The National Police Federation (NPF) is the police union representing Regular Members and Reservists of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) below the rank of Inspector. The NPF represents about 20,000 RCMP Members serving across Canada and internationally.
101-535: The National Police Federation (NPF) was founded on February 28, 2016, and certified as the sole bargaining agent of the RCMP on July 12, 2019. The organization currently operates under the leadership of President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Sauvé. Alongside the NPF President are a Board of Directors of 16 elected representatives across three Regions: Atlantic/Central, Prairies and Pacific/North. Historically,
202-529: A 1% success rate for Charter claimants. Lamer was succeeded as the chief justice by Beverley McLachlin in January 2000. She was the first woman to hold that position. McLachlin's appointment resulted in a more centrist and unified court. Dissenting and concurring opinions were fewer than during the Dickson and Lamer courts. With the 2005 appointments of puisne justices Louise Charron and Rosalie Abella ,
303-697: A balmy overnight low of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) The province includes regions of the Mi'kmaq nation of Mi'kma'ki ( mi'gama'gi ), the territory of which extends across the Maritimes, parts of Maine , Newfoundland and the Gaspé Peninsula . The Mi'kmaq people are part of the large Algonquian-language family and inhabited Nova Scotia at the time the first European colonists arrived. Research published in 1871 as well as S. T. Rand's work from 1894 showed that some Mi’kmaq believed they had emigrated from
404-518: A day. A quorum consists of five members for appeals, but a panel of nine justices hears most cases. On the bench, the chief justice of Canada or, in his or her absence, the senior puisne justice, presides from the centre chair with the other justices seated to his or her right and left by order of seniority of appointment. At sittings, the justices usually appear in black silk robes but they wear their ceremonial robes of bright scarlet trimmed with Canadian white mink in court on special occasions and in
505-540: A direct translation of "New Scotland", while most other languages use direct transliterations of the Latin/English name. The province was first named in the 1621 Royal Charter granting to Sir William Alexander the right to settle lands as a Scottish colony, including modern Nova Scotia, Cape Breton Island , Prince Edward Island , New Brunswick and the Gaspé Peninsula . Nova Scotia is Canada's second-smallest province in area, after Prince Edward Island . It
606-593: A general election and minority parliament intervened with delays such that the Prime Minister recommended Justice Cromwell after consulting the leader of the Opposition . As of August 2016, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opened the process of application to change from the above-noted appointment process. Under the revised process, "[any] Canadian lawyer or judge who fits specified criteria can apply for
707-666: A legislature sufficient time to enact a new replacement scheme of legislation. For example, in Reference Re Manitoba Language Rights , the court struck down Manitoba's laws because they were not enacted in the French language, as required by the Constitution. However, the Court stayed its judgment for five years to give Manitoba time to re-enact all its legislation in French. It turned out five years
808-523: A lesser extent silica , peat and barite , is also a significant sector. Since 1991, offshore oil and gas has become an important part of the economy, although production and revenue are now declining. However, agriculture remains an important sector in the province, particularly in the Annapolis Valley . Nova Scotia's defence and aerospace sector generates approximately $ 500 million in revenues and contributes about $ 1.5 billion to
909-407: A point of contention. In 2006, an interview phase by an ad hoc committee of members of Parliament was added. Justice Marshall Rothstein became the first justice to undergo the new process. The prime minister still has the final say on who becomes the candidate that is recommended to the governor general for appointment to the court. The government proposed an interview phase again in 2008, but
1010-539: A population of 969,383. Of the 958,990 singular responses to the census question concerning mother tongue , the most commonly reported languages were: Figures shown are for the number of single-language responses and the percentage of total single-language responses. Nova Scotia is home to the largest Scottish Gaelic -speaking community outside of Scotland, with a small number of native speakers in Pictou County , Antigonish County , and Cape Breton Island , and
1111-466: A rapidly developing Information & Communication Technology (ICT) sector which consists of over 500 companies, and employs roughly 15,000 people. In 2006, the manufacturing sector brought in over $ 2.6 billion in chained GDP, the largest output of any industrial sector in Nova Scotia. Michelin remains by far the largest single employer in this sector, operating three production plants in
