Timothy Halman

Busy Dad. MLA for Dartmouth East. Nova Scotia’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change. Minister of Service Efficiency. Chair of Treasury and Policy Board.

[Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS]

Congratulations to Lorne Doerkson on being elected as the next Premier of British Columbia.

This is a critical time for our country. I look forward to working with Premier Doerkson to break down barriers to trade between provinces, develop our natural resources, strengthen Canada's self-reliance, and create good-paying jobs.

[Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS]

On HMCS Kootenay Day, we stop to remember the nine brave crew members who lost their lives and the 53 injured in 1969. The heroics of the crew saved lives and kept their ship afloat during the worst peacetime tragedy in Canadian Navy history. Today, we honour those lost, the survivors, and their families.

[Timothy Halman @TimothyHalman]

MLA Adegoke Fadare and I were thrilled to welcome to the Office of Service Efficiency the Chair of the Atlantic Economic Panel Don Mills and Panel member Cathy Bennet.

On September 25 the Atlantic Economic Panel released its report, BOLDER AMBITIONS: GREATER PROSPERITY FOR ALL. Thank you Don and Cathy and all panel members for producing a bold and practical report. It gives the Atlantic region a useful challenge: focus less on diagnosing our potential and more on the practical steps to achieve greater prosperity in the Atlantic region.

I believe we must execute on this report so that the Atlantic region achieves its full economic potential. Let’s get to work!

[Nova Scotia PC Party @nspc]

A top NSNDP MLA is calling for France-style riots in Nova Scotia. NDP Leader Claudia Chender needs to hold her MLA accountable for his dangerous, violent rhetoric.

[Timothy Halman @TimothyHalman]

NOTE: The following is an op-ed from Timothy Halman, Nova Scotia’s Minister of Service Efficiency.

For a small business, time matters. It is the difference between opening the doors or waiting, hiring someone or holding back, seizing an opportunity or watching it pass.
Small businesses create jobs, bring new ideas to market and help communities across Nova Scotia thrive. During Small Business Week, we celebrate the people behind them – and recognize the government’s responsibility to make every hour they invest count.

That responsibility has never been more important. At a time of global uncertainty and changing trade relationships, Nova Scotia must be more self-reliant, competitive and attractive to businesses ready to invest and grow.

Red tape can stand in the way. It slows decisions, adds costs and makes government harder to navigate. For a small business, those delays can mean waiting longer to open, hire or expand.
Our approach to reducing red tape is twofold: helping businesses navigate government today, while making government faster and easier to navigate for the future.

Nova Scotia’s business navigators help clients understand registrations, permits, licences and government programs, and connect them with the right supports for their needs. They also help businesses respond to today’s challenges, including U.S. tariffs.

To date, the service has supported more than 20,000 businesses and entrepreneurs across the province, saving each client an average of 10 hours. That is time they can spend hiring sooner, serving customers faster and growing their businesses – not waiting on the phone, searching for the right person or tracking down the right form.

At the same time, we are committed to reducing barriers and making government faster and more responsive to the needs of business.

We are already seeing results. Through the Fewer Permits. Faster initiative, we have improved more than half of all provincial permits, with more to come – helping businesses get clearer answers and make decisions sooner.

That same focus is driving broader reform. The Making Business Easier Act is helping accelerate responsible natural resource development by cutting red tape, not corners. And the Service Efficiency Act has clarified responsibilities, updated outdated provisions and reduced unnecessary complexity across government.

That progress has been recognized by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, reflecting Nova Scotia’s continued focus on reducing red tape and making government work better for business.

Still, businesses continue to encounter delays and unnecessary complexity, and there is more work to do.
We will keep listening to businesses, partners, communities and Nova Scotians – and finding practical ways to make government work better for them.

Cutting red tape does not mean cutting corners. It means clearing away what is unnecessary so businesses can move faster, invest with confidence and grow our economy while maintaining the protections Nova Scotians expect.

Small businesses are ready to build Nova Scotia’s future. The government must be ready to keep pace.

[Timothy Halman @TimothyHalman]

It’s small business week in Nova Scotia!

MLA Adegoke Fadare and I were honoured to welcome to the Office of Service Efficiency Don Bureaux, President and CEO of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce and Peter MacAskill, VP of Policy, External Affairs and Business Development.

