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Tim Houston

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The Honourable
Tim Houston
ECNS MLA FCPA
Houston in 2016
30th Premier of Nova Scotia
Incumbent
Assumed office
August 31, 2021[1]
Monarchs
Lieutenant GovernorArthur LeBlanc
Michael Savage
Deputy
Preceded byIain Rankin
Leader of the Opposition (Nova Scotia)
In office
October 27, 2018 – August 31, 2021[2]
Preceded byKarla MacFarlane
Succeeded byIain Rankin
Leader of the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 27, 2018
Preceded byKarla MacFarlane (interim)
Member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
for Pictou East
Incumbent
Assumed office
October 8, 2013
Preceded byClarrie MacKinnon
Personal details
Born
Timothy Jerome Houston[3]

(1970-04-10) April 10, 1970 (age 55)[4]
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada[5]
Political partyProgressive Conservative
SpouseCarol Houston
Children2
Alma materSaint Mary's University (BCom)
Occupation
  • Accountant
  • politician
Websitewww.timhouston.ca

Timothy Jerome Houston[a] ECNS MLA FCPA (born April 10, 1970) is a Canadian politician who has served as the 30th and current premier of Nova Scotia since 2021, and leader of the Progressive Conservative Party since 2017. He was first elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2013 provincial election, and represents the electoral district of Pictou East. Houston also served as the leader of the opposition from 2018 to 2021.[7] He and the Progressive Conservative party won a majority government in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election, becoming the first Progressive Conservative premier since 2009.[8] He called a snap election in 2024, increasing his party's majority mandate.

Early life and education

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Houston was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and grew up in a military family on bases across Canada. He attended Halifax West High School.[9][10]

Houston attended Saint Mary's University, where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce. He went on to receive his Chartered Accountant designation in Halifax, before moving to Bermuda where he worked with Deloitte in the insurance industry.[10][11] On November 2, 2020, he was awarded the accounting profession's highest mark of distinction, the Fellow (FCPA) designation, by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Nova Scotia.[12]

Political career

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On November 27, 2012, Houston won the Progressive Conservative nomination in the riding of Pictou East for the 2013 Nova Scotia general election.[11]

He was elected MLA of Pictou East on October 8, 2013, with 48.05% of the vote.[13][14] He was re-elected on May 30, 2017 with 73.9% of the vote.[15]

On November 19, 2017, Houston announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia.[16][17] Houston was elected leader of the Progressive Conservative Party after the first ballot results were announced on October 27, 2018, at the party's leadership convention in Halifax. He earned 48.96% of the points on the first ballot, leaving other candidates no clear path to victory. The other candidates conceded after the first ballot.[18]

Houston has been publicly open to the option of fracking in Nova Scotia. During his time as finance critic in 2016, Houston criticized the Liberal government of the time for not permitting fracking, stating "You can't hold industry and people hostage to your own political wills. You have to, kind of, explain to people what you're doing and why you're doing it".[19] In 2025, Houston's majority government put forward legislation to lift the moratorium on fracking for onshore gas, as well as the ban on uranium exploration and mining.[20]

Houston has been critical of the Conservative Party of Canada's 2025 federal election campaign.[21]

2021 provincial election

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The incumbent Liberals held a 75% approval rating in June 2021.[22] In an upset,[23] Houston and the Progressive Conservatives won a majority government in the 2021 Nova Scotia general election, becoming the first Progressive Conservative premier since 2009. Houston ran on a Red Tory platform that promised more spending on health care.[24]

2024 provincial election

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Houston's Progressive Conservatives won a supermajority in the 2024 election, with the New Democratic Party (NDP) forming the Official Opposition.[25]

Premier of Nova Scotia

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Houston and his cabinet were sworn in on August 31, 2021.[26]

Healthcare system

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One day after being sworn in, Houston fired the CEO and board of the Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA), the provincial healthcare provider. He stated that he "needed a clean slate at the helm of his leadership team" for the Progressive Conservatives' intended overhaul of the healthcare system. Houston appointed a new NSHA board as well as a new CEO, Karen Oldfield, who possessed no prior healthcare experience.[27]

