SocietyPreview

Provincial

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

  • French: Assemblée législative de la Nouvelle-Écosse

Governs Nova Scotia

Official website (nslegislature.ca) Report a problem with this page

Source: nslegislature.ca, checked
What it's for

The provincial legislature makes laws for the province on subjects such as hospitals, education, municipal institutions, property and civil rights, the administration of justice and provincial courts, and natural resources, forestry and electricity generation.

Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92, 92A and 93 · Applies to every provincial legislature

What it can't do

A provincial legislature cannot make laws on subjects reserved to Parliament, such as criminal law, banking, currency and national defence, and it can levy only direct taxes within the province. Its laws must respect the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and a law inconsistent with the Constitution has no force or effect to that extent.

Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 91 and 92(2); Constitution Act, 1982, ss. 1 and 52 · Applies to every provincial legislature

Who it answers to

Voters elect the legislative assembly at least every five years. Bills become law with Royal Assent from the Lieutenant Governor, who is appointed by the Governor General in Council, and anyone whose Charter rights are infringed can ask a court for a remedy.

Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 58 and 90; Constitution Act, 1982, ss. 4 and 24 · Applies to every provincial legislature

Where its money comes from

The province raises money through direct taxes within the province, licences, its public lands and taxes on natural resources and electricity, and it can borrow on its own credit. Federal transfers add to this, including the Canada Health Transfer, the Canada Social Transfer and, for provinces that qualify, equalization payments.

Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92(2), 92(3), 92(5), 92(9), 92A(4) and 126; Constitution Act, 1982, s. 36(2); Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Parts I and V.1 · Applies to every provincial legislature

Shares responsibility with

The province shares agriculture and immigration with Parliament, whose laws prevail in a conflict, and old age pensions, where federal law does not override provincial law. Municipal councils and school boards in the province are created under provincial law.

Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92(8), 93, 94A and 95 · Applies to every provincial legislature

Next vote

Who sits on it

Sourced · checked

Sources for who sits on it

Report a problem

What it can do

  • Direct taxation

    Direct taxation within the province to raise revenue for provincial purposes, e.g. provincial income tax and the provincial part of the HST (Constitution Act, 1867, s. 92(2)).

  • Borrowing

    Borrowing money on the sole credit of the province (s. 92(3)).

  • Public service and public lands

    Provincial offices and officers, and the management and sale of provincial Crown lands and timber (s. 92(4), (5)).

  • Health care and hospitals

    Establishment, maintenance and management of hospitals, asylums and charities (s. 92(7)); Nova Scotia runs MSI public health insurance through the Department of Health and Wellness, Nova Scotia Health and the IWK Health Centre.

  • Municipal institutions

    Creates municipalities and sets what they may do (s. 92(8)); in Nova Scotia through the Municipal Government Act (SNS 1998, c. 18), the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (SNS 2008, c. 39) and the Municipal Elections Act.

  • Licences

    Shop, saloon, tavern, auctioneer and other licences to raise revenue (s. 92(9)).

  • Local works and undertakings

    Local works and undertakings, including provincial highways and most rural roads (s. 92(10)).

  • Incorporation of companies

    Incorporation of companies with provincial objects (s. 92(11)).

  • Solemnization of marriage

    Solemnization of marriage in the province (s. 92(12)).

  • Property and civil rights

    Property and civil rights in the province: contracts, property, labour relations, consumer protection, insurance, landlord and tenant, and most private law (s. 92(13)).

  • Administration of justice

    Administration of justice in the province, including provincial courts, civil procedure and policing (s. 92(14)).

  • Provincial offences

    Fines, penalties and imprisonment to enforce provincial laws (s. 92(15)), e.g. Motor Vehicle Act and liquor offences.

  • Matters of a local or private nature

    Generally all matters of a merely local or private nature in the province (s. 92(16)).

  • Natural resources

    Exploration, development, conservation and management of non-renewable natural resources, forestry and electrical energy, and their taxation (s. 92A). Offshore petroleum is jointly managed with Canada through the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Energy Regulator (Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Resources Accord Implementation Acts).

  • Education

    Exclusive power over education, subject to the rights of denominational schools (s. 93); public schools run under the Education Act through seven regional centres for education and the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial.

  • Agriculture and immigration

    Laws on agriculture and immigration in the province, concurrent with Parliament; federal law prevails in a conflict (s. 95).

