BEECH HILL – Officials with the Municipality of the County of Antigonish will ask their partners in the Pictou-Antigonish Regional Library (PARL) to consider increasing their annual contributions, as the system faces a shortfall following the loss of provincial emergency funding.
At the committee of the whole (COW) meeting April 14, Antigonish County Coun. Adam Baden-Clay (District 2) asked council to gauge whether there was an “appetite” among participating municipalities to bump up their contributions.
Since Feb. 24, when Nova Scotia Finance Minister John Lohr released the 2026-27 provincial budget, which included more than $130 million in grant reductions through the Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage (CCTH) department, there has been heightened concern regarding potential cuts to programs and services. Although legislated funding for libraries across the province remains unchanged at $16.4 million, the budget did not include the bridge emergency funding provided over the past three years. Those funds were aimed at addressing minimum wage increases, inflation, book purchases and salary adjustments.
For the coming fiscal year, PARL will receive a $1,383,800 grant, but no emergency funding ($134,600), which officials say will result in reduced funding for libraries across the province.
During the COW meeting, Baden-Clay estimated that, if the $134,600 shortfall were divided among PARL’s partners – including the Town of Antigonish and six municipal units in Pictou County – it could be recouped at roughly $16,000 per partner. Describing it as a “quite reasonable ask,” he said additional contributions could help PARL “maintain its terrific level of service.”
CAO Shirlyn Donovan noted that last year PARL requested a $25,000 increase from its members, with the county contributing 22.5 per cent ($5,632). She said if the same formula were applied to address the current shortfall, the county’s share would be approximately $31,500.
Donovan added the county contributed $137,000 to PARL last year, while $131,000 has been budgeted for this year, reflecting the absence of the one-time increase. “We have been paying above what’s prescribed,” she noted.
Coun. Mary MacLellan (District 1), who represents council on the PARL board, reminded that the organization is not formally requesting an increase from participating municipalities.
Coun. Sterling Garvie (District 10) asked whether the municipality could provide cost-of-living increases to staff at The People’s Place.
“Times are tough,” Coun. Richelle MacLaughlin (District 3) said, referring to the broader financial pressures facing municipalities.
She also suggested an awareness campaign aimed at provincial officials to highlight the scope of programs and services libraries provide, including in areas such as health and community support.
In a March 16 letter to partners, PARL chief librarian Eric Stackhouse outlined measures taken to balance the 2026-27 budget and protect core services. These include reducing salaried positions through attrition, with duties from one headquarters role redistributed among staff.
Although funding for PARL’s adopt-a-library program has been reduced, Stackhouse said it will continue through support from retired RCMP constable John Kennedy and local partnerships.
The PARL board also plans to increase generated revenue from three to 10 per cent of its operating budget (approximately $140,000) through a targeted, region-wide fundraising campaign. A new committee has been formed to lead the effort, which includes Coun. Patrick McKenna, who represents the Town of Antigonish on the PARL board.
“Recognizing the demands that will be placed on councils from provincial program and grant cuts, the board is not requesting a municipal grant increase,” Stackhouse wrote.
County council will discuss the issue further after receiving feedback from its municipal partners.
