BILL NO. 136

(as passed)

1st Session, 60th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
56 Elizabeth II, 2007

Government Bill

Justice Administration Amendment (2007) Act

CHAPTER 10 OF THE ACTS OF 2007

The Honourable Murray K. Scott
Minister of Justice

First Reading: March 19, 2007 (LINK TO BILL AS INTRODUCED)

Second Reading: March 20, 2007

Third Reading: April 12, 2007

Royal Assent: April 13, 2007

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

2 Chapter 8 of the Acts of 1990, the Emergency Management Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 9 the following Section:

9A (1) In recognition of a significant contribution to the protection of persons and property by a member of a ground search and rescue crew or other person involved in the provision of emergency services, the Minister or a person designated by the Minister, on the recommendation of the Emergency Management Office, may issue a medal for long service.

(2) Where the Minister or the Minister's designate has issued a medal for long service, the Minister or the designate, on the recommendation of the Emergency Management Office, may issue a bar for further service to accompany the medal.

3 Chapter 6 of the Acts of 2002, the Fire Safety Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 14 the following heading and Sections:

14A (1) In recognition of a significant contribution to the protection of persons and property by a firefighter or other person involved in the provision of fire services, the Minister or a person designated by the Minister, on the recommendation of the Fire Marshal, may issue a medal for long service.

(2) Where the Minister or the Minister's designate has issued a medal for long service, the Minister or the designate, on the recommendation of the Fire Marshal, may issue a bar for further service to accompany the medal.

(3) A medal or bar for long service issued by the Fire Marshal before the coming into force of this Section is deemed to have been issued pursuant to this Section.

4 Subsections 42(2) and (3) of Chapter 6 of the Acts of 2000, the Health Authorities Act, are repealed.

5 Chapter 31 of the Acts of 2004, the Police Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 43 the following heading and Sections:

43A (1) In recognition of a significant contribution to the protection of persons and property by a police officer or other person involved in the provision of police services, the Minister or a person designated by the Minister, on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee established by this Section, may issue a medal for long service.

(2) The Minister shall establish an Advisory Committee to recommend persons to be issued medals for long service.

(3) The Advisory Committee consists of chief officers and other persons determined by the Minister.

(4) The Minister may designate a member of the Advisory Committee to be the Chair of the Committee.

(5) Where the Minister or the Minister's designate has issued a medal for long service, the Minister or the designate, on the recommendation of a chief officer, may issue a bar for further service to accompany the medal.

6 (1) Clauses 4(1)(a) to (d) of Chapter 97 of the Acts of 1986, An Act to Establish the Shubenacadie Canal Commission, are repealed and the following clauses substituted:

(a) four persons resident in Halifax Regional Municipality appointed by the Council of Halifax Regional Municipality, for such terms of office as the Council may determine;

(b) two persons resident in the Municipality of the District of East Hants, one appointed by the Governor in Council for such term of office as the Governor in Council may determine, and one appointed by the Council of the District of East Hants for such term of office as the Council may determine;

(c) two persons resident in the Municipality of the County of Colchester, one appointed by the Governor in Council for such term of office as the Governor in Council may determine, and one appointed by the Council of the County of Colchester for such term of office as the Council may determine;

(2) Clauses 4(4)(a) to (d) of Chapter 97 are repealed and the following clauses substituted:

(a) a person appointed pursuant to clause (a) of subsection (1) ceases to be a member of the Commission when that person ceases to be a resident of the Halifax Regional Municipality;

(b) a person appointed pursuant to clause (b) of subsection (1) ceases to be a member of the Commission when that person ceases to be a resident of the Municipality of the District of East Hants;

(c) a person appointed pursuant to clause (c) of subsection (1) ceases to be a member of the Commission when that person ceases to be a resident of the Municipality of the County of Colchester.

10 Section 19 of Chapter 430 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Small Claims Court Act, as amended by Chapter 16 of the Acts of 1992, is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (1) the following subsections:

(1A) In this Section, "justice centre" means a justice centre established pursuant to Section 26 of the Judicature Act.

(1B) Notwithstanding subsection (1), where, on the coming into force of this subsection, there is no justice centre in a county, a claim may be filed with the prothonotary at a justice centre in an adjacent county and designated by the Minister to receive claims for the county or municipality in which

(a) the cause of action arose; or

(b) the defendant or one of several defendants resides or carries on business.

11 This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation.