Houston in Houston: N.S. premier returns to Texas to promote energy opportunities

Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston speaks in Halifax on March 10, 2026.

For the second time in less than two months, Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston is heading to Texas to promote offshore energy opportunities in his province.

Houston, who appointed himself energy minister last October, will attend the Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, Texas, from Monday to Thursday. The event involves thousands of offshore energy professionals from around the world, according to a news release from the province.

“Global circumstances continue to prove that we need to tap into our own energy sources to generate the energy we need to power our future, provide good-paying jobs and generate revenue to pay for the services Nova Scotians want and deserve,” Houston said in the release.

In the release, Houston touted the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator’s approval of Inceptio Oil and Gas Ltd.’s $210-million petroleum-related bids to explore two parcels off the coast of Nova Scotia.

Eleven other parcels were up for bid, but didn’t receive any offers.

The province says there are 3.5 trillion cubic feet of offshore natural gas under significant discovery licences.

In March, Houston attended the energy conference CERAWeek in Houston, Texas. Last month he also met with the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Canadian Association of Energy Contractors in Calgary, Alta.

In 2025, Houston spent roughly $77,000 on out-of-Nova Scotia travel, which included meeting energy companies in Texas and attending the U.S.-Canada Executive Energy Conference in Boston.

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