BILL NO. 151

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
71 Elizabeth II, 2022

 

Private Member's Bill

 

Midwifery Act
(amended)

 

Susan Leblanc
Dartmouth North

First Reading: April 8, 2022

(Explanatory Notes)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Notes

Clause 1 establishes as objectives of the Government of Nova Scotia

(a) to make available the services of an adequate number of trained and regulated midwives for all people who request them; and

(b) to have one midwife available for every 14,000 persons resident in each health management zone.

Clause 2 requires the Midwifery Regulatory Council of Nova Scotia to publicly report certain information at least once per year.

Clause 3 allows for the Minister of Health and Wellness to establish a timeline for the achievement of the objectives stated in Clause 1.

An Act to Amend Chapter 18
of the Acts of 2006,
the Midwifery Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Chapter 18 of the Acts 2006, the Midwifery Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 1 the following Section:

1A It is the objective of the Government, through the Nova Scotia Health Authority, to
(a) make available the services of an adequate number of trained and regulated midwives for all people who request them; and

(b) have one midwife available for every 14,000 persons resident in each of the management zones established under the regulations made under the Health Authorities Act.

2 Section 7 of Chapter 18 is amended by adding immediately after subsection (1) the following subsections:

(1A) The Council shall, at least once per year, report publicly on

(a) the number of midwives in the Province, including those registered but non-practising; and

(b) the number of clients of midwives who gave birth during the preceding year.

(1B) A report made under subsection (1A) must include province-by-province comparison data and comparison data with countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

3 (1) Section 9 of Chapter 18 is amended by adding immediately after subsection (1) the following subsection:

(1A) The Minister of Health and Wellness may make regulations establishing a timeline for the Nova Scotia Health Authority to achieve the objectives described in Section 1A.

(2) Subsection 9(2) of Chapter 18 is amended by

(a) adding "or Minister of Health and Wellness” immediately after "Council” in the first line; and

(b) adding "or (1A)” immediately after “(1)” in the second line.

 

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