The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Forestry was created by Order-in-Council #82-571 dated May 6, 1982. Chief Justice Nathan Green of Halifax was appointed chairperson with Reverend Gregory MacKinnon of Antigonish and Dr. John Connor of Wolfville appointed as co-commissioners. Commissioners were subsequently amended by Order-in-Council #82-1320 dated November 9, 1982 to be Dr. John Connor, chairperson, with Reverend MacKinnon and Justice D. Lewis Matheson as co-commissioners. Its mandate was to inquire into and make recommendations respecting all forest and related resources of NS, including fish and wildlife. In particular they were to conduct a present and projected forest inventory with a focus on sustainable harvest levels to support industry; to recommend the best forest management procedures to ensure maximum future benefits; the impact of land ownership, competing uses and forest management practices on future supply of forest products, fish and wildlife populations, and recreational opportunities; and the role of Government at all levels in managing forest resources. The Royal Commission received written and oral submissions (briefs) from individuals, government, and stakeholder groups, conducted public hearings and field trips across Nova Scotia from August 19, 1982 to December 13, 1983, consulted with forestry experts across Canada, and visited West Germany, Sweden, Finland, the United Kingdom, and several parts of the United States to learn from their experiences. The Royal Commission submitted its final report to His Honour Alan R. Abraham, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, on November 22, 1984 and then disbanded.
The Royal Commission appointed to enquire into the application of the Nova Scotia Light and Power Company Ltd. (later known as Nova Scotia Power Commission) to develop Gold River for the generation of Hydro Electric Energy was established by Order-In-Council on June 9, 1961. Russell McInnes, Queens Counsel lawyer, was appointed commissioner. His mandate was to establish the facts in the Company’s application, as well as examine the objections to, and support for the application to develop Gold River, Lunenburg County, NS to generate hydro-electric power. Public notice was given in Halifax and Bridgewater newspapers in June 1961, 2 days of hearings were held July 6 and 13, 1961 during which 20 witnesses were heard and 35 exhibits were tabled as evidence. Written submissions were also received. Commissioner McInnes submitted his final report to Government on September 22, 1961 and the Commission disbanded.
The Commission was appointed by Order in Council on 11 August 1981 to consider the pension needs of Nova Scotians and to make recommendation on the necessary or desirable changes in laws and regulations pertaining to the pension of Nova Scotians. Appointed as Chair was Charles Vaughan, a former mayor of Halifax, and as members Dr Ellen McLean of Eureka, Pictou County, J Bruce MacDonald, of Halifax, William Marsh of New Waterford, Herbert Hart of Dartmouth, Rose Chandler of Liverpool, Stewart Vair, of North Sydney, George Piercey of Halifax and R. Aurele Bickerton, of Canning. The Commission studied the situation in a number of Canadian jurisdictions and reviewed a number of reports and legislative studies before receiving input through public hearings held throughout the province and written submissions. The Commission issued an interim report on 21 June 1982 that contained recommendations on what it saw as immediate issues including child-care drop-out provisions and improved portability provisions for locked in Registered Retirement Savings Plans. The Commission issued its final report in 1983 which included a dissenting report from one of the Commissioners.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Post-Secondary Education was established by Order in Council #83-167 dated February 10, 1983. Rod J. MacLennan, businessman of Truro, was appointed chairperson with Joan G. Evans, TV, radio and stage actress of Halifax, and Professor William S. Shaw, of Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, as co-commissioners. A subsequent Order-in-Council (#83-195) dated February 15, 1983 appointed Acadia University Professor Duncan G.L. Fraser as Secretary. Its mandate was to review the state of university and occupational training education in Nova Scotia and make recommendations to improve the quality, and coordinate development and funding for the present and future needs of Nova Scotians. The Commission sent out questionnaires to all academic institutions requesting information on their finances, programs, enrollment, and achievements. They set up a study group. They advertised for briefs and submissions from the public and offered a guide on specific topics of interest. Public hearings were held in Sydney, Antigonish, Truro, Wolfville, Meteghan, and Halifax from December 2, 1983 to April 13, 1984. Commissioners also met with representatives of academic institutions and visited the United Kingdom in 1983 and 1984 to learn from their experience. The Commission employed research advisor Alastair Saunders and financial consultant J. Patrick O'Neil to conduct research studies and gather relevant information for the Commission. It submitted its final report to His Honour Alan R. Abraham, Lieutenant-Governor of NS, on 18 December 1985 and then disbanded.
