as well as decommission of tech equipment.
3. $260K for one potential by-election. This is based on historical occurrence and costs.
4. $100K for the outreach strategy to support our inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility programing.
5. $54K for external legal counsel.
“Elections Nova Scotia is an independent non-partisan agency, that reports to the members of the House of Assembly through the Speaker,” said Li Chao, Chief Financial Officer. “My presentation of our budget estimates to you provides transparency and accountability to the Members of the Assembly.”
The Special Committee reviewed ENS’s budget estimate and recommended it without alteration to Finance, Treasury and Policy Board to be included in the 2025-2026 provincial budget.
The budget estimate as submitted to the Special Committee and the speaking notes for the Chief Financial Officer are available here for your convenience.
ENS is an independent non-partisan agency that reports to the members of the House of Assembly through the Speaker. Its mandate is to deliver provincial elections impartially and professionally.
Media Contact:
Naomi Shelton
Director, Policy and Communications
Elections Nova Scotia
902-424-3275
902-223-4871
naomi.shelton@novascotia.ca