BILL NO. 8
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
3 Charles III, 2025
Private Member's Public Bill
Atlantic Coalition Act
Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin
Cumberland North
First Reading: February 18, 2025
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act Respecting
an Atlantic Coalition
1 This Act may be cited as the Atlantic Coalition Act.
2 The purpose of this Act is to set out a commitment by the Government of the Province to create a coalition with the Provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador with the objective of
(a) achieving greater regional strength;
(b) increasing economic activity;
(c) promoting collaboration in healthcare services;
(d) aligning transportation legislation and regulations;
(e) removing all interprovincial trade barriers;
(f) adopting a common approach to issues respecting the environment and climate change; and
(g) jointly planning energy development and infrastructure,
thereby improving the well-being and prosperity of the people living in those provinces.
3 In this Act, "Atlantic Provinces" means the Provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
4 The Province, in co-operation with the other Atlantic Provinces, shall
(a) seek to harmonize all current and future legislation in form and substance; and
(b) take any other measures to improve the prosperity of the Atlantic Provinces and the well-being of the residents of those provinces.
5 (1) The Province, in co-operation with the other Atlantic Provinces, shall create a joint task force to report on the benefits and drawbacks of a union of those provinces.
(2) The membership, organization, operation and funding of the joint task force is as agreed by the governments of the Atlantic Provinces.
(3) The joint task force shall publish its report within one year after its creation.
(4) The Premier shall table the report of the joint task force in the House of Assembly or, where the House is not then sitting, file it with the Chief Clerk of the House.
6 (1) The Governor in Council may, by regulation, make non-substantive amendments to this Act to better harmonize it with similar legislation of the other Atlantic Provinces.
(2) The exercise by the Governor in Council of the authority in subsection (1) is a regulation within the meaning of the Regulations Act.
7 (1) This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), this Act does not have effect until such day as substantially similar legislation comes into force in the Provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2025 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created February 18, 2025. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
