Nova Scotia MLAs are back at Province House as the legislature resumes sitting Tuesday.
The first session of the 65th General Assembly is continuing after its summer break, with a number of new bills being introduced as the sitting gets underway.
Overtime threshold being lowered
One of the bills introduced on the opening day would make it easier for Nova Scotians to qualify for overtime pay.
The legislation would lower the weekly overtime threshold from 48 hours to 44 beginning April 1, 2027.
It would also allow workers to qualify for overtime when extra hours are voluntary and permitted by their employer, rather than only when they are required.
“At a time when affordability matters more than ever, this legislation is about putting more money in workers’ pockets,” Labour, Skills and Immigration Minister Nolan Young said.
Even with the change, Nova Scotia would remain above the 40-hour threshold used in many parts of Canada, including federally regulated workplaces and provinces such as British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Quebec.
Ontario, Alberta and New Brunswick use a 44-hour threshold, while Prince Edward Island also moved to 44 hours this summer.
The bill would also protect workers’ tips and gratuities and give the province new tools to recover unpaid earnings.
Nova Scotia Federation of Labour President Melissa Marsman called the legislation “real progress on improving minimum labour standards for workers across Nova Scotia.”
The overtime and tip changes are set to take effect April 1, 2027, while the wage-recovery measures would follow later.
More legislation is expected to be introduced as the fall sitting gets underway.Other bills are expected to deal with issues including health care, housing and affordability, with opposition parties also planning legislation on renter protections, reproductive health care and grocery costs.
More coverage of legislation introduced during the opening days of the fall sitting will be added as details become available.