In June 1942, the Government of Nova Scotia appointed a Cabinet Committee to address problems of rehabilitation and development in the Province. Following the recommendations of this Committee, the Royal Commission on Provincial Development and Rehabilitation was appointed on May 12, 1943 with Robert MacGregor Dawson as Commissioner. The new Commission was to continue the work of the Committee in investigating and reporting upon the natural resources and industries of the Province for the purpose of aiding in the rehabilitation of those discharged from the armed forces, those released from war industries which would close with the end of war, and all others who might seek employment. The Commission was to report on the possibility of expanding existing industries and markets in the province, as well as the creation of new opportunities, with a goal to increase employment in Nova Scotia in general.
The Commission assembled the necessary information using a variety of methods: briefs were secured from several government departments, interviews were conducted with Ministers, deputies and their staff, federal officials were questioned, and formal public hearings were held throughout the province where community leaders were invited to promote existing local industry and speculate about potential resources. After this preliminary work was completed, it was determined that the number and complexity of the subjects required additional assistance from subject experts. In the end, separate reports were prepared by these experts for several principal economic activities and essential services of the province, including Agriculture, Fisheries (Stewart Bates), Forestry, Public Welfare Services (George F. Davidson), Education, Minerals, the establishment of a Research and Development Board (H. M. Tory), Provincial Finance (W. R. Maxwell), Manufacturing, Steel Production (Arthur G. McKee & Co.), Tourism, Electric Power (Alexander Brady), Labour Relations (H. A. Logan), Housing, and Transportation. The Commission also produced brief reports on Weather Forecasting, expanding the Provincial Museum, and establishing a Historic Sites and Monuments Board.
The reports of the Royal Commission on Provincial Development and Rehabilitation were published in 1944.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Public School Finance, also known as Royal Commission on Educational Finance, was created by Order-in-Council on March 2, 1953. Justice Vincent J. Pottier, judge with the County Court, was appointed Commissioner. Its mandate was to examine the financing of publicly supported schools created under the Education Act, the Vocational Education Act and the Special Acts relating to the School for the Blind and the School for the Deaf at Halifax, NS. Commissioner Pottier visited municipalities across the province to conduct interviews with municipal and education officials and tour the schools. He also visited New Brunswick, Ontario, Manitoba, the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Washington, DC in the United States for their experiences. He also studied the educational systems in the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Briefs and oral presentations, as well as resolutions and correspondence, were accepted from provincial organizations with a stake in education and any interested citizens. Public hearings were held from March 29 to April 8, 1954. Commissioner Pottier submitted his final report to His Honour Alistair Fraser, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, in November 25, 1954 and the Commission disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Queen Hotel Fire, Hollis Street, Halifax was created by Order-in-Council dated March 8, 1939. Justice Maynard B. Archibald, judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, was appointed commissioner. Its mandate was to investigate the cause of a fatal fire at the Queen Hotel on Hollis Street in Halifax on March 2, 1939, determine what fire prevention or suppression measures were in place, to review the practice of building inspections, and to recommend improvements for buildings in the City of Halifax and the Province of Nova Scotia to better protect human life in case of fire. The Royal Commission held hearings at Halifax from March 20 to May 12, 1939. Justice Archibald submitted his final report to Government on November 25, 1939 and then disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Acadia Coal Company was created by Order-in-Council on August 2, 1937. Justice William F. Carroll, judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, was appointed chairperson with A. Stanley MacKenzie, chair of the NS Economic Council, and Frederick H. Sexton, lawyer and principal of the NS Technical College, as co-commissioners. Its mandate was to investigate the financial position and affairs of the Acadia Coal Company in relation to its competitors, the wages paid to its workers, the scope of its mining operations, and to determine if external interest exists in its mining property leased from the NS Government. The Royal Commission held public meetings in Stellarton, Pictou County on August 17, 26, and 27, 1937, and February 22, 1938, hired accountant D.S. Hart to examine Acadia Coal