BILL NO. 156
(as introduced)
2nd Session, 63rd General Assembly
Nova Scotia
68 Elizabeth II, 2019
Private Member's Bill
Cape Breton Regional Municipality Viability Act
Tammy Martin
Cape Breton Centre
First Reading: September 26, 2019
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
An Act Respecting the Viability
of Cape Breton Regional Municipality
WHEREAS the matter of the long-term viability of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has been identified in recent years as a significant problem for its residents and thus for the whole of Nova Scotia;
And Whereas, in particular, the Steering Committee of the Provincial-Municipal Fiscal Review's report of Fall 2014 noted concerns respecting the economic and fiscal viability of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality;
And Whereas that report noted that many of the options for improved viability available to other municipalities in Nova Scotia are not realistic options for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality;
And Whereas that report recommended that the Cape Breton Regional Municipality and the Government of Nova Scotia conduct an immediate joint review to assess the viability issues facing the Municipality;
And Whereas the recommended review has now been held and its report published as the "Cape Breton Regional Municipality Viability Study Recommendations Report" of August 6, 2019;
And Whereas the Viability Study documented the ongoing nature of the economic and fiscal problems of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, and noted the need for the Municipality to receive assistance from the senior orders of government, stating that "The municipal government's ability to effectively resolve the region's issues independently is not realistic"; recommended that the municipality continue to develop a five-year economic plan as well as a plan for rural residential development; and included in its recommendations that steps be taken to increase immigration with a view to increasing the population of the Municipality;
THEREFORE be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:
1 This Act may be cited as the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Viability Act.
2 Notwithstanding any other enactment, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is not obligated to make any financial contributions or remittances to the Government in respect of education, public housing or corrections for a period of five fiscal years commencing with the 2020-21 fiscal year.
3 Subject to Section 4, the Government shall, in consultation with the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, provide the services of a team of land-use planners for a period of at least three years to work under the supervision of the Chief Administrative Officer of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality to revise the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's Municipal Planning Strategy and associated planning documents to implement the recommendations of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality Viability Study Recommendations Report respecting further planning.
4 The money required for the purpose of Section 3 must be paid out of the money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
5 (1) The Minister of Immigration shall take steps to enter into an agreement with the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship for Canada respecting a Cape Breton Regional Nominee Immigration Pilot Program.
(2) Subject to the agreement entered into under subsection (1), the Cape Breton Regional Nominee Immigration Pilot Program must
(a) focus on attracting immigrants to Cape Breton;
(b) last for a term of 10 years;
(c) establish a target of 500 principal applicants in each year;
(d) begin prior to January 1, 2021; and
(e) be designed and carried out in partnership with a non-profit community organization or incorporated social enterprise based in Cape Breton.
6 Subject to the agreement entered into under subsection 5(1), the money required for the Cape Breton Regional Nominee Immigration Pilot Program must be paid out of money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
7 Chapter 302 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Municipal Grants Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 7 the following Section:
- 7A (1) In this Section, "stimulus grant" means a grant payable to a municipality for a fixed time to assist the municipality in defraying expenses related to operations, infrastructure construction or rehabilitation or debt relief.
(2) Subject to subsection (3), the Cape Breton Regional Municipality shall be paid a stimulus grant of not less than fifty million dollars for the 2020-21 fiscal year and for each of the two subsequent fiscal years.
(3) The money required for the purpose of subsection (2) must be paid out of the money appropriated for that purpose by the Legislature.
(4) For greater certainty, the payment of the stimulus grant pursuant to subsection (2) terminates at the end of the 2020-21 fiscal year.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2019 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created September 26, 2019. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
