HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s finances have slid further into the red.

Finance Minister John Lohr announced this morning that the province’s deficit has grown to $1.29 billion.

That’s $64.4 million more than the government expected in its September update.

Lohr says the larger deficit is the result of more health-care spending and tax cuts.

The province also spent almost $25 million to cover the cost of fighting wildfires over the summer.

Altogether, the province says it’s added $1.33 billion in new spending since the spring budget.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 18, 2025

The Canadian Press