Co. Ltd. finances back to 1933, and hired an independent mining engineer George S. Rice to examine mine workings and talk with miners. The commissioners submitted their final report to His Honour Robert Irwin, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, on January 19, 1939 and then disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on the Cost of Borrowing Money, the Cost of Credit, and Related Matters in the Province of Nova Scotia was created by Order-in-Council dated May 29, 1963. Arthur R. Moreira was appointed sole commissioner, with Kenneth M. Matthews appointed Commission Counsel and Professor J.J. Vorstermans and Mr. Errol M. Davison, accountant with H.R. Doane & Co., hired as researchers/expert advisors. Its mandate was to inquiry into all aspects of money lending and credit granting in Nova Scotia, including a review of the legislation and the level of protection it offered the general public. Public hearings were held in Halifax, New Glasgow, Sydney, and Truro from August 12 to October 31, 1963. Written submissions were received from interested persons. Private meetings were held with individuals who requested it. Questionnaires were sent to specific individuals, to random loan businesses and real estate agencies in NS. An Interim Report was submitted January 22, 1964. The Final Report was submitted to Government on February 22, 1965 and the Commission disbanded.
The Royal Commission on the Donald Marshall, Jr., Prosecution was struck by Order in Council on 28 October 1986. Chief Justice T. Alexander Hickman (chair), Chief Justice Lawrence A. Poitras and the Hon. Gregory Thomas Evans, QC were appointed commissioners. The commission was mandated to inquire into, report on, and make recommendations respecting the death of William Sandford Seale on 28-29 May 1971; the prosecution of Donald Marshall, Jr., for the murder of Seale and his subsequent wrongful conviction and imprisonment. The commission discharged its mandate through a broad inquiry into the Nova Scotia justice system, including the latter's treatment of visible minorities and the role within the system of police and politicians. The commission held extensive public hearings in Sydney and Halifax in 1987-1988, accepting presentations from 114 witnesses and 176 exhibits. A consultative conference of invited experts was also held at the conclusion of the hearings. The commission completed its work in December 1989.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on the Sackville Land Assembly was created by Order-in-Council dated November 20, 1968 and amended on April 14, 1970. William C. Dunlop, Queens Counsel lawyer, was appointed sole commissioner. His mandate was to conduct an inquiry into the transactions relating to land purchased by the Nova Scotia Housing Commission (NSHC) for the municipal land assembly program in the Sackville NS area, to determine if any persons benefited improperly by the purchase of land, and if the Government’s purchase price was over inflated. 12 public hearings were held December 16, 1968 to October 10, 1969, and April 14, 1970. 35 witnesses were heard, and 99 exhibits submitted as evidence. Commissioner Dunlop submitted his Final Report to Government between May and December 1970 and the commission disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Transportation was created by Order-in-Council dated July 13, 1933 and amended on October 26, 1933 and June 27, 1935. Robert T. MacIlraeith, lawyer in Halifax and chair of the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities, was appointed chairperson along with Ira Percy Macnab of Wallace, fellow member of the Board of Commissioners of Public Utilities, as co-commissioner. Its mandate was to investigate the need for licensing and regulation of persons and corporations transporting passengers or goods by motor vehicle for profit. The Royal Commission met with individuals August 10 to October 24, 1933, held 4 public hearings in Halifax, Sydney, Kentville and Truro in November 1933, then reconvened monthly in Halifax from January 4 to May 3, 1934. Written briefs were submitted from the railways, farmers associations, bus companies and other stakeholders. Various public bodies throughout Canada, England and the United States were contacted for their experiences. The final report was submitted to Government on January 27, 1936 and the commission disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Trenton Steel Works Ltd. was created by Order-in-Council on November 26, 1943. Justice William F. Carroll, a judge of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia, was appointed commissioner. Its mandate was to investigate various aspects of its finances in relation to its parent and subsidiary companies, the costs of production, marketing improvements, the relations between management and employees, and general improvements to efficiency. The Commissioner contacted Dominion Steel and Coal Corp., Trenton Steel Works Ltd., the Steel Workers Union at Trenton, the Citizens’ Committee of New Glasgow, and the Mayor of Trenton to inform them of this inquiry. The first meeting of the Commission was on December 16, 1943 in New Glasgow. Hearings were held from January 11 to May 23, 1944, in New Glasgow. Commissioner