Legislative Committees Office

The Legislative Committees Office, under the direction of the Speaker, is responsible for providing administrative support for most of the standing committees and select committees of the Legislature. This office compiles the interim and annual reports of these committees.

The Legislative Committees Office administers the following Standing Committees:

Functions of standing committees

The functions of the Standing Committees are detailed within the Rules and Forms of Procedure of the House of Assembly, Rule 60(2)

Meeting times and dates

The committees normally hold their meetings at regular intervals. Members can agree to change the meeting times below, or to set the frequency of their meetings to weekly, monthly or bi-weekly, whether or not the House is in session. To confirm a committee’s meeting time, see the Legislative Calendar.

Weekly meetings

Public Accounts: Wednesdays from 9:00 to 11:00 am

Monthly meetings

  • Community Services: 1st Tuesday of the month from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
  • Health: 2nd Tuesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
  • Human Resources: First Tuesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
    • The Human Resources Committee must meet monthly to deal with appointments to agencies, boards, and commissions.
  • Natural Resources and Economic Development: 4th Tuesday of the month from 1:00 to 3:00 pm
  • Veterans Affairs: 3rd Tuesday of the month from 2:00 to 4:00 pm

Appearing before a committee

Each committee holds an agenda-setting meeting at least once a year to set a schedule of witnesses to appear before the committee. Before the meeting, members of each party prepare a list of suggested witnesses and forward it to the clerk of the committee. At the meeting,a number of witnesses are approved. The clerk contacts the witnesses and schedules their appearances.

If an organization or group wishes to appear before a committee, it should submit a written request to the Legislative Committees Office, addressed to the chair of the committee After the request is received, it will be discussed at a future committee meeting.

In-camera meetings

Most meetings are open to the public. But when a committee is hearing sensitive issues, deliberating reports, etc., its members may agree to hold the meeting in-camera (not public). If a meeting goes in camera, the media and other people will be asked to leave the room.

Contact information

Legislative Committees Office
One Government Place, 2nd Floor
1700 Granville Street
PO Box 2630 Station M
Halifax, NS B3J 3P7

Telephone: 902-424-4432 or toll free 1-888-388-6489
Fax: 902-424-0513
E-mail: legcomm@novascotia.ca

David Hastings
Clerk of Committees
(902) 424-7481
David.Hastings@novascotia.ca

Judy Kavanagh
Committee Clerk
902-424-4494
Judy.Kavanagh@novascotia.ca

Kim Langille
Committee Clerk
902-424-5247
Kim.Langille@novascotia.ca

Sherri Mitchell
Administrative Support Clerk
902-424-4432
Sherri.Mitchell@novascotia.ca

Tamer Nusseibeh
Committee Clerk
902-424-5248
Tamer.Nusseibeh@novascotia.ca

Vacant
Administrative Support Clerk
902-424-5241