Government of Nova Scotia

The history of Canadian parliamentary institutions begins in Nova Scotia. In 1758, it was granted an elected assembly, becoming the first Canadian colony to enjoy a representative political institution.^[3] The representatives of Nova Scotia's House of Assembly were elected by a limited number of individuals who were required to own property and swear on certain oaths.^[4] This changed in 1836 when political reformer Joseph Howe started the movement for Responsible Government. Responsible Government is described as a government that is dependent on the support of an elected assembly instead of a monarch. Under the guidance of Joseph Howe, who led the Reformers (Liberals), the first genuine political party appeared in the election of 1836.^[5]

The Premier, or First Minister, of Nova Scotia is the head of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia.^[6] Being the head of government in Nova Scotia, the premier exercises a substantial amount of power.^[6] Hon. James B. Uniacke was the first Premier of Nova Scotia and led the government from 1848 to 1854.^[4]

The current Premier, Tim Houston, was sworn in as premier on August 31, 2021. He is the 30th Premier of the Province of Nova Scotia since Confederation.

The functions of the Sovereign, Charles III, King of Canada, and known in Nova Scotia as the King in Right of Nova Scotia, are exercised by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General of Canada on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada, in consultation with the Premier of Nova Scotia. In the case of unconstitutional actions, the Lieutenant Governor has the power to dismiss a government by refusing a decision of the Executive Council. This power is rarely used as it would disrupt the affairs of the elected government.^[2]

Discover more about Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia related topics

Monarchy in Nova Scotia

Monarchy in Nova Scotia

By the arrangements of the Canadian federation, the Canadian monarchy operates in Nova Scotia as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. As such, the Crown within Nova Scotia's jurisdiction is referred to as the Crown in Right of Nova Scotia, His Majesty in Right of Nova Scotia, or the King in Right of Nova Scotia. The Constitution Act, 1867, however, leaves many royal duties in the province specifically assigned to the sovereign's viceroy, the lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia, whose direct participation in governance is limited by the conventional stipulations of constitutional monarchy.

Charles III

Charles III

Charles III is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales, and at the age of 73, became the oldest person to accede to the British throne, upon the death of his mother, Elizabeth II, on 8 September 2022.

Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia

Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia

The lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia is the viceregal representative in Nova Scotia of the Canadian monarch, King Charles III, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada, as well as the other Commonwealth realms and any subdivisions thereof, and resides predominantly in his oldest realm, the United Kingdom. The lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia is appointed in the same manner as the other provincial viceroys in Canada and is similarly tasked with carrying out most of the monarch's constitutional and ceremonial duties. The present, and 33rd lieutenant governor of Nova Scotia is Arthur Joseph LeBlanc, who has served in the role since 28 June 2017.

Governor General of Canada

Governor General of Canada

The governor general of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, currently King Charles III. The King is head of state of Canada and the 14 other Commonwealth realms, but he resides in his oldest and most populous realm, the United Kingdom. The King, on the advice of his Canadian prime minister, appoints a governor general to carry on the Government of Canada in the King's name, performing most of his constitutional and ceremonial duties. The commission is for an indefinite period—known as serving at His Majesty's pleasure—though five years is the usual length of time. Since 1959, it has also been traditional to alternate between francophone and anglophone officeholders—although many recent governors general have been bilingual.

Prime Minister of Canada

Prime Minister of Canada

The prime minister of Canada is the head of government of Canada. Under the Westminster system, the prime minister governs with the confidence of a majority of the elected House of Commons; as such, the prime minister typically sits as a member of Parliament (MP) and leads the largest party or a coalition of parties. The prime minister is "called upon" by the monarch's representative, the governor general, and, as first minister, selects other ministers to form the Cabinet and chairs it. Constitutionally, the Crown exercises executive power on the advice of the Cabinet, which is collectively responsible to the House of Commons.

Premier of Nova Scotia

Premier of Nova Scotia

The premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister to the lieutenant governor of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia and presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly who is called upon by the lieutenant governor to form a government. As the province's head of government, the premier exercises considerable power.

The Executive branch is referred to as the government. The Executive Council, also called the Cabinet, makes the final decision for the Government of Nova Scotia. It is responsible for the operations and management of government as well as for making key policy decisions. The Executive Council is made up of Ministers, also called MLAs (Members in the Legislative Assembly). They are chosen by the Premier and appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.^[6]

The Nova Scotia government ended 2010–2011 with a surplus of $569 million and reduced its debt to $12.8 billion, down $217.8 million. The Nova Scotia government projects total revenues for 2018–2019 to be $10.810 billion. Expenses for fiscal year 2018-2019 are budgeted at $10.781 billion. The government budget for 2018–2019 projects a surplus of $29.4 million^[7]

Departments

• Department of Advanced Education
• Department of Agriculture
• Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism, and Heritage
  • Acadian Affairs and Francophonie
  • African Nova Scotian Affairs
  • Gaelic Affairs
• Department of Community Services
• Department of Economic Development
• Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
• Department of Environment and Climate Change
• Department of Finance and Treasury Board
• Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Department of Health and Wellness
• Department of Intergovernmental Affairs
• Department of Justice
• Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration
• Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing
• Department of Natural Resources and Renewables
• Department of Public Works
• Department of Seniors and Long-term Care
• Department of Service Nova Scotia and Internal Services

Offices and agencies

• Communications Nova Scotia
• Executive Council Office
• Emergency Management Office
• Office of Addictions and Mental Health
• Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives
• Office of the Fire Marshal
• Office of L'nu Affairs
• Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness
• Public Service Commission

In 2012 Nova Scotia signed a 10-year contract starting at $Cdn 8.4 million per year, with multinational information technology firm, IBM Canada to outsource the government's SAP information management system, which includes "payroll, procurement, human resources and other information from government departments, district health authorities, school boards, housing authorities and some municipal bodies.^[8] One hundred public sector jobs will be privatized in the first stage. Workers whose jobs were privatized would "earn 30 per cent less, with many fewer benefits" than in the public sector.^[9] The deal is worth approximately $100 million. There is a concern that IT outsourcing will spread throughout the government. Kevin Quigley, the director of Dalhousie University's School of Public Administration, argued that while outsourcing may cut costs but it also leads to a dependency on an external source and a loss of control over software, capacity-building and human resource development.^[10] IBM Canada will make Halifax a global delivery centre, with a potential for 500 employees by 2021.^[8]