The Houston government lifted Nova Scotia's COVID-19 measures in March 2022, including public health restrictions and mask requirements. Infectious disease experts questioned the move and predicted a rise in cases.[28][29] In May 2022, the government lifted mask requirements in public schools.[30] In July 2022, the government ended the requirement for those infected with COVID-19 to isolate.[31] The number of cases (and associated deaths) increased thereafter, which some experts attributed to the government's lifting of pandemic precautions.[32][33][34]

Crown corporations

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Shortly after taking office, Houston launched a review of 20 provincial Crown corporations to "[ensure] the most efficient and accountable methodology for the undertaking of their respective tasks".[35]

In July 2022, the Houston government announced a reshuffle of several agencies. Nova Scotia Lands and Develop Nova Scotia would be merged to form a new corporation called Build Nova Scotia. Innovacorp, Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI), and the Invest Nova Scotia Fund would be merged into the new Invest Nova Scotia. Decision-making power was removed from boards, with the organizations placed under direct government control: Invest Nova Scotia would now report directly to the minister of economic development, while Build Nova Scotia would be overseen by the minister for public works. Existing CEOs and boards were terminated from their positions.[36]

Opposition leaders accused Houston of nepotism after appointing "personal friends" as interim CEOs of the two new agencies; Tom Hickey would lead Invest Nova Scotia, while Wayne Crawley would head Build Nova Scotia.[37] Each will receive up to $18,000 a month in remuneration.[36] Nova Scotia NDP leader Claudia Chender criticized Houston for hiring friends rather than putting the posts to open competition. Houston defended the appointments, stating that Hickey and Crawley were the most qualified.[37] Hickey resigned two weeks into his appointment, citing an inability to commit enough time to the role.[38]

The Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency was established during Houston's premiership to administer the province's public housing, amalgamating several existing housing authorities.[39] In addition, the Joint Regional Transportation Agency was created "for the purpose of creating a master transportation plan" for the metropolitan Halifax region.[40]

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Citing rising costs, Houston announced in July 2022 an indefinite "pause" to plans to construct a new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia. Construction had been slated to begin in late 2022 on a new gallery complex on the Halifax waterfront, designed by Halifax architect Omar Gandhi.[41]

Conservation lands

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In 2022, the provincial government announced that Owls Head, a 266-hectare piece of land on the Eastern Shore, would be designated a provincial park. A controversial golf course development had previously been planned for the site. Houston had written of the proposal in 2021, "I will never allow this type of situation to happen under my watch and certainly wouldn't instigate it like [former premier Iain Rankin] did."[42][43]

In a similar case, public concern had emerged over a proposed golf course conceived by a private developer, to be located at West Mabou Beach Provincial Park in Cape Breton. In late 2022, Houston said that the proposal would get due process and be subject to public consultation.[44] In April 2023, the government informed the developer it would not consider the proposal as there is no mechanism within the Provincial Parks Act to allow it to proceed.[45]

In December 2023, the province announced 23 new or expanded protected areas, protecting around 14,000 additional hectares of land.[46]

Personal life

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Houston lives in Pictou County with his wife Carol, and children Paget and Zachary.[10]

In 2017, it came to light that Houston's name had been mentioned several times in the Paradise Papers,[47] due to him having held positions as director and vice-president of Inter-Ocean Holdings and several related Bermuda-based reinsurance companies while living and working in Bermuda.[47][48]

Houston had a cameo role in the 2023 Hallmark film The Secret Gift of Christmas, which was filmed in Nova Scotia. He also appeared in Sullivan's Crossing, season 3.[49]

