Book publishers across Nova Scotia say provincial funding cuts are creating a “domino effect” across the industry.

During Question Period on Sept. 15, Krista Gallagher, MLA for Halifax-Chebucto, raised concerns on behalf of publishers who say the province’s decision to include the Publishers Assistance Fund will result in fewer books being released, which could significantly affect their eligibility for federal funding.

The move was part of the Houston government’s 2026 spring budget cuts, and Minister of Community, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, Dave Ritcey, assures there are still ways publishers can access support.

He said, “The Creative Industries Fund is available for creative businesses, including publishers, who are focused on market development and export growth,” adding that a number of publishers have applied for the 2026-27 fund and some have already received theirs.

Gallagher points out that “in the spring, Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Economic Growth and Development, defended the cuts to the publishers fund, claiming that the NS Loyal Program is supporting the publishing industry with the book voucher program.”

She said the book voucher initiative is a $40,000 program designed to help readers discover books written and published by Nova Scotians, while the Publishers Assistance Fund was a $700,000 program intended to help those books get published and onto store shelves.

In February, the Association of Canadian Publishers made a statement highlighting that the cut “makes Nova Scotia the only province in Canada that does not invest in its own book publishers.”

After weeks of requesting a meeting, Gallagher said publishers were set to meet with the Nova Scotia Loyal team about the future of the book voucher program, but the meeting was cancelled at the last minute. She said publishers are now questioning whether the program will return this year.

LeBlanc responded, “These programs are always under review, and we’ll have more to say in the future,” noting that more than 2,200 businesses across the province have joined the NS Loyal Program since its launch in July 2024.

“We do know that this pilot led to about $89,000 of benefit for local authors and bookstores,” said LeBlanc.

Source: YourTriCounties.ca