We had a great conversation on service efficiency and red tape reduction. We are committed to Atlantic regulatory integration, making government faster, clearer and more predictable without compromising protections for communities or the environment.

The intended outcome is clear: business receives answers sooner, entrepreneurs and projects move forward faster and Nova Scotia and the entire Atlantic region becomes more attractive to invest and grow.

[CTV News Atlantic @CTVAtlantic]

Gloria McCluskey isn’t slowing down, in fact she’s learning new skills https://t.co/3e5EBckEMm

[Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS]

Canada is stronger with Alberta as part of it, and last night’s results show the overwhelming majority of Albertans agree with this.

Many Nova Scotians have strong ties to Alberta, either having worked there or with friends and family going to their province to help build up their industry.

Here in Nova Scotia, we’ll keep doing our part to develop our own natural resources, create opportunities, and contribute to a stronger Canada.

[NS Environment and Climate Change @ns_environment]

Jajiktek Seawall Trail, a new world-class coastal hiking experience in northern Cape Breton, is taking a big step forward.

https://t.co/iepyJo3RBt

[Nova Scotia Gov. @nsgov]

Jajiktek Seawall Trail Moving Forward https://t.co/d1P5uD4Edq

[Nova Scotia Legislature @NSLeg]

Our flags are at half-mast in sympathy and support for all those impacted by the fire in Alberta at Canadian Forces Base Wainwright yesterday, October 17. Our deepest sympathies go to all those impacted by this tragedy.

[Peter MacKay @PeterMacKay]

Tears & prayers for the tragedy unfolding @ CFB Wainwright. The loss of those serving, families affected and the courage of the 1st responders is in the hearts & minds of Canadians this day. With much yet to be told. Sending strength, faith and fortitude in the days ahead.

[Tim Hodgson @timhodgsonmt]

Being a conventional and clean energy superpower means harnessing a world-class resource that’s been right off our coasts all along: wind. 

Wind West could power every home and business in Nova Scotia, feed the national grid and support thousands of jobs.                                                                  

Our $100M investment maps that resource so developers can bid with confidence this winter 🇨🇦

[Tim Hodgson @timhodgsonmt]

La Nouvelle-Écosse bénéficie de vents parmi les plus puissants au monde. Il est temps d’en tirer parti pour alimenter nos foyers et nos entreprises, de construire un réseau électrique plus autonome et de créer des milliers d’emplois de qualité sur la côte est.

C’est pourquoi nous investissons dans Wind West.🇨🇦

[Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS]

Wind West, Nova Scotia's major offshore wind project, just took a big step forward this morning.

By working together with our federal partners, we secured $100 million to advance offshore wind energy. This major milestone brings us one step closer to making our province a global clean energy powerhouse moving Nova Scotia from the end of the energy line to the starting point. Thank you to Minister Hodgson for joining us for this announcement today.

Unlocking our world-class wind will attract billions in private investment, build a stronger economy, and create thousands of good-paying jobs for Nova Scotians. We are building our economy to power Canada and protect our future.

Learn more: https://t.co/0zTwpelvfT

[Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS]

October 15 is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day in Nova Scotia.

To every family who has experienced the heartbreak of losing a pregnancy or baby: you are not alone. Today, we remember the little lives lost and stand with the families who carry their memory every day.

In 2017, I introduced legislation to officially recognize this day, and I remain grateful that all members of the Legislature came together in support. To every family grieving a loss, please know that you and your loved ones are not forgotten.

[NS Environment and Climate Change @ns_environment]

Children in North Preston will have a more comfortable and energy-efficient place to learn and flourish, with support from the Province.

https://t.co/gEngW0sd5G

[Nova Scotia Gov. @nsgov]

Government Invests in North Preston Child-Care Centre https://t.co/SjnfAumTeB

[Timothy Halman @TimothyHalman]

Grateful for some time with the Gang this Thanksgiving weekend. Awesome to have Sophie home from Mount A. Christine and I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends.

[Tim Houston @TimHoustonNS]

When we create the right conditions, opportunity grows.

By unlocking our natural resources safely and responsibly, we are creating good-paying jobs right here at home. That means more revenue for the healthcare and public services families count on. It means better paycheques to help with the cost of living.

Most importantly, it means Nova Scotians can raise their families right here, without having to leave to find work.