HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government is introducing legislation that would extend the timeline for public bodies to respond to requests for documents and other records.
The bill would grant government departments and other public institutions 30 business days to address freedom of information requests instead of 30 calendar days.
As well, the bill would make the information and privacy commissioner an officer of the legislature, a change the province says strengthens the independence of the office.
But it won’t give the commissioner powers to compel the release of information tied to complaints from citizens who have been denied access to documents.
Granting the office that order-making power was a recommendation by Tricia Ralph, whose term as commissioner ended earlier this year.
Current commissioner David Nurse has welcomed the bill but has also pointed out a number of concerns, including the fact the word “fully” was deleted in reference to making public bodies accountable.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 26, 2025.