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#17327913180221212-727: A retired Under Treasurer of the Law Society of Upper Canada . The court was previously housed in the Railway Committee Room and a number of other committee rooms in the Centre Block on Parliament Hill. The court then sat in the Old Supreme Court building on Bank Street, between 1889 and 1945. That structure was demolished in 1955 and the site used as parking for Parliament Hill. Nova Scotia Recognized Regional Languages: Nova Scotia
1313-692: A seat on the Supreme Court, through the Office of the Commissioner for Federal Judicial Affairs." Functional bilingualism is now a requirement. Justices were originally allowed to remain on the bench for life , but in 1927 a mandatory retirement age of 75 was instituted. They may choose to retire earlier, but can only be removed involuntarily before that age by a vote of the Senate and House of Commons . The current chief justice of Canada
1414-614: A series of six wars took place between the English and the French , with Nova Scotia being a consistent theatre of conflict between the two powers. Hostilities between England and France in North America resumed from 1702 to 1713, known as Queen Anne's War . The siege of Port Royal took place in 1710, ending French rule in peninsular Acadia. The subsequent signing of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 formally recognized British rule in
1515-498: A simple majority is determinative. By convention, this panel never explains why it grants or refuses leave in any particular case, but the court typically hears cases of national importance or where the case allows it to settle an important issue of law. Leave is rarely granted, meaning that for most litigants, provincial courts of appeal are courts of last resort. But leave to appeal is not required for some cases, primarily indictable criminal cases in which at least one appellate judge (on
1616-713: A variety of policing roles, including community policing , provincial policing, enforcing federal laws, national security , and government official or dignitary protective services. Most Members of the NPF work in uniform policing roles as the contracted provincial police service in all three territories, as well as British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nova Scotia New Brunswick , Newfoundland Labrador and P.E.I . NPF Members also provide municipal police services in hundreds of communities – from rural and remote areas to larger cities including Surrey and Red Deer . The National Police Federation Benevolent Foundation (NPFBF)
1717-700: Is Scottish (30.0%), followed by English (28.9%), Irish (21.6%), French (16.5%), German (10.7%), First Nations (5.4%), Dutch (3.5%), Métis (2.9%), and Acadian (2.6%). 42.6% of respondents identified their ethnicity as " Canadian ". As of the 2021 Canadian Census , the ten most spoken languages in the province included English (951,945 or 99.59%), French (99,300 or 10.39%), Arabic (11,745 or 1.23%), Hindi (10,115 or 1.06%), Spanish (8,675 or 0.91%), Mandarin (8,525 or 0.89%), Punjabi (6,730 or 0.7%), German (6,665 or 0.7%), Miꞌkmaq (5,650 or 0.59%), and Tagalog (5,595 or 0.59%). The question on knowledge of languages allows for multiple responses. The 2021 Canadian census showed
1818-487: Is Richard Wagner. He was appointed to the court as a puisne judge on 5 October 2012 and appointed chief justice, 18 December 2017. The nine justices of the Wagner Court are: The following graphical timeline depicts the length of each current justice's tenure on the Supreme Court (not their position in the court's order of precedence) as of 28 November 2024. Andromache Karakatsanis has had the longest tenure of any of
1919-619: Is a province of Canada , located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and most populous province in Atlantic Canada , with an estimated population of over 1 million as of 2024; it is also the second-most densely populated province in Canada, and second-smallest province by area. The province comprises the Nova Scotia peninsula and Cape Breton Island , as well as 3,800 other coastal islands. The province
2020-531: Is a registered Canadian charity created to support to the families of fallen RCMP Members. The Foundation launched in 2016 and extended its reach to families of on-duty, off-duty and serving NPF Members. In March 2021, the National Police Federation Benevolent Foundation received charitable status. Supreme Court of Canada The Supreme Court of Canada ( SCC ; French : Cour suprême du Canada , CSC)
2121-548: Is connected to the rest of Canada by the Isthmus of Chignecto , on which the province's land border with New Brunswick is located. Nova Scotia's capital and largest municipality is Halifax , which is home to over 45% of the province's population as of the 2021 census . Halifax is the twelfth-largest census metropolitan area in Canada, the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada , and Canada's second-largest coastal municipality after Vancouver . The land that makes up what
