Government of Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Government of Nova Scotia
refers to the provincial government of the Canadian
province of Nova Scotia. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867
.
In modern Canadian use, the term "government" refers broadly to the cabinet of the day, elected from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency – that is, the civil service.
The Province
of Nova Scotia
is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
, which operates in the Westminster system
of government. The political party that wins the largest number of seats in the legislature normally forms the government, and the party's leader becomes premier
of the province, i.e., the head of the government
.
on June 19, 2009, Hon. Darrell Dexter
became the 27th Premier of the Province of Nova Scotia since Confederation. Premier Dexter was elected Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
in 2001.
, Queen of Canada
, and known in Nova Scotia as the Queen 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
.
Department of Economic and Rural Development
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
refers to the provincial government of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province of Nova Scotia. Its powers and structure are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867
Constitution Act, 1867
The Constitution Act, 1867 , is a major part of Canada's Constitution. The Act created a federal dominion and defines much of the operation of the Government of Canada, including its federal structure, the House of Commons, the Senate, the justice system, and the taxation system...
.
In modern Canadian use, the term "government" refers broadly to the cabinet of the day, elected from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency – that is, the civil service.
The Province
Provinces and territories of Canada
The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second-largest country by area. There are ten provinces and three territories...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
is governed by a unicameral legislature, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
, which operates in the Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
of government. The political party that wins the largest number of seats in the legislature normally forms the government, and the party's leader becomes premier
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who 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...
of the province, i.e., the head of the government
Head of government
Head of government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. In a parliamentary system, the head of government is often styled prime minister, chief minister, premier, etc...
.
Premier of Nova Scotia
Sworn in as premierPremier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who 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...
on June 19, 2009, Hon. Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter
Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating...
became the 27th Premier of the Province of Nova Scotia since Confederation. Premier Dexter was elected Leader of the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
Nova Scotia New Democratic Party
The Nova Scotia New Democratic Party is a social-democratic provincial party in Nova Scotia, Canada. It is aligned with the federal New Democratic Party . Originally founded as the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation in 1932, it became the New Democratic Party in 1961. It became the governing...
in 2001.
Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia
The functions of the Sovereign, Elizabeth IIElizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
, Queen of Canada
Monarchy in Canada
The monarchy of Canada is the core of both Canada's federalism and its Westminster-style parliamentary democracy, being the foundation of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Canadian government and each provincial government...
, and known in Nova Scotia as the Queen in Right of 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, Her Majesty in Right of...
, are exercised by the 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, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
. The Lieutenant Governor is appointed by the Governor General of Canada
Governor General of Canada
The Governor General of Canada is the federal viceregal representative of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II...
on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Canada
Prime Minister of Canada
The Prime Minister of Canada is the primary minister of the Crown, chairman of the Cabinet, and thus head of government for Canada, charged with advising the Canadian monarch or viceroy on the exercise of the executive powers vested in them by the constitution...
, in consultation with the Premier of Nova Scotia
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who 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...
.
Finance
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. Expenses for the year were $9.3 billion, down $171.5 million, and revenues were $9.9 billion, an increase of $666.1 million.Ministries
Department of Economic and Rural Development
Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development
The Department of Economic and Rural Development is a part of the Government of Nova Scotia. It was created in 2009 from the former Department of Economic Development. Its primary purpose is to stimulate the economy of Nova Scotia...
- Department of EducationNova Scotia Department of EducationThe Nova Scotia Department of Education is a department of the Government of Nova Scotia responsible for overseeing education institutions in the province...
- Department of Energy
- Department of Environment
- Department of Finance
- Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture
- Department of Health
- Department of Health Promotion and Protection
- Department of Intergovernmental Affairs
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labour and Workforce Development
- Department of Natural Resources
- Department of Public Service Commission
- Department of Seniors
- Department of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations
- Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage
- Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
See also
- Politics of Nova ScotiaPolitics of Nova ScotiaNova Scotia is a parliamentary democracy. Its unicameral legislature, the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, consists of fifty-two members. As Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth II is the head of Nova Scotia's chief executive government. Her duties in Nova Scotia are carried out by the...
- Nova Scotia general election, 2006Nova Scotia general election, 2006The 37th Nova Scotia general election was held on June 13, 2006 to elect members of the 60th House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada....
- Broadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiativeBroadband for Rural Nova Scotia initiativeBroadband for Rural Nova Scotia is a government initiative intended to provide broadband services to 100% of civic addresses in Nova Scotia, Canada. The initiative is a public private partnership co-funded by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia, and three Internet service providers...