Carroll submitted his final report to Government in August 1944 and the commission disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Workmen’s Compensation Act was created by Order-in-Council dated March 5, 1957. The Honourable Alexander H. McKinnon, judge for Annapolis County and former MLA for Inverness, was appointed sole commissioner. Its mandate was to inquire into the Workmen’s Compensation Act and make recommendations to improve the legislation. The Commission held public hearings in Sydney, Halifax, Amherst, Springhill, Lunenburg, Sydney Mines, New Waterford, Glace Bay, Stellarton, and Inverness, NS from July 9, 1957 to October 18, 1958. He attended a national meeting of provincial Workmen’s Compensation Boards in September 1957, as well as visiting the Boards in Ontario, Massachusetts and New York state, USA to learn of their experiences. The Commission accepted written briefs from the public in formal submissions, informal correspondence, resolutions, and verbal representations. Commissioner McKinnon submitted an Interim Report on Section 91 of the Act concerning Medical Aid on February 28, 1958. The Final Report was submitted to His Honour Major General E.C. Plow, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, on December 18, 1958 and the Commission disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission on Workmens Compensation Act was created by Order-in-Council dated March 5, 1957. The Honourable Alexander H. McKinnon, judge for Annapolis County and former MLA for Inverness, was appointed sole commissioner. Its mandate was to inquire into the Workmen’s Compensation Act and make recommendations to improve the legislation. The Commission held public hearings in Sydney, Halifax, Amherst, Springhill, Lunenburg, Sydney Mines, New Waterford, Glace Bay, Stellarton, and Inverness, NS from July 9, 1957 to October 18, 1958. He attended a national meeting of provincial Workmen’s Compensation Boards in September 1957, as well as visiting the Boards in Ontario, Massachusetts and New York state, USA to learn of their experiences. The Commission accepted written briefs from the public in formal submissions, informal correspondence, resolutions, and verbal representations. Commissioner McKinnon submitted an Interim Report on Section 91 of the Act concerning Medical Aid on February 28, 1958. The Final Report was submitted to Government on December 18, 1958 and the Commission disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission Provincial Economic Inquiry, also known as the Jones Commission or Jones Report, was created by Order-in-Council dated July 27, 1934 under the “Act to authorize an Inquiry respecting the Interests of Nova Scotia prejudiced by the Economic System of the Dominion of Canada” and the Public Inquiries Act of 1923. John Harry Jones, Professor of Economics and Department Head at University of Leeds in England, UK, was appointed chairperson along with Alexander S. Johnston, lawyer in Ottawa, ON, and Harold A. Innis, Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Toronto, ON as co-commissioners. Its mandate was to investigate the reasons for Nova Scotia’s lack of financial success after Confederation (1867), in particular to examine the effects of Canadian fiscal and trade policies on economic life in Nova Scotia, and to recommend policies and other measures to promote economic advancement. The Commission was assisted in its investigations by Norman McL. Rogers, Counsel for the Nova Scotia Government, who conducted extensive research into the Nova Scotia economy and population fluctuations from 1900 to 1932. It held preliminary meetings in Halifax from August 8 to 13, then conducted 13 public “sittings” across the province from August 17 to September 17, 1934; visited and toured multiple businesses, manufacturing plants, shipping facilities, etc.; met with witnesses in private; consulted with members of Parliament and members of the NS Legislature; and travelled to Montreal and Ottawa. It submitted its final report to His Honour Walter H. Covert, Lieutenant-Governor of Nova Scotia, on December 4, 1934 and then disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission Respecting Highway Expenditures in Municipal Districts No.2 and No.11, Richmond County was created by Order-in-Council dated September 19, 1957. Alfred C. Milner and Ian M. MacKeigan, Queens Counsel lawyers of Halifax, were appointed co-commissioners. Its mandate was to investigate the financial irregularities in the Department of Highways operations for the 2 municipal units, ascertain the person(s) responsible and if further proceedings are warranted, and to determine if and to what extent any persons were unpaid or overpaid. The Commission toured the relevant districts’ sections of highway on October 17 and 18, 1957, talked with the sub-foremen, and filed an interim report with the Minister of Highways on October 22, 1957. They held hearings in St. Peter’s and Arichat, NS starting November 11, 1957. The Commission filed a second interim report to the Department on December 17, 1957. Their Final Report was submitted to Government on February 11, 1958 with a supplementary report given on February 27, 1958 to correct an error. The Commission then disbanded.
