LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Work Injuries

Sep 9: The time-loss injury rate in the province fell to 1.12 per 100 workers in August 2026, WCB Nova Scotia reported. The agency’s target rate for the entire year is 1.25. There were 194 time-loss injuries (those causing workers to miss three or more work days) during the month, as compared to 221 in January.

Action Point: In addition to earning workers’ compensation rebates, studies show that companies with COR or similar recognition have lower injury rates.

PPE

Sep 22: New regulations took effect governing issuance of Body Armour Temporary Permits in Nova Scotia. To obtain a permit, a person must be at least age 19, reside in the province, require the body armour to safely engage in journalism or other media production for humanitarian purposes outside the province, and plan to leave the province within 72 hours of the start of the term listed on the permit.

Emergency Response

Sep 18: Newly passed Bill 269 makes it illegal to use or disclose information about the 911 system, except as necessary for the operation of the Nova Scotia 911 system. The legislation also bans persons from making or permitting another person to make a “false, frivolous, or vexatious request for emergency services” on 911 system, while authorizing the government to make regulations establishing 911 service privacy and cybersecurity protections.

Emergency Response

Oct 1: From now through October 31, emergency responders in Nova Scotia can apply for Emergency Services Provider Fund support for shared projects led by a volunteer first responder organization, municipality, or group of municipalities. The Fund covers up to 90% of project costs, to a maximum of $200,000. Eligible projects include shared equipment and vehicles, training facilities and exercises, emergency planning, public education, and FireSmart improvements.

Action Point: Use the OHS Insider template to create a legally sound Emergency Preparedness & Response Policy for your workplace.

New Laws

Oct 1: Nova Scotia began accepting applications for the annual Heating Assistance Rebate Program, which for this year is $400. Families earning a combined net income of up to $45,000 and single-person households earning a net income up to $30,000 are eligible for the rebate whether they rent or own, provided they directly pay for home heat. Guaranteed Income Supplement or income assistance recipients are also eligible. Deadline to apply: March 31.

New Laws

Sep 4: Nova Scotia extended the Capital Investment Tax Credit for another five years. Companies now have until December 31, 2035, to apply for the 25% credit for buildings, equipment, and other capital projects of over $15 million. The maximum credit is $100 million, which would require a company to make a $400 million capital investment.

New Laws

Sep 2: The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) announced federal investments of more than $14.1 million to support Nova Scotia businesses that have been affected by U.S. tariffs. Among the 26 recipients is Dartmouth company Ace Machining Ltd., which will get +$400,000 to purchase and install an automated CNC milling station.

Privacy

Sep 18: The Nova Scotia Assembly passed Bill 269 expanding the legal remedies available to victims whose intimate images are published online without their consent, including via artificial intelligence (AI)-generated image alteration or fabrication. The Public Safety Act also includes new protections for livestreamed content.

Action Point: Cyber privacy and nonconsensual publication of intimate images can become a workplace harassment issue when it involves workers. That’s why it’s important to create and implement an effective Cyberbullying Prevention Policy.

Workplace Violence

Sep 29: The federal government’s Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF) is investing up to $1.98 million to prevent gun violence in Halifax. The BSCF provides funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities for local prevention and intervention initiatives that address the root causes of gun and gang violence.

Action Point: Are you doing enough to prevent violence at your workplace? Learn how to perform a Workplace Violence Compliance Audit to find out.

Workers’ Compensation

Sep 1: It’s official. Nova Scotia WCB really is cutting workers’ compensation premiums for the first time in over a decade. The average 2027 assessment rate will be $2.25 per $100 assessable payroll, 40 cents less than last year. Employers can access their 2027 assessment rate and full experience rating statement by navigating to the Forms & Letters tab on MyAccount.

Workers’ Compensation

Oct 2: WCB Nova Scotia upgraded its payments system. Direct deposit payments will be made on the same day as before, albeit up to 12 hours later in the day. Payments typically processed on a Friday or the day before a holiday will appear in workers’ accounts on the next business day after the weekend or holiday period. Workers who submit multiple medical expenses on the same day will now receive one payment for the total amount, rather than individual payments for each submission.

Environmental

Oct 1: Nova Scotia officially began imposing a new $500 levy on owners of electric vehicles; the levy for plug-in hybrid vehicles is $250. The new levies, which are in addition to the vehicle registration fee, apply to passenger vehicles, light trucks, and vans, but not to vehicles used by municipalities, fire departments, or police.

CASES

Fall Protection: Small Business Owner Gets $35,000 Fine—Prosecution Wanted $65,000

Falling a worker’s life-altering fall injury, the operator of a small roofing business pled guilty to three OHS violations, including failure to implement a fall protection plan and ensure that workers use a fall arrest and work-positioning system. The prosecution asked for administrative monetary penalties of $65,000; the operator argued for $10,000. The Nova Scotia court split the difference, imposing a sentence of $35,000 without any surcharges, citing the defendant’s genuine remorse, immediate call to 911, guilty pleas, and small, seasonal business [R v Hubley, 2026 NSPC 45 (CanLII), September 4, 2026].

Action Point: Find out more about the factors courts use in sentencing a company for an OHS violation.