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#17327913180222222-558: Is midway between the Equator and the North Pole . The province contains 5,400 lakes. Nova Scotia lies in the mid-temperate zone and, although the province is almost surrounded by water, the climate is closer to continental climate rather than maritime . The winter and summer temperature extremes of the continental climate are moderated by the ocean. However, winters are cold enough to be classified as continental—still being nearer
2323-452: Is now Nova Scotia was inhabited by the Miꞌkmaq people at the time of European colonization. In 1605, Acadia —France's first New France colony—was founded with the creation of Acadia's capital, Port Royal . The Scots, English, then British, fought France for the territory on numerous occasions for over a century afterwards, having gained it from them in the 1713 Peace of Utrecht , which ended
2424-570: Is surrounded by four major bodies of water: the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the north, the Bay of Fundy to the west, the Gulf of Maine to the southwest, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The province's mainland is the Nova Scotia peninsula and includes numerous bays and estuaries. Nowhere in Nova Scotia is more than 67 km (42 mi) from the ocean. Cape Breton Island , a large island to
2525-548: Is the highest court in the judicial system of Canada . It comprises nine justices , whose decisions are the ultimate application of Canadian law , and grants permission to between 40 and 75 litigants each year to appeal decisions rendered by provincial, territorial and federal appellate courts . The Supreme Court is bijural, hearing cases from two major legal traditions ( common law and civil law ) and bilingual, hearing cases in both official languages of Canada (English and French). The effects of any judicial decision on
2626-836: The American Civil War (1861–1865), primarily on behalf of the North . The British Empire (including Nova Scotia) declared itself neutral in the conflict. As a result, Britain (and Nova Scotia) continued to trade with both the South and the North. Nova Scotia's economy boomed during the Civil War. Soon after the American Civil War, Pro-Canadian Confederation premier Charles Tupper led Nova Scotia into Canadian Confederation on 1 July 1867, along with New Brunswick and
2727-511: The Bank of Nova Scotia , Cunard Line , Alexander Keith's Brewery, Morse's Tea Company (first tea company in Canada), among others. Nova Scotia became a world leader in both building and owning wooden sailing ships in the second half of the 19th century. Nova Scotia produced internationally recognized shipbuilders Donald McKay and William Dawson Lawrence . The fame Nova Scotia achieved from sailors
2828-699: The Battle of Fort Cumberland (1776) and at the Siege of Saint John (1777) . Throughout the war, American privateers devastated the maritime economy by capturing ships and looting almost every community outside of Halifax. These American raids alienated many sympathetic or neutral Nova Scotians into supporting the British. By the end of the war, Nova Scotia had outfitted numerous privateers to attack American shipping. British military forces based at Halifax succeeded in preventing an American occupation of Nova Scotia, though
2929-484: The Bay of Fundy 's shores, has yielded an abundance of Carboniferous -age fossils. Wasson's Bluff, near the town of Parrsboro , has yielded both Triassic - and Jurassic -age fossils. The highest point is White Hill at 533 m (1,749 ft) above sea level, situated amongst the Cape Breton Highlands in the far north of the province. Nova Scotia is located along the 45th parallel north , so it
3030-551: The Charter of Rights and Freedoms , Parliament or the provincial legislatures may make that particular law temporarily valid again against by using the "override power" of the notwithstanding clause . In one case, the Quebec National Assembly invoked this power to override a Supreme Court decision ( Ford v Quebec (AG) ) that held that one of Quebec's language laws banning the display of English commercial signs
3131-553: The Halifax Explosion . In April 2004, the Nova Scotia legislature adopted a resolution explicitly inviting the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands to explore the possibility of joining Canada as part of that Province . In April 2020, a killing spree occurred across the province and became the deadliest rampage in Canada's history. According to the 2016 Canadian census the largest ethnic group in Nova Scotia
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3232-819: The Naval battle off Cape Breton (1781). After the Americans and their French allies won at the siege of Yorktown in 1781, approximately 33,000 Loyalists (the King's Loyal Americans, allowed to place " United Empire Loyalist " after their names) settled in Nova Scotia (14,000 of them in what became New Brunswick) on lands granted by the Crown as some compensation for their losses. (The British administration divided Nova Scotia and hived off Cape Breton and New Brunswick in 1784). The Loyalist exodus created new communities across Nova Scotia, including Shelburne , which briefly became one of
