Legislation to Protect Nova Scotians

New restrictions on private companies collecting and retaining social insurance numbers are part of legislation introduced today, September 23, aimed at protecting Nova Scotians and their personal information.

“Social insurance numbers are a sensitive piece of personal information that need to be protected,” said Colton LeBlanc, acting Minister of Service Nova Scotia. “Recent events have proven that the Province needs to step in to provide Nova Scotians with the protection they need. The Protecting Nova Scotians Act does just that, providing more support for Nova Scotians when they need it the most.”

As well as introducing the new Social Insurance Number Protection Act, the bill will also amend the Residential Tenancies Act to:

• enable victims of domestic violence to stay in their rental unit after their abuser has moved out and enter into a new lease on the same terms and conditions as the previous lease
• encourage more people to rent out rooms by removing boarders from the act, making it consistent with other provinces.

Other key amendments:

• removing the word “imminent” from the Personal Health Information Act to allow healthcare providers to disclose information if there is a reasonable belief a person is a significant danger to themselves or others; Nova Scotia will continue to have the strictest standard in Canada for disclosing information in high-risk situations

• strengthening rules and regulations for funeral services, including introducing stronger laws to prevent wrongful cremations, through amendments to the Embalmers and Funeral Directors Act and the Cemetery and Funeral Services Act

• amending the Liquor Control Act to improve safety in licensed establishments, including requiring bouncers to have criminal record checks and security training to keep both bar staff and patrons safe

• enhancing the Crown Lands Act to prevent the blocking of forest access roads and to allow structures to be removed without notice if they are a hazard to public health, safety or order or if they are impeding the lawful use of Crown lands

• amending the Wildlife Act to clarify and strengthen the authority of conservation officers to do routine inspections and obtain information; it will also align penalties with other legislation and reduce the maximum voltage for lights that people can shine at wildlife habitat, recognizing that LED lights are brighter.

Quick Facts:

• the government will continue to be able to collect social insurance numbers for administrative and program purposes; businesses may collect social insurance numbers for legitimate purposes such as income tax reporting for employees
• penalties under the Wildlife Act will increase to $500,000 from $3,000 ($1 million for corporations) to be consistent with the Endangered Species Act and the Forests Act
• penalties under the Crown Lands Act will increase to $50,000 from $2,000

Additional Resources:

Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-65-session-1