Government of Nova Scotia Structure
There are three branches of government in Nova Scotia: the Legislature, the Courts (Judicial branch), and the Executive branch.
The Lieutenant Governor
The Lieutenant Governor (LG) is the representative of the Queen in the Province of Nova Scotia and carries out constitutional responsibilities at a provincial level. The Lieutenant Governor is an appointed position by the Governor General, on the advice of the Prime Minister of Canada. Their appointment lasts a period not less than five years.
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The Honourable Mayann E. Francis, O.N.S., DHumL |
The Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly together form the Legislature of the Province of Nova Scotia.
The Lieutenant Governor and the Executive Council form the Government of Nova Scotia, which is the Executive branch of government.
Visit the Lt. Governor's webpage to learn more.
The Legislature
The Legislature consists of the Lieutenant Governor and an elected legislative assembly called the House of Assembly.
The 52 Members of the House of Assembly (MLAs) are elected by voters in electoral districts. While an election can be called at any time, no elected assembly may sit for more than five years. The House must normally meet at least twice a year.
The House of Assembly’s main functions are to:
- consider, enact, amend, and repeal legislation
- debate policies put forward by the Executive Council
- authorize spending, taxing, and borrowing by the provincial government
These functions of the House of Assembly are supported by the following offices:
The Speaker
The presiding officer of the House of Assembly is the Speaker, who maintains order, regulates debate, and ensures that all viewpoints are heard. The Speaker does not take part in the debates and votes only if there is a tie. Outside the Chamber, the Speaker is the only representative of the House and the sole embodiment of its prestige and authority. The Speaker has jurisdiction over all matters concerning Province House and is the Chair of the Legislature Internal Economy Board, the body responsible for regulating services to Members.
The functions of the House of Assembly are supported by the Office of the Clerk of the House and the Office of the Legislative Counsel. Three independent offices—the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Chief Electoral Office—also report to the House of Assembly.
Office of the Clerk of the House
The Chief Clerk of the House is responsible, under the Speaker, for all proceedings and reports of the Legislative Assembly, and for other related matters.
Office of the Legislative Counsel
The Legislative Counsel prepares all legislation, provides counsel and support services to committees of the House, and prepares annual, consolidated, and revised statutes.
Three independent offices, the Office of the Auditor General, the Office of the Ombudsman, and the Chief Electoral Office, also report to the House of Assembly.
Office of the Auditor General
The Auditor General is a servant of and reports to the House of Assembly. The Auditor General’s responsibilities and authorities are derived from the Auditor General Act and other legislation.
The Auditor General helps the House of Assembly hold government accountable by performing independent examinations of and reporting on:
- the credibility of financial statements and other government accountability reports
- compliance with legislation, regulations, agreements, and policies
- adequacy of systems and controls
- extent of due regard for economy and efficiency in the management and use of public funds or public property.
Office of the Ombudsman
The Ombudsman is empowered to hear and investigate personal complaints from individuals who feel they have been done a disservice by municipal or provincial government departments in Nova Scotia. The Ombudsman may use his or her investigatory powers to correct injustices or to guide complainants in the right direction to have their grievances rectified. The Ombudsman may also recommend appropriate measures to government departments.
Chief Electoral Office
The Chief Electoral Officer is responsible for the administrative aspects of provincial elections.