Electoral record

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2024 Nova Scotia general election: Pictou East
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tim Houston 4,398 78.6% +8.92
New Democratic Vernon Theriault 668 11.9% +4.82
Liberal Stephanie Quinn 527 9.4% -13.06
Total valid votes
Total rejected ballots
Turnout 5,593
Eligible voters
Progressive Conservative hold Swing
Source: Elections Nova Scotia[50]
2021 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Progressive Conservative Tim Houston 4,918 69.68 -4.20
Liberal Joe MacDonald 1,585 22.46 +4.24
New Democratic Joy Polley 500 7.08 -0.82
Atlantica Jonathan Geoffrey Dean 55 0.78
Total valid votes 7,058 99.62
Total rejected ballots 27 0.38
Turnout 7,085 61.44
Eligible voters 11,532
Progressive Conservative hold Swing -4.22
2017 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Progressive Conservative Tim Houston 5,275 73.88 +25.83
  Liberal John Fraser 1,301 18.22 +2.33
  New Democratic Party Deborah Stiles 564 7.90 -28.17
2013 Nova Scotia general election
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
  Progressive Conservative Tim Houston 3,713 48.04 +22.11
  New Democratic Party Clarrie MacKinnon 2,788 36.07 -27.91
  Liberal Francois Rochon 1,228 15.89 +7.50

