HALIFAX — A floor of the Nova Scotia legislature is now closed to the public following a week of rallies and demonstrations over grant cuts.

Speaker of the House Danielle Barkhouse said Friday public access would be temporarily closed to the second floor of Province House in downtown Halifax.

The gallery of the legislature and the main floor remain open to the public.

Barkhouse says the public restriction is needed to ensure a safe environment for the members of the legislative assembly.

There have been protests outside the legislature throughout the week over $130 million in cuts to funding for arts, tourism and culture programs, as well as money set aside for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian projects.

Barkhouse did not say when the second floor would reopen to the public.

The floor that’s been closed is where MLAs are often found coming in and out of the legislative chamber.

It’s also where several constituents stopped the African Nova Scotia Affairs minister to press her with questions Thursday afternoon.

Barkhouse declined to say if the closure is related to that exchange.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2026.

The Canadian Press