A New Push to Support Business Growth
Nova Scotia has introduced the Making Business Easier Act, a law designed to streamline approvals, reduce red tape, and modernize government processes for businesses. The Houston government says the legislation will speed up projects, improve efficiency, and strengthen the province’s competitiveness across several sectors.
“Nova Scotia is open for business,” said Service Efficiency Minister Tim Halman, calling the Act a major step toward making the province a national leader in cutting red tape.
Focus on Natural Resources and Rural Jobs
The legislation places special attention on the natural resources sector, including mining and the development of critical minerals. According to Halman, faster approvals will help projects move forward sooner, boosting exports, supply chains, and employment—especially in rural communities.
He emphasized that economic growth does not come at the cost of environmental responsibility. “It doesn’t have to be one or the other, we can and must do both,” Halman said.
Streamlining Permits and Modernizing Processes
The new law updates nearly 150 permits and eliminates eight considered low-risk, such as roadside memorial approvals and foraging licenses for berries or mushrooms. For the first time, all 300 licensing and permit policies were reviewed with the goal of simplifying rules while maintaining protections.
Halman pointed to the lifting of the uranium mining ban and the recent approval of a major gold mining project as examples of progress, but said more work remains.
Support From Business Groups
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) welcomed the move, noting that red tape costs Canadian businesses nearly $18 billion each year. The provincial government estimates the new law will save Nova Scotia businesses around $800,000 annually.
“It’s a great first step,” said Duncan Robertson, CFIB’s director of legislative affairs in Nova Scotia. He added that while improved service standards are promising, the real test will be ensuring accountability if the government fails to meet its targets.
“That’s the big question out of this legislation,” Robertson said. “Hopefully it’s not just a rap on the knuckles but real incentives to ensure timelines are respected.”
The government says the Act is about more than cutting red tape—it’s about modernizing how the province operates and unlocking its full economic potential. Businesses and industry leaders will be watching closely to see how these changes translate into real-world growth.
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