BILL NO. 234
(as introduced)
1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
1 Charles III, 2022
Private Member's Bill
Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act
(amended)
Suzy Hansen
Halifax Needham
First Reading: October 25, 2022
Second Reading:
Third Reading:
Explanatory Notes
Clause 1 amends the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act to set out additional criteria that developments in special planning areas and developments that receive Government support must meet.
Clause 2 requires the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing and the Executive Panel on Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality to consider environmental impact when exercising their powers.
Clause 3 makes the amendments in this Act effective on and after December 1, 2022.
An Act to Amend Chapter 21
of the Acts of 2021,
the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act
1 Chapter 21 of the Acts of 2021, the Housing in the Halifax Regional Municipality Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 18 the following Section:
- 18A (1) Any development in a special planning area must
(a) adopt a definition of "affordable units" as units for which the rent is 30% or less of the tenant's income, in accordance with the definition used by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation;
(b) meet the highest available accessibility standards, including by having at least 25% of units meet the accessibility provisions in the National Building Code;
(c) include a demonstrated plan for how the development will help remove barriers to traditionally underhoused populations; and
(d) use a net-zero energy ready building code.
(2) Subsection (1) applies, with necessary changes, to any development that receives a grant or forgiveable loan from the Province.
2 Chapter 21 is further amended by adding immediately after Section 20 the following Section:
- 20A The Minister and the Panel shall consider environmental
impact when exercising any of the Minister's or the Panel's powers under Sections 15 to 20.
3 This Act has effect on and after December 1, 2022.
This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2022 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created October 25, 2022. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.
