N.S. premier in Boston for trade talks, tree lighting

Premier Tim Houston is spending the bulk of the first full week of his new mandate attending business meetings and the annual Christmas tree lighting in Boston.

The premier, whose Progressive Conservative Party earned a resounding 43-seat majority in last month's provincial election, met with Bernadette Jordan, Canada's consul general in Boston, during the trip. A statement from his office said the meeting was about "how to leverage and strengthen partnerships in the U.S."

The province also hosted a reception on Thursday to promote Nova Scotia and its exporters.

Canada and Mexico are facing the threat of major tariffs from U.S. president-elect Donald Trump, who will take office next month. Houston met with the rest of the country's premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week to discuss the issue, but he has yet to publicly comment on the threat of tariffs or the meeting with the prime minister and premiers.

1 in 16 jobs depends on exports to U.S.

According to the release from the premier's office, Nova Scotia exports to the U.S. were worth $4.4 billion in 2023, with tires, seafood, forest products and plastics making up the bulk of that.

Houston's office said one in every 16 jobs in the province depends on exports to the U.S.

Houston, who is accompanied by a delegation from Nova Scotia, left on Tuesday night. His office revealed the trip Thursday afternoon. He's scheduled to return on Saturday.

"As I've always said, the premier's trips are in flux until he actually departs, and our practice is not to release a release until after his leaves," Catherine Klimek, Houston's press secretary, said in an email.

Joining the premier on the trip are Nicole LaFosse Parker, his chief of staff and lawyer; Greg Morrow, the recently re-elected MLA for Guysborough-Tracadie who served as agriculture minister during the Tories' first mandate; executive deputy minister Tracey Taweel; and staff from the provincial departments of Agriculture and Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage.

Premier faces busy week

The delegation also includes representatives from three Nova Scotia distilleries, two chocolate companies, a pet food company, an apple farm and the Christmas Tree Council of Nova Scotia.

Houston is facing a busy week when he returns to the province.

The swearing-in ceremony for MLAs is expected next week, along with the swearing-in of the new Progressive Conservative cabinet.

Houston also has yet to publicly comment on the federal government's GST holiday, which is scheduled to kick in on Dec. 14.

Some provinces that have a harmonized sales tax have expressed concern about losing their portion of the tax revenue during the two-month holiday, while others have said they support the initiative.