Amendments to existing legislation will mean more housing, improved efficiency in the sector and better alignment of related agencies.

The changes extend the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality and give the Minister of Housing new authority to ensure housing projects aren't delayed.

"We are strengthening how we plan, build and deliver housing across the province," said John White, Minister of Housing. "These changes will help us act faster and reduce the barriers that slow down housing projects so that more Nova Scotians will have access to the homes they need."

Changes to the Housing Supply and Services Act:

• make the Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency advisory board optional to provide flexibility and ensure consistency with other government agencies
• repeal interim board provisions.

Changes to the Housing in Halifax Regional Municipality Act:

• extend the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality by two years
• give the Minister of Housing new order-making authority with Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and Halifax Water to improve co-ordination of water, wastewater and infrastructure that enables growth so housing projects can move ahead without delays and stay affordable over the long term.

Changes to the Municipal Government Act and the Halifax Regional Municipal Charter:

• give councils the ability to delegate oversight and performance management of a municipality's chief administrative officer (CAO) to a council committee
• give councils explicit discretion to exclude or limit participation of their CAO in discussions and training sessions related to their performance
• clarify councils' ability to manage CAO participation on external boards and committees, aligning CAO priorities with council expectations
• clarify councils' ability to decide on long-term delegation of their CAO's responsibilities during extended absences
• introduce mandatory orientation training for newly elected municipal councillors to ensure consistent understanding of responsibilities across the province
• provide the Minister of Municipal Affairs with temporary regulated authority to amend HRM's urban service area boundary to build out the infrastructure needed to support sustainable growth.

Updates are also being made to some of those acts and the Short Term Rentals Registration Act to reflect the current ministerial title and appropriate departmental oversight.

The legislation, titled An Act Respecting Administrative Measures for Housing, is part of the Province's ongoing commitment to increase housing supply.

Quick Facts:

• the executive panel on housing has helped advance more than 60,000 housing units in HRM
• housing has been identified as one of six key priority areas to grow the economy and strengthen Nova Scotia's gross domestic product; this priority is supported by the government's five-year housing plan, Our Homes, Action for Housing

Additional Resources:

• Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-65-session-1
• Our Homes, Action for Housing: https://novascotia.ca/action-for-housing/