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HALIFAX 鈥� Nova Scotia鈥檚 finance minister says he鈥檚 open to examining whether a seniors income benefit can be implemented in his province.

Allan MacMaster says Nova Scotia would have to work with the Canada Revenue Service to determine whether a suitable tax measure can be created to help seniors with the cost of living.聽

However, the minister says he鈥檚 not interested in adopting an NDP bill that was introduced in the legislature on Wednesday that calls for changes to the provincial Income Tax Act to provide an income supplement for seniors.

The New Democrats say that eight provinces distribute benefits automatically to seniors based on their income tax returns and that Nova Scotians, in contrast, must apply for a seniors grant.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender says the time has come for Nova Scotia to have a similar benefit to most other provinces.

She says she鈥檚 not surprised 鈥渁 deeply partisan鈥� government won鈥檛 adopt her party鈥檚 legislation, but adds that the NDP is happy for the Progressive Conservatives to steal its idea.

鈥淥f course they won鈥檛 pass the bill, this is a deeply partisan government,鈥� Chender told reporters Thursday. 鈥淭hey will not take anybody else鈥檚 good idea, but we鈥檙e happy for them to steal ours.鈥�

MacMaster said, 鈥淲e have come up with initiatives that we are targeting for things that we believe will help people and if it can work through the Income Tax Act, often times we prefer that."

However, the minister defended the seniors care grant as a measure that鈥檚 easy to apply for and that helps seniors who are living in their own home.

鈥淭hough we ask people to keep receipts, I don鈥檛 think there鈥檚 been an instance where we鈥檝e actually gone in and questioned somebody鈥檚 receipts,鈥� he said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2023.

The Canadian Press