The Government of Nova Scotia (French: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Écosse, Scottish Gaelic: Riaghaltas Alba Nuadh) is the government of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. The powers and structure of the province are set out in the Constitution Act, 1867. In modern Canadian use, the term "government" refers broadly to the cabinet of the day (formally the Executive Council of Nova Scotia) chosen from the Nova Scotia House of Assembly and the non-political staff within each provincial department or agency – that is, the civil service.
Nova Scotia has a unicameral legislature, the General Assembly, whose sole chamber is the House of Assembly. In total, 55 representatives are elected to serve the interests of the province. The political party that wins the largest number of seats in the legislature normally forms the Government, and the party's leader becomes premier of the province (the head of government). The current government of the province is led by the Progressive Conservative Association of Nova Scotia, headed by Premier Tim Houston who was sworn into office in August 2021.
History
In 1758, Nova Scotia was granted an elected assembly, becoming the first Canadian colony to enjoy a representative political institution.[1] The representatives of Nova Scotia's House of Assembly were elected by a limited number of individuals who were required to own property and swear on certain oaths.[2] This changed in 1836 when political reformer Joseph Howe started the movement for responsible government, a government that is dependent on the support of an elected assembly instead of a monarch or vicegerent. Under the guidance of Joseph Howe, who led the Reformers (Liberals), the first genuine political party appeared in the election of 1836.[3] The first instance of responsible government in the British Empire outside of the United Kingdom itself was achieved by the colony of Nova Scotia in January and February 1848. Howe's push for responsible government was inspired by the work of Thomas McCulloch and Jotham Blanchard almost two decades earlier.[4][5]
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the President of the Executive Council.[7] Being the head of government in Nova Scotia, the premier exercises a substantial amount of power.[7]James B. Uniacke was the first Premier of Nova Scotia and led the government from 1848 to 1854.[2]
The Executive Council (also known as Cabinet) makes the final decisions of the Government. It is responsible for the operations and management of government as well as for making key policy decisions. The Executive Council is made up of Ministers, who are conventionally also members of the House of Assembly (MLAs). They are chosen by the Premier and appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.[7]
^Ritchie, Holly. ""For Christ and Covenant:" A Movement for Equal Consideration in Early Nineteenth Century Nova Scotia." Master's Thesis. Saint Mary's University, 2017. pp. 112–116. http://library2.smu.ca/handle/01/27387#.XMmNDrdKg_4
