Bill 244: Supporting Small Business Act

This bill primarily affects small businesses in Nova Scotia across all industries — think a local retailer, independent restaurant, trades contractor, or nonprofit running a storefront — that rent commercial space or do business with larger companies. For tenants, it introduces meaningful rent protections: increases are capped at CPI, landlords can't arbitrarily refuse renewals, and tenants can apply for a certificate to access these protections. For businesses selling goods or services on commercial terms, the bill implies an automatic interest clause (Bank of Canada overnight rate plus 8%) on overdue invoices, which is a direct benefit if you're waiting on payment from bigger clients. Large businesses with 250+ employees or significant revenue face new annual reporting requirements on their payment timelines, with potential penalties if they're slow payers. The protections are specifically designed for independent operators — franchisees, subsidiaries, and publicly listed companies are explicitly excluded.