BILL NO. 32
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021
Government Bill
Municipal Government Act (amended)
and
Halifax Regional Municipality Charter (amended)
The Honourable John Lohr
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing
First Reading: October 20, 2021
Second Reading: October 21, 2021
Third Reading: October 29, 2021 (LINK TO BILL AS PASSED)
Explanatory Notes
Clause 1 creates an exception to the prohibition of municipalities providing financial assistance to a business if the financial assistance is for the purpose of increasing the availability of affordable housing.
Clause 2 allows municipalities to require and regulate affordable housing within developments through land-use by-laws.
Clause 3 allows municipal councils to accept money in lieu of affordable housing provision.
Clause 4 creates an exception to the prohibition of the Halifax Regional Municipality providing financial assistance to a business if the financial assistance is for the purpose of increasing the availability of affordable housing.
Clause 5 allows the Municipality to require and regulate affordable housing within developments through land-use by-laws.
Clause 6 allows the Municipality's Council to accept money in lieu of affordable housing provision.
An Act to Amend Chapter 18
of the Acts of 1998,
the Municipal Government Act,
and Chapter 39 of the Acts of 2008,
the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter,
Respecting Inclusionary Zoning
1 Section 57 of Chapter 18 of the Acts of 1998, the Municipal Government Act, as amended by Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2021, is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (3) the following subsection:
- (4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a municipality may provide direct financial assistance
to a business for the purpose of increasing the availability of affordable housing in the municipality.
2 Subsection 220(5) of Chapter 18, as amended by Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2003, Chapter 25 of the Acts of 2008 and Chapter 16 of the Acts of 2014, is further amended by adding immediately after clause (j) the following clause:
- (ja) require and regulate the provision of affordable housing within developments, including requiring that
a specified percentage of affordable housing units be provided within a development;
3 Chapter 18 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 223 the following Section:
- 223A Where provided for in a municipal planning strategy, council may accept money instead
of all or part of any required provision of affordable housing.
4 Section 71 of Chapter 39 of the Acts of 2008, the Halifax Regional Municipality Charter, as amended by Chapter 12 of the Acts of 2021, is further amended by adding immediately after subsection (3) the following subsection:
- (4) Notwithstanding subsection (2), the Municipality may provide direct financial assistance
to a business for the purpose of increasing the availability of affordable housing in the Municipality.
5 Subsection 235(5) of Chapter 39, as amended by Chapter 41 of the Acts of 2008, Chapter 18 of the Acts of 2013, Chapter 16 of the Acts of 2014, Chapter 9 of the Acts of 2018 and Chapter 10 of the Acts of 2018, is further amended by adding immediately after clause (jb) the following clause:
- (jc)
require and regulate the provision of affordable housing within developments, including requiring that a specified percentage of
affordable housing units be provided within a development;
6 Chapter 39 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 238 the following Section:
- 238A Where provided for in a municipal planning strategy, the Council may accept money
instead of all or part of any required provision of affordable housing.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created November 5, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