The second Nova Scotia Royal Commission Respecting the Coal Mines of Nova Scotia was created by Order in Council on January 25, 1932. This time it was precipitated by the financial insolvency of Dominion Steel and Coal Corporation (DOSCO) and their contract request for a 12.3% wage reduction. Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, British expert in coal industry regulation, was again appointed chairperson, and was joined again by Reverend Hugh P. MacPherson, President of Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS as co-commissioner. The third commissioner was new, Professor John W. MacMillan, a Presbyterian minister, Chair of Christian Sociology at University of Toronto’s Victoria College and active in the Christian social gospel movement. The Commission’s mandate was broader than the first royal commission of 1925, as it was to investigate any and all matters relevant to the coal mining industry in the province in addition to the miners’ living and working conditions and the factors affecting costs of production, transportation, distribution, and marketing of coal and its by-products. The Royal Commission held hearings in Sydney, Springhill, New Glasgow, Halifax and in Montreal, PQ where 85 witnesses presented their views. As in the 1925 commission, they focused their attention on the main operator of coal mines in Nova Scotia, the Dominion Steel & Coal Corporation. They looked at the efficiency of different mines (in terms of geology and extractability) and made suggestions for amalgamations and closures to make the industry more cost-effective. It submitted its final report to Government on February 18, 1932 and then disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Royal Commission Respecting the Coal Mines of the Province was created by a newly elected provincial government with an Order in Council dated October 31, 1925. It was established as a way of ending the prolonged and deadly 1925 coal miners’ strike. Sir Andrew Rae Duncan, a British expert in coal industry regulation, was appointed chairperson, with Major Hume Cronyn, lawyer and general manager of Canada Trust, and Reverend Hugh P. MacPherson, President of Saint Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS as co-commissioners. Its mandate was to investigate and make recommendations for improvement to 1) mine workers’ living and working conditions, pay rates, and the causes of recurring disputes between mine operators and their employees; 2) the overall management of the industry in Nova Scotia including factors impacting costs of production, distribution and marketing of coal; and 3) the possibilities of increasing the demand for coal including its utilization as coke. The Royal Commission focused on the main operator, British Empire Steel Corporation (BECSO), who managed 85% of the output of Nova Scotia coalfields. The company had begun negotiating for a new wage contract with a 20% wage reduction. Work only resumed with the promise of the Royal Commission to suggest wages and other resolutions. It held hearings over 25 days in Sydney and Halifax, NS, from November 3 to December 23, 1925; visited mines in Cape Breton, Springhill and in Pictou County; inspected housing and social conditions; and visited Montreal to inspect a mine operation and interview significant purchasers of coal. It submitted its final report on January 8, 1926 and then disbanded.
