Province Strengthens Housing Legislation to Accelerate Supply / Premier Promotes Critical Minerals Opportunities to Developers, Investors

**** NS Gov Release Province Strengthens Housing Legislation to Accelerate Supply --------------------------------------------------------- Amendments to existing legislation will mean more housing, improved efficiency in the sector and better alignment of related agencies. The changes extend the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality and give the Minister of Housing new authority to ensure housing projects aren’t delayed. “We are strengthening how we plan, build and deliver housing across the province,” said John White, Minister of Housing. “These changes will help us act faster and reduce the barriers that slow down housing projects so that more Nova Scotians will have access to the homes they need.” Changes to the Housing Supply and Services Act: - make the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency advisory board optional to provide flexibility and ensure consistency with other government agencies - repeal interim board provisions. Changes to the Housing in Halifax Regional Municipality Act: - extend the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality by two years - give the Minister of Housing new order-making authority with Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Halifax Water to improve co-ordination of water, wastewater and infrastructure that enables growth so housing projects can move ahead without delays and stay affordable over the long term. Changes to the Municipal Government Act and the Halifax Regional Municipal Charter: - give councils the ability to delegate oversight and performance management of a municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO) to a council committee - give councils explicit discretion to exclude or limit participation of their CAO in discussions and training sessions related to their performance - clarify councils’ ability to manage CAO participation on external boards and committees, aligning CAO priorities with council expectations - clarify councils’ ability to decide on long-term delegation of their CAO’s responsibilities during extended absences - introduce mandatory orientation training for newly elected municipal councillors to ensure consistent understanding of responsibilities across the province - provide the Minister of Municipal Affairs with temporary regulated authority to amend HRM’s urban service area boundary to build out the infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth. Updates are also being made to some of those acts and the Short‑Term Rentals Registration Act to reflect the current ministerial title and appropriate departmental oversight. The legislation, titled An Act Respecting Administrative Measures for Housing, is part of the Province’s ongoing commitment to increase housing supply. Quick Facts: - the executive panel on housing has helped advance more than 60,000 housing units in HRM - housing has been identified as one of six key priority areas to grow the economy and strengthen Nova Scotia’s gross domestic product; this priority is supported by the government’s five-year housing plan, Our Homes, Action for Housing Additional Resources: Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-65-session-1 Our Homes, Action for Housing: https://novascotia.ca/action-for-housing/ - Premier Promotes Critical Minerals Opportunities to Developers, Investors ------------------------------------------------------- Premier Tim Houston is attending the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference from March 1 to 3 in Toronto. The major international mining conference will connect developers and investors directly with decision-makers from Nova Scotia to discuss critical mineral opportunities. “Critical minerals are something the world needs – for clean energy, food production, defence, healthcare and much more,” said Premier Houston. “I look forward to continuing discussions about how our province can provide solutions and be a reliable, ethical, sustainable source for materials that are in high demand globally.” While in Toronto, the Premier is scheduled to make an announcement with Tim Hodgson, federal Minister of Energy and Natural Resources. He will also meet with Tjorven Bellmann, the German Ambassador to Canada, to discuss economic co-operation and attend the federal, provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers’ conference. Nova Scotia is growing the economy by harnessing natural resources. Last summer, the Goldboro gold mine in Guysborough County received industrial approval and a Crown land lease; the mine is expected to create more than 700 jobs and boost the province’s gross domestic product (GDP) by $2.1 billion. Quick Facts: - mineral exploration brings $35 to $50 million per year to Nova Scotia communities - the 2026-27 budget includes $300,000 to support growth in Nova Scotia’s mining industry and $1.5 million for Invest Nova Scotia to drive more GDP growth in six priority sectors, including forestry and mining - Nova Scotia launched its critical minerals strategy in 2024 and updated it last year; it lists 20 critical minerals and four strategic minerals - the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada conference attracts 130 mining companies and more than 30,000 delegates each year - mission delegates include Premier Houston; Nicole LaFosse Parker, Chief of Staff and General Counsel, Premier’s Office; and senior staff with the Department of Natural Resources and Invest Nova Scotia Additional Resources: News release – Nova Scotia Advancing Critical Mineral Opportunities: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/03/04/nova-scotia-advancing-critical-mineral-opportunities News release – New Mine to Create Over 700 Jobs, Boost Province’s GDP by $2.1 Billion: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/08/27/new-mine-create-over-700-jobs-boost-provinces-gdp-21-billion Nova Scotia’s Critical Minerals Strategy: https://novascotia.ca/natr/meb/docs/critical-minerals-strategy.pdf