The Council on African Canadian Education (CACE) has issued an open letter addressed to Premier Tim Houston and Education Minister Brendan Maguire regarding recent provincial budget decisions affecting African Nova Scotian and Black learners.

According to CACE, the provincial budget includes a one-third reduction to the African Canadian Services Branch (ACSB) and the elimination of targeted scholarship programs that have historically supported African Nova Scotian and Black students pursuing post-secondary education in trades, STEM, education, health professions, and the arts.

CACE states that these decisions were made without consultation and contradict longstanding commitments outlined in the BLAC Report on Education (1994), which called for sustained government partnership to address anti-Black racism in education.

The organization is calling for an immediate public impact assessment and a recommitment to education supports for African Nova Scotian and Black learners.

The full text of the open letter is reproduced below.

Council on African Canadian Education
c/o PO Box 578
Halifax, NS
B3J 2S9

February 27, 2026

OPEN LETTER TO THE PREMIER OF NOVA SCOTIA, MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT, AND MINISTER OF ADVANCED EDUCATION

Dear Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, and Brendan Maguire, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, and Minister of Advanced Education:

The Council on African Canadian Education (CACE), in its advisory role to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and the Minister of Advanced Education, writes to express serious concern regarding recent provincial budget decisions that eliminate and significantly reduce longstanding financial supports for African Nova Scotian and Black learners. The cuts your government has made have resulted in a one-third reduction of the African Canadian Services Branch (ACSB) budget. This branch represents the largest proportional reductions within Education & Early Childhood Development and is a disproportionate cut for those impacted by systemic and structural barriers to education and opportunities.

These decisions will have immediate and generational consequences. The most significant of these cuts is the elimination of African Nova Scotian and Black scholarship opportunities. These scholarships provide direct funding to African Nova Scotian and Black learners who are pursuing post-secondary education and include targeted support for the trades, performing arts, teaching, STEM, health professions, and other degrees. The elimination of targeted scholarships and educational supports will restrict access to postsecondary education for African Nova Scotian and Black learners. The longevity of these scholarship programs through African Canadian Services Branch created essential pathways that made postsecondary education possible for African Nova Scotian and Black learners and has been instrumental in their success. These scholarships directly address inter-generational poverty – our learners are not able to pursue postsecondary opportunities without these supports. Moreover, it undermines retention and completion of postsecondary programs. The elimination of the scholarship fund will also accelerate the departure of highly skilled and qualified African Nova Scotian and Black graduates from the province, further weakening Nova Scotia’s workforce and leadership.

Prior to these cuts, African Nova Scotian and Black learners and parents were already identifying concerns with EECD and Advanced Education aligning with the recommendations of the BLAC Report on Education. This report was endorsed by the Nova Scotia Government (1995). Communities are meeting, sharing their direct impacts, and demanding accountability. We anticipate that community members and African Nova Scotian and Black learners will continue to contact CACE through our inquiry form as the news of the budget decisions are shared. In this moment, CACE’s role is to bring the collective voice of African Nova Scotian and Black learners directly to government in its capacity as an advisory body to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development, and Advanced Education. We are listening, and we are responding with clarity and responsibility.

The BLAC Report on Education (1994) clearly identified that sustained government commitment, in partnership with community, is required to address anti-Black racism in education. These cuts contradict the commitments outlined in the BLAC Report on Education (1994). Decisions of this magnitude require transparency and consultation.

We are deeply concerned that these changes appear to be made without consultation to key stakeholders. CACE strongly recommends that the Minister for EECD and Advanced Education immediately conduct and release an impact assessment of how these cuts affect African Nova Scotian and Black learners, families, educational institutions, and long-term workforce development. Decisions framed as fiscal responsibility cannot ignore racialized outcomes. CACE is prepared to fulfill its advisory mandate. We recognize fiscal realities, but not all cuts are equitable, given our past struggles for African Nova Scotian and Black learners related to the achievement gap and longstanding structural and systemic inequality (e.g., poverty rates). There must be clear boundaries around what can be adjusted and what must remain protected when it comes to educational advancement for African Nova Scotian and Black learners. Furthermore, CACE recognizes that redressing inequality requires a whole of government commitment. There remains an opportunity to extend engagement with community and stakeholders to impact real change and a bolder vision for the future of our youth.

We urge the Premier and the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development and of Minister of Advanced Education to engage meaningfully with CACE and recommit to the recommendations of the BLAC Report (1994) to continue education supports for African Nova Scotian and Black learners across Nova Scotia. We urge meaningful engagement with CACE and the broader community and request a formal written response by March 6, 2026.

Sincerely,

Council on African Canadian Education
c/o PO Box 578
Halifax, NS
B3J 2S9

https://www.ednet.ns.ca/cace/contact

References:

Black Learners Advisory Committee. 1994. BLAC Report on Education: Redressing Inequity – Empowering Black Learners. Halifax, NS: Black Learners Advisory Committee.
www.ednet.ns.ca/docs/blac-reporteducation-redressing-inequity.pdf

Nova Scotia Department of Education and Culture. 1995. Response to the Black Learners Advisory Committee Report on Education.
https://www.ednet.ns.ca/acs/files-acs/docs/blacresponse.pdf