Sourced · checked

Sources for what it can do

Report a problem

Sources

  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Official website. For: Nova Scotia House of Assembly
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982 (Justice Laws consolidation): Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92, 92A and 93. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it's for
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982 (Justice Laws consolidation): Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 91 and 92(2); Constitution Act, 1982, ss. 1 and 52. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: What it can't do
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982 (Justice Laws consolidation): Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 58 and 90; Constitution Act, 1982, ss. 4 and 24. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Who it answers to
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. F-8: Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92(2), 92(3), 92(5), 92(9), 92A(4) and 126; Constitution Act, 1982, s. 36(2); Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Parts I and V.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982 (Justice Laws consolidation): Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92(2), 92(3), 92(5), 92(9), 92A(4) and 126; Constitution Act, 1982, s. 36(2); Federal-Provincial Fiscal Arrangements Act, Parts I and V.1. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Where its money comes from
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982 (Justice Laws consolidation): Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92(8), 93, 94A and 95. Statute text read 2026-10-12 (research:authority-explainers, ticket 405). For: Shares responsibility with
  • laws-lois.justice.gc.ca · checked provincial: Constitution Act, 1867, ss. 92, 92A, 93, 95 (and the Acts named in the description). For: Direct taxation, Borrowing, Public service and public lands, Health care and hospitals, Municipal institutions and 11 more
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: House of Assembly Act ss. 4, 8 (consolidated to 2026-04-09); Elections Act ss. 29, 29A (consolidated, as amended to 2026, c. 9). For: Member of the Legislative Assembly
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Office and how it is filled. For: Speaker
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: David Bowlby as MLA, Annapolis
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Michelle Thompson as MLA, Antigonish
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Colton LeBlanc as MLA, Argyle
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Tim Outhit as MLA, Bedford Basin
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Damian Stoilov as MLA, Bedford South
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Kendra Coombes as MLA, Cape Breton Centre-Whitney Pier
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Brian Comer as MLA, Cape Breton East
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Danielle Barkhouse as MLA, Chester-St. Margaret's
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Claude Bourgeois as MLA, Chéticamp-Margarees-Pleasant Bay
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Ryan Robicheau as MLA, Clare
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Adegoke Fadare as MLA, Clayton Park West
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Scott Armstrong as MLA, Colchester-Musquodoboit Valley
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Tom Taggart as MLA, Colchester North
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Leah Martin as MLA, Cole Harbour
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Brad McGowan as MLA, Cole Harbour-Dartmouth
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin as MLA, Cumberland North
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Tory Rushton as MLA, Cumberland South
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Timothy Halman as MLA, Dartmouth East
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Susan Leblanc as MLA, Dartmouth North
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Claudia Chender as MLA, Dartmouth South
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Jill Balser as MLA, Digby-Annapolis
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Barbara Adams as MLA, Eastern Passage
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Kent Smith as MLA, Eastern Shore
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Lina Hamid as MLA, Fairview-Clayton Park
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: John White as MLA, Glace Bay-Dominion
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Greg Morrow as MLA, Guysborough-Tracadie
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Rod Wilson as MLA, Halifax Armdale
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Brendan Maguire as MLA, Halifax Atlantic
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Krista Gallagher as MLA, Halifax Chebucto
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Lisa Lachance as MLA, Halifax Citadel-Sable Island
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Suzy Hansen as MLA, Halifax Needham
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Rick Burns as MLA, Hammonds Plains-Lucasville
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: John A. MacDonald as MLA, Hants East
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Melissa Sheehy-Richard as MLA, Hants West
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Kyle MacQuarrie as MLA, Inverness
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: John Lohr as MLA, Kings North
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Julie Vanexan as MLA, Kings South
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Chris Palmer as MLA, Kings West
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Susan Corkum-Greek as MLA, Lunenburg
  • ctvnews.ca · checked provincial: Becky Druhan joined the Nova Scotia Liberal Party caucus on 11 May 2026 after sitting as an Independent (party history also on her member profile). For: Becky Druhan as MLA, Lunenburg West
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Becky Druhan as MLA, Lunenburg West
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Fred Tilley as MLA, Northside-Westmount
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Danny MacGillivray as MLA, Pictou Centre
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Tim Houston as MLA, Pictou East
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Marco MacLeod as MLA, Pictou West
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Twila Grosse as MLA, Preston
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Kim Masland as MLA, Queens
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Trevor Boudreau as MLA, Richmond
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Paul Wozney as MLA, Sackville-Cobequid
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Brad Johns as MLA, Sackville-Uniacke
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Nolan Young as MLA, Shelburne
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Derek Mombourquette as MLA, Sydney-Membertou
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Iain Rankin as MLA, Timberlea-Prospect
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Dave Ritcey as MLA, Truro-Bible Hill-Millbrook-Salmon River
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Dianne Timmins as MLA, Victoria-The Lakes
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Brian Wong as MLA, Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Member profile (constituency, party, start of current period). Term start = date of the election that returned the member. For: Nick Hilton as MLA, Yarmouth
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: Legislature Speaker page: Danielle Barkhouse elected Speaker 5 Sep 2024 and re-elected 10 Dec 2024. For: Danielle Barkhouse as Speaker
  • nslegislature.ca · checked date_kind=latest_possible: House of Assembly Act s. 8(1) + Elections Act s. 29 (Tuesday 30-46 days after writ) give 15 Jan 2030 as the last legal day; s. 29A repealed 2025 c. 8 s. 4 (verified in the consolidation) For: General election, January 15, 2030
  • nslegislature.ca · checked provincial: House of Assembly Act s. 8(1); Elections Act ss. 29, 29A (repealed 2025, c. 8, s. 4); writ date 27 Oct 2024 (Lieutenant Governor, dissolution of 27 Oct 2024, https://lt.gov.ns.ca/node/866). For: General election, January 15, 2030

Know an official source for something on this page? Please tell us.

Send feedback

Your message will be shown publicly on the feedback page. Your contact details stay private.