NOVA.SCOTIA (CBC) - Nova Scotia's Official Opposition will not support the minority government's budget, though it's already set to pass with the support of the Liberals.

NDP Leader Darrell Dexter said Monday his party will vote against the budget when it comes to a vote later this week.

"I want you to know that we have heard almost universally from Nova Scotians in every community from one end of the province to the other and they all say what amounts to the same thing, which is this is a government that's out of touch with them and with their lives," he said.

Dexter points to the Progressive Conservative government's decision to eliminate an eight-per-cent tax break on electricity as a key disappointment in this year's budget.

With the clawback, the electricity bill for the average family of three will go up by $96 a year. The province expects to save $28 million and use $10 million of that to cover rebates for low-income Nova Scotians.

The return of a rebate program was one of the reasons why the Liberals said they would support the budget.

As a minority government, the Tories need the support of either the Liberals or the NDP to pass the budget and stay in power. If not, the government falls, forcing an election.

LIKE IT?  LET OTHERS KNOW