The ban on ending a tenant’s lease for the purpose of renovations will be lifted when the
state of emergency ends at 11:59 p.m. on March 20, 2022. Please see the fact sheet below to learn about important changes on renovictions and rent caps.
Fact Sheet for Residential Tenants and Landlords (March 2022)
I am pleased to share with you that Charlene Moore, QC is the new CEO for Nova Scotia Legal Aid effective January 1, 2022.
Charlene has served on the Executive as Service Delivery Director since 2017. In her former leadership role as Service Delivery Director, her focus included Big Case Management, state-funded counsel matters, criminal appeals, duty counsel, Wellness Courts along with family and civil matters. As a Staff Lawyer she practiced in the areas of family law, child protection, social justice, and administrative law. Charlene embodies our legal aid values (integrity, respect, client focus, fearlessness, excellence, collaboration).
Charlene’s commitment to NSLA is best communicated in her own words: “I am honoured to be the CEO for NSLA. For me, NSLA is synonymous with access to justice. An important element of the work we do in supporting and advocating for our clients is our commitment to increasing access to justice by being part of the solution through collaboration with our community and justice partners.”
Nova Scotia Legal Aid has an important role to play in the administration of justice and is committed to working with community and justice stakeholders in increasing access to justice for Nova Scotians through innovation, client service and collaboration with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
George Ash,
Chair, Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission
We are investigating issues with our online chat program. Due to these issues our Tuesday (Family) and Wednesday (Social Justice) chat sessions have been suspended. Thank you, and sorry for any inconvenience.
The Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission’s 2020-21 Annual Report is now available and can be found on the About Us, Legal Aid Publications page, or at this link: 2020-21 Annual Report
Below are links to videos from judges and justices in Nova Scotia regarding duty counsel. It’s Access to Justice Week (Oct. 25-29) and these videos confirm the importance of duty counsel in the justice system.
Associate Chief Justice Lawrence O’Neil
To view all videos from across Canada, please visit:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDP752KlF_dR3TJxubrzrcVA-sWXVCKIC
In recognition of Canada’s first Duty Counsel Day being held on October 27, 2021, a proclamation has been signed by the Honourable Tim Houston, Premier of Nova Scotia, proclaiming October 27, 2021 as National Duty Counsel Day in the Province of Nova Scotia. A copy of the proclamation is below outlining the importance of Duty Counsel in the justice system.
Karen Hudson, QC is the Acting Chief Executive Officer of NSLA. This is a temporary appointment until the new CEO is in place. Karen was formerly the Executive Director of NSLA and Chair of the Association of Legal Aid Plans of Canada until her appointment in 2016 as the Deputy Minister of Justice.
It is with regret that we say farewell to Megan Longley, QC, Chief Executive Officer, as her last day with Nova Scotia Legal Aid (NSLA) will be October 7, 2021. Megan will be greatly missed by NSLA staff and the Commission. We wish to express our appreciation for her leadership and her tremendous contributions over the past 22 years toward access to justice for those who are vulnerable and historically disadvantaged.
We wish to congratulate Megan on her new position as Executive Director of Dalhousie Legal Aid Service and wish her all the best in her new role.
Anyone can suddenly find themselves in the justice system. It’s important we know our rights and how to exercise them. It’s so important that it’s in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
Most Canadians know about access to services like healthcare. Few know we have similar access to legal services. Let’s change that. Know your rights. Know duty counsel.
National Duty Counsel Day will be held on October 27, 2021 featuring:
For more information visit: https://www.knowdutycounsel.ca/
View videos regarding Duty Counsel on the above website or on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4he7NrWx56XcpKFXZvD4JA
Be sure to register at: Duty Counsel Day – National Virtual Event Tickets, Wed, 27 Oct 2021 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite
Paul Stordy, NSLA Information Services & Summary Advice Managing Lawyer, and two law students did podcasts for the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS). Two separate episodes included topics of Nova Scotia Legal Aid’s services, family law services and COVID 19 issues, divorce, and intimate partner violence. To access the podcasts, visit www.legalinfo.org and click on icon for “Family” and click on “Podcasts – Getting Familiar with Family Law podcasts” from the list.