BILL NO. 136
(as introduced)
1st Session, 65th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
4 Charles III, 2025
Private Member's Public Bill
Consumer Reporting Act
(amended)
The Honourable Derek Mombourquette
Sydney–Membertou
First Reading: September 24, 2025
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Note
This Bill allows consumers to place security alerts and security freezes with consumer reporting agencies.
An Act to Amend Chapter 93
of the Revised Statues, 1989,
the Consumer Reporting Act
1 Chapter 93 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Consumer Reporting Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 13 the following Sections:
- 13A (1) In this Section,
a requirement for a consumer reporting agency to notify a consumer when the consumer reporting agency provides a consumer report respecting the consumer to a third party;
prohibition on a consumer reporting agency providing a consumer report respecting a consumer to a third party.
(2) Every consumer reporting agency shall, at the written request of the consumer and during normal business hours, without charge, allow a consumer to place a security freeze or a security alert on the consumer's information in the files of the consumer reporting agency.
(3) A consumer may revoke or suspend a security freeze or security alert by providing a written request to a consumer reporting agency.
(4) A consumer reporting agency shall require a consumer to provide sufficient identification before placing or revoking a security alert or security freeze.
(5) A security alert or security freeze remains in effect until it is suspended or revoked by the consumer.
(6) A consumer reporting agency shall, by phone or electronic mail as specified by the consumer, notify a consumer whose information is subject to a security alert of any request for a consumer report respecting the consumer forthwith and, in any event, within two hours of the request.
(7) Where a request is made for a consumer report respecting a consumer who has placed a security freeze by a third party, a consumer reporting agency shall notify the third party of the existence of the security freeze and shall not provide a consumer report to the third party.
(8) Every consumer reporting agency shall provide trained personnel to explain to consumers the process for placing, suspending or revoking a security alert or security freeze and the effect of doing so.
(9) A consumer reporting agency shall not require a consumer to give any undertaking or to waive or release any right or chose in action as a condition precedent to placing or revoking a security alert or security freeze.
(10) For greater certainty, a consumer may place both a security alert and a security freeze simultaneously.
(11) Nothing in this Section prevents a consumer reporting agency from
(a) providing a consumer report in response to an order of a court having jurisdiction to issue such an order; or
(b) furnishing or providing information under subsection 9(3) or (3A).