Nova Scotia Privacy Commissioner Warns New Cabinet Secrecy Rules Will Reduce Transparency
Nova Scotia Information and Privacy Commissioner David Nurse says upcoming legislative changes shielding provincial cabinet records from freedom of information requests for 15 years will reduce transparency. The rules, part of an omnibus bill introduced in February 2025, take effect on April 1, 2027.
Nova Scotia’s information and privacy commissioner is raising concerns about upcoming legislative changes that will shield all provincial cabinet records from freedom of information requests for 15 years, warning the new rules will result in less transparency.
The changes, which take effect on April 1, 2027, were introduced by Premier Tim Houston’s Progressive Conservative government as part of a controversial omnibus bill in February 2025. Under current rules, background information on cabinet decisions is generally disclosed if the decision is public, or can be requested five years after a denial. The new legislation extends that time limit to 15 years and completely shields all cabinet records from requests made under the province’s freedom of information law.
Commissioner David Nurse noted that Houston previously used freedom of information requests while in opposition to scrutinize details of the Liberal government's ferry contract. Nurse argued the new rules create unnecessary secrecy and could hinder journalists and opposition parties from holding the government accountable.
Justice Minister Scott Armstrong and Service Nova Scotia Minister Jill Balser defended the legislation, stating the new act brings Nova Scotia in line with other jurisdictions and provides strong oversight.
NDP Opposition Leader Claudia Chender argued that the changes take away transparency and move the province in the wrong direction.
The February 2025 omnibus bill initially included proposed changes allowing the government to fire the auditor general without cause and block auditor general reports, but those provisions were withdrawn before the bill passed. Other elements of the legislation were viewed positively by the commissioner, including making the privacy commissioner an officer of the legislature next April and granting the office power to disregard frivolous and vexatious information requests.
The Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner reported improved efficiency in recent operations. In 2025-26, 80 per cent of disputes reviewed by the commissioner's office were resolved informally, and the backlog on files was cut from four years to three years.