Nova Scotia auditor repeats call for more oversight of off-budget spending

Auditor General Kim Adair reported $1.6 billion was spent in 2024–25 without a prior majority legislative vote and said more than $6.7 billion has been spent outside the budget process since 2020–21.

Nova Scotia's auditor general released an annual report calling for stronger oversight of government spending that was not included in the budget. Kim Adair reported specific figures for recent years and noted the trend has continued across multiple fiscal periods. The report connects those off‑budget expenditures with a rise in the province's net debt. It frames the findings as a matter for legislative consideration rather than drawing conclusions about motives. Reported details: - The auditor general said $1.6 billion was spent in the 2024–25 fiscal year without prior approval by a majority vote in the legislature. - The report states that since the 2020–21 fiscal year more than $6.7 billion has been spent outside the budget process. - Net debt was reported at $20.8 billion and grew for a fifth consecutive year despite an operating surplus of $265 million in 2024–25. - The auditor noted the province ran operating surpluses in four of the past five years totalling $5.8 billion. - Annual spending for 2024–25 was reported at $18 billion, an increase of $5.4 billion (43 per cent) since 2021–22. Summary: The report draws attention to the scale of spending that was not first authorized through the legislative budget process and to the simultaneous rise in net debt. Undetermined at this time.