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Pronounced /ˈhjuːstən/ ⓘ HEW-stən.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Pace, Natasha (August 20, 2021). "N.S. Premier-designate Tim Houston, new cabinet to be sworn-in Aug. 31". CTV News Atlantic. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
  2. ^ Luck, Shaina; Gorman, Michael (August 31, 2021). "Nova Scotia's new premier, cabinet sworn in at a ceremony in Halifax". CBC News. Archived from the original on December 17, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  3. ^ "District 40: Pictou East". CBC.ca. CBC. April 23, 2013. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "A look at Tim Houston, leader of the Nova Scotia Progressive Conservatives". Toronto Star. The Canadian Press. October 27, 2024. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  5. ^ MacInnis, Adam; Adshade, Kevin (October 31, 2018). "Pictou County's history of Tory leadership". NG News. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  6. ^ Nova Scotia Town Hall with Premier Tim Houston. March 23, 2023. Event occurs at 3:23. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  7. ^ "Tim Houston - MLA for Pictou East - PC Party of NS". PC Party NS. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  8. ^ Gorman, Michael (August 17, 2021). "Progressive Conservatives surge to surprise majority win in Nova Scotia election". Nova Scotia: CBC News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  9. ^ DeMont, John (October 28, 2024). "Feeling the weight of re-election in Nova Scotia". PNI Atlantic. Postmedia Network. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  10. ^ a b c "Honourable Tim Houston - Biography". premier.novascotia.ca. Government of Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on February 10, 2025. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Pictou East PC nominee wants riding to have voice in Halifax". March 10, 2019. NG News. November 29, 2012. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  12. ^ "CPA Nova Scotia Awards Prestigious Fellow Designation to Seven Professional Accountants". www.cpans.ca. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "Tories take Pictou County ridings back from NDP". The Chronicle Herald. October 8, 2013. Archived from the original on September 6, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  14. ^ "Statement of Votes and Statistics" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. December 2013. p. 18. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  15. ^ "Statement of Votes and Statistics" (PDF). Elections Nova Scotia. September 2017. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  16. ^ "'Time to win': Tim Houston running for PC Party leader". CBC News. November 19, 2017. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  17. ^ Macdonald, Sam (November 20, 2017). "Tim Houston announces bid for PC leadership". The Chronicle Herald. Archived from the original on May 18, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  18. ^ "Houston surges to victory in PC leadership race". CBC News. October 27, 2018. Archived from the original on January 1, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2019.
  19. ^ "Delays on Nova Scotia fracking regulations could be political". CBC News. June 15, 2016. Archived from the original on February 2, 2025. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  20. ^ Gorman, Michael (March 17, 2025). "Public pushes back against government bill that would lift N.S. ban on uranium mining, fracking". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  21. ^ Lau, Rebecca (April 30, 2025). "Poilievre's Conservatives must do 'soul-searching' after election loss: N.S. premier". Global News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  22. ^ Tarrant, David (August 20, 2021). "Lessons from Nova Scotia's historic election". Toronto Sun. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  23. ^ "Tories surge to upset majority win in N.S. Election with a campaign focused on health". August 17, 2021.[dead link]
  24. ^ "N.B. Should be on 'alert' as new N.S. Premier promises more health care spending: Union". August 19, 2021.[dead link]
  25. ^ DeMaine, Clayton (November 26, 2024). "Tim Houston's PCs win second consecutive majority government in Nova Scotia". True North. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved May 14, 2025.
  26. ^ Stoodley, Chris (August 31, 2021). "Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston, 18 ministers sworn into office". CityNews. Halifax, Nova Scotia. Archived from the original on January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  27. ^ Gorman, Michael (September 1, 2021). "N.S. premier, health minister fire provincial health authority CEO and board". CBC News. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  28. ^ Patil, Anjuli (February 23, 2022). "Nova Scotia to lift all COVID-19 restrictions by March 21". CBC. Archived from the original on January 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  29. ^ Laroche, Jean (March 14, 2022). "Infectious disease expert sees no 'good scientific reason' for N.S. lifting mask mandate". CBC. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  30. ^ Renić, Karla (May 24, 2022). "'Mixed emotions' among N.S. teachers as mask mandate in public schools ends". Global News. Archived from the original on September 8, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  31. ^ Chisholm, Cassidy (July 4, 2022). "N.S. to end mandatory isolation for people with COVID-19 starting July 6". CBC. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  32. ^ Woodbury, Richard (December 22, 2023). "Nova Scotia surpasses 1,000 COVID-19 deaths". CBC. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  33. ^ Lurie, Shira (July 28, 2022). "SHIRA LURIE: Nova Scotia's 'living with COVID' strategy backfires". SaltWire Network.
  34. ^ Shaw, Kyle (December 28, 2022). "Making sense of this nonsensical COVID year". The Coast. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  35. ^ "Government Seeks Feedback on 20 Agencies, Boards and Crown Corporations". Province of Nova Scotia. February 1, 2022. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  36. ^ a b Gorman, Michael (July 26, 2022). "N.S. government cuts Crown corporations in quest for more efficient operations". CBC News. Archived from the original on March 8, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  37. ^ a b Thomas, Jesse (July 29, 2022). "N.S. premier defends appointing business friends as Crown executive chairs". CTV News. Archived from the original on July 29, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  38. ^ "Head of new N.S. Crown corporation resigns 2 weeks after appointment". CBC. August 10, 2022. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  39. ^ Gorman, Michael (October 20, 2022). "N.S. government unveils details of new housing agency". CBC News. Archived from the original on November 18, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  40. ^ "Bill No. 61 - Joint Regional Transportation Agency Act". Nova Scotia Legislature. November 5, 2021. Archived from the original on January 21, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  41. ^ Smith, Simon (July 27, 2022). "Construction of new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia put on hold". CBC. Archived from the original on February 23, 2025.
  42. ^ Palmater, Paul (June 14, 2022). "Owls Head, once considered for controversial golf course, designated as provincial park". CBC. Archived from the original on January 18, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  43. ^ Laroche, Jean (December 5, 2022). "Environmentalist says 2021 e-mail shows Tim Houston supported protecting parks from golf developers". CBC. Archived from the original on March 20, 2025. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  44. ^ Henderson, Jennifer (October 25, 2022). "Houston says any request from Cabot to build golf course in Mabou park will get due process". Halifax Examiner. Archived from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  45. ^ Gorman, Michael (April 20, 2023). "N.S. government says no to golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park". CBC News. Archived from the original on February 25, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  46. ^ Gorman, Michael (December 20, 2023). "N.S. government announces more protected areas, strategy to reach 2030 target". CBC. Archived from the original on December 22, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2025.
  47. ^ a b "PC leadership candidate downplays Paradise Papers connection". The Coast. November 23, 2017. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  48. ^ "Houston, Timothy Jerome". Offshore Leaks Database/International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. Archived from the original on April 4, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2020.
  49. ^ Spurr, Bill (December 14, 2023). "Film industry's focus on Nova Scotia continues to bring in the bucks". PNI Atlantic. Postmedia Network. Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
  50. ^ "Nova Scotia election 2024 results: Pictou East". Global News. November 20, 2024. Archived from the original on December 4, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2025.
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