The Nova Scotia Savings and Loan Company was first established by provincial legislation in 1850 under the name Nova Scotia Benefit Building, Society and Saving Fund as a members-only saving and lending co-operative based on the British model. Its purpose was to assist workers to become home owners by creating a safe method for repayment of loans (mortgages), to stimulate construction of buildings, and to provide investment opportunities. The company was led by a Board of Directors with a Manager to oversee daily operations. The Directors organized annual meetings with shareholders. The founding directors were the Honorable James W. Johnston, James Foreman Jr. and Dr. W.J. Almon and the first president was Robert Noble.
At first, it operated only in the city of Halifax. In 1878 they began recruiting agents in other communities: Yarmouth was first, then in Amherst, Annapolis, Antigonish, Bridgewater, New Glasgow, and North Sydney by 1883; to Digby, Springhill, Sydney, Truro and Windsor by 1900; Liverpool, Shelburne, Wolfville and Sussex, New Brunswick by 1902; and into Middleton and Parrsboro by 1904. In 1905 the Society expanded its investment services, adopted significant changes to its provincial by-laws and changed its name to the Nova Scotia Savings, Loan and Building Society. They continued building homes, including the ‘mechanic’s homes’ in the north end of Halifax in 1914-1915. In June 1964 the Board of Directors created a new company under the Federal Loans Company Act and on January 6, 1965 they merged the old Building Society into the new company, and called it the Nova Scotia Savings and Loan Company, thus allowing them to expand across Canada. Branch offices were opened in Saint John, NB (1965), Dartmouth (1966) and New Glasgow (1967). The company was publicly listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange on April 28, 1970. In 1987 the company was bought by Central Trust Company of Canada.
In 1987 the Securities Act was amended and the Nova Scotia Securities Commission established to regulate the securities industry. The commission's principal task is to protect Nova Scotia resident investors in the Nova Scotia securities market. It is a "watchdog" and regulatory agency that also acts as an administrative tribunal, exercising quasi-judicial and public inquiry powers. The commission provides investor protection through the enactment of rules and regulations requiring proper disclosure of information to investors and adherence to fair market practices by broker-dealers, investment counsellors and issuers, promoters and underwriters of securities.
The Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was incorporated in Halifax in 1877 by provincial statute, to enforce any legislation for the protection and care of animals. From 1880 to 1920, the society was also responsible for dealing with cruelty to children under 16 years of age. In 1909, its name changed to the Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty. The Nova Scotia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) serves as the parent organization for the local branches of SPCA throughout the province, and is affiliated with the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.
The Nova Scotia Society of Artists, founded 14 February 1922, was originally recognized as a branch of the Nova Scotia Museum of Fine Arts. Incorporated in 1938 with a membership of professional and amateur artists, the mission of the society was to increase public awareness and encourage development of the fine arts in the province. Its activities included organizing exhibits of original art works created in Nova Scotia, including annual exhibitions, first held in 1923, sponsoring study groups and lectures for its members and the public, and awarding the Nova Scotia Artist diploma. The society ceased operations from 1969 to 1971 and re-united to organize its Golden Jubilee Exhibition in 1972. The society disbanded in 1974.
Founded in 1951 and incorporated in 1970, the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists functions as the provincial affiliate of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. Its mandate is to promote professional standards and to facilitate communication among accredited occupational therapists by providing services, products, events and networking opportunities. The society is also responsible for representing the interests of the profession to provincial government and other decision-making bodies.
The Nova Scotia Sport and Recreation Commission was created in 1987 following the disbanding of the Department of Culture, Recreation and Fitness. Its mandate and existence was formalized by amendments to the Public Service Act in 1988 which outlined its purpose as to "enhance the quality of life of Nova Scotians through the development, encouragement, establishment, co-ordinations, implementation and promotion of sport and recreation programs and services." Although nominally a commission the agency was headed by an Executive Director who reported to an assigned minister and the Commission's staff were public servants. The Commission also co-ordinated the activities of a number of sport and recreation sector organizations some of which were granted various forms of funding by the Commission. The Commission also funded facilities and activities through a variety of programs. The Commission’s activities were folded into the Office of Health Promotion and Protection when it was created in 2002.