Nova ScotiaBill 119First Reading
Bill 119: Fair Representation for Independent MLAs Act
Sponsor: Elizabeth Smith-McCrossinIntroduced March 26, 2025Checked September 4, 2026
Read the official textOfficial version — Nova Scotia House of Assembly
What this bill does
This Nova Scotia bill requires the House of Assembly to amend its rules by December 31, 2025 to give independent MLAs the same rights as party-affiliated members, including committee access, speaking time, and research funding. It also amends the Elections Act and Income Tax Act so that independent candidates and MLAs can form electoral district associations that issue political donation tax receipts.
Plain-language summary by Legisail — not legal advice.
Business impact
TaxCompliance
This bill primarily affects individual donors and small political fundraising organizations in Nova Scotia who support independent candidates or sitting independent MLAs. If you run a small association backing an independent MLA — handling donations, issuing receipts, managing campaign finances — this bill now gives your association the same legal standing as a registered party's electoral district association. That means you can issue official tax receipts to donors for the first time, which makes fundraising for independents more competitive. Most affected are constituents and small volunteer-run riding associations in Nova Scotia ridings represented by independents, not mainstream commercial businesses.
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Where this bill is
First ReadingMarch 26, 2025
Next: Second Reading debate
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- Bill number
- NS-119
- Type
- Private Member's Public
- Jurisdiction
- Nova Scotia
- Session
- 65-1