Nova Scotia history research links provincial wealth to slavery

Historical research has revealed that Nova Scotia’s early public finances were deeply rooted in the transatlantic slave trade. Studies by professors from Dalhousie University and the University of King’s College indicate that trade taxes, derived from slave-produced commodities such as sugar, rum, molasses, cocoa, and coffee, accounted for between 38 and 73 percent of provincial customs duties between 1789 and 1835.

This revenue funded essential infrastructure and government services, including roads, bridges, public buildings, education, and the construction of Province House. Educational institutions like King’s Edgehill School and the University of King’s College also benefited from these duties. In response to these findings, scholars are calling for memorials on the Halifax waterfront to acknowledge the economic connections between the region and Caribbean plantations.

In a related development, the Museum of Industry in Stellarton has opened an exhibit titled ‘A History Exposed: The Enslavement of Black People in Canada’. The display, which runs until January 3, is accompanied by a speaker series titled ‘Voices and Views’ featuring scholars and community leaders discussing the connections between enslavement, labour, and industrial development in the province.