Tax relief coming for low- and middle-class earners

More than 500,000 low- and middle-income Nova Scotians will pay less provincial tax as of Jan. 1.

Up to 63,000 more Nova Scotians will save up to $264 per year thanks to the province’s new measures. Nova Scotians will save $85 million annually under the new rules.

“Getting our province’s finances in order means we can provide tax relief while also investing in more services and programs,” said Finance and Treasury Board Minister Karen Casey in a release Wednesday. “This is one of the largest tax breaks in our province’s recent history.”

The new tax relief comes through an increase in the taxfree basic personal amount. Lowincome earners see the most benefit, with the amount increasing 35 per cent to $11,481 from $8,481 for 2018.

The increase declines as income rises, until it is phased out for people with a taxable income of at least $75,000.

“This is more money staying in the pockets of low- and middle-income Nova Scotians,” said Premier Stephen McNeil.

Poverty is an issue affecting many families in Pictou County.

A family and child poverty report released in 2014 revealed that 24.3 per cent of children in New Glasgow were living below the poverty line, compared to 18.6 per cent in Halifax. The report’s findings earmarked New Glasgow as the province’s third-worst place for child poverty that year, behind Cape Breton’s rate of 32.6 per cent and Kentville’s 24.4 per cent recorded at that time.