Premier Tim Houston Pledges $50 Million Liquidity Facility for Seafood and Forestry Exporters

HALIFAX, NS — Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston announced the creation of a $50 million Emergency Export Liquidity Facility administered by Invest Nova Scotia to protect provincial fisheries and forestry businesses impacted by 50% U.S. tariffs.

Protecting Coastal Economies and Working Capital

The provincial financing backstop offers zero-interest working capital loans up to $2 million to seafood processing plants, commercial lobster harvesters, and softwood lumber mills to cover freight storage and payroll obligations while alternative European and Asian export corridors are established. Premier Houston emphasized that rural coastal communities cannot bear the brunt of geopolitical trade friction.

Premier Houston declared that Nova Scotia will defend its maritime industries and work alongside Atlantic premiers to open new global distribution routes.

Fisheries Coalition and Financial Safeguards

The Maritime Seafood Processors Association praised the rapid credit deployment, highlighting that live lobster inventory requires immediate cold-storage warehousing support.

Provincial treasury officials confirmed that emergency capital disbursements will commence within 7 business days.

Atlantic Regional Coordination

Atlantic Canadian premiers will convene a joint Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) strategy meeting in Moncton.