3333-527: The Province of Canada (now Ontario and Quebec ), forming the Dominion of Canada. "Nova Scotia" is Latin for "New Scotland " and is the recognized Canadian English name for the province. In both Canadian French and Canadian Gaelic , the province is directly translated as "New Scotland" (French: Nouvelle-Écosse . Canadian Gaelic: Alba Nuadh ). In general, Latin and Slavic languages use
3434-623: The Province of Canada . The Anti-Confederation Party was led by Joseph Howe . Almost three months later, in the election of 18 September 1867, the Anti-Confederation Party won 18 out of 19 federal seats, and 36 out of 38 seats in the provincial legislature. Throughout the 19th century, numerous businesses developed in Nova Scotia became of pan-Canadian and international importance: the Starr Manufacturing Company (first ice skate manufacturer in Canada),
3535-485: The Royal Navy failed to establish naval supremacy in the region. While the British captured many American privateers in battles such as the Naval battle off Halifax (1782), many more continued attacks on shipping and settlements until the final months of the war. The Royal Navy struggled to maintain British supply lines, defending British convoys from American and French attacks as in the fiercely fought convoy battle,
3636-781: The War of the Spanish Succession . In subsequent years, the British began settling " foreign Protestants " in the region and deported the French-speaking Acadians en masse . During the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), thousands of Loyalists settled in Nova Scotia. In 1848, Nova Scotia became the first British colony to achieve responsible government . In July 1867, Nova Scotia joined in Confederation with New Brunswick and
3737-520: The 2011 census, the largest denominations by number of adherents were Christians with 78.2%. About 21.18% were non-religious and 1% were Muslims . Jews , Hindus , and Sikhs constitute around 0.20%. In 1871, the largest religious denominations were Presbyterian with 103,500 (27%); Roman Catholic with 102,000 (26%); Baptist with 73,295 (19%); Anglican with 55,124 (14%); Methodist with 40,748 (10%), Lutheran with 4,958 (1.3%); and Congregationalist with 2,538 (0.65%). Nova Scotia's per capita GDP in 2016
3838-638: The Bill received Royal Assent and became law. This new Bill set the foundation to allow Members of the RCMP to unionize and provided a framework for collective bargaining on issues such as pay, grievances, working conditions and workplace safety. On April 5, 2017, the Association de Membres de la Police Montée du Québec (AMPMQ), applied to the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) to be
3939-572: The British deported the Acadians and recruited New England Planters to resettle the colony. The 75-year period of war ended with the Halifax Treaties between the British and the Mi'kmaq (1761). After the war, some Acadians were allowed to return. In 1763, most of Acadia (Cape Breton Island, St. John's Island (now Prince Edward Island), and New Brunswick) became part of Nova Scotia. In 1765,
4040-477: The FPSLREB as the bargaining agent for "All the employees who are RCMP members (excluding officers and civilian members) and all the employees who are reservists." The NPF then negotiated the organization's first Collective Agreement for its Members, which came into effect on August 6, 2021. The National Police Federation’s Mission is to provide “strong, fair and progressive representation to promote and enhance
4141-561: The Federal Court of Canada and Federal Court of Appeal, where it is optional. Every four years, the Judicial Compensation and Benefits Commission makes recommendations to the federal government about the salaries for federally appointed judges, including the judges of the Supreme Court. That recommendation is not legally binding on the federal government, but the federal government is generally required to comply with
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4242-460: The Maine settlement the following year and, in 1605, established a settlement at Port Royal , which grew into modern-day Annapolis Royal . This would be the first permanent European settlement in what would later become Canada. The settlement was in the Mi'kmaw district of Kespukwitk and was the founding settlement of what would become Acadia . For the next 150 years, Mi'kmaq and Acadians would form
4343-621: The NPF. The National Police Federation is composed of six departments that work together to provide support for RCMP officers. Each department has a variety of staff members, many of which are bilingual, allowing the organization to communicate resources, support and information in both English and French . These departments include Member Services, Government Relations and Policy, Communications, Finance, Information Technology, and Legal Services. The National Police Federation represents approximately 20,000 Members serving across all provinces and territories in Canada and internationally. Members hold
4444-523: The NPF’s website. RCMP Members serve in communities across Canada. To facilitate local representation, the NPF’s Local Area Representatives (LARs) help connect Members with the NPF. There is approximately one LAR to represent the first 100 Registered Members and one additional LAR for every 250 more Members in a particular location. Currently, 94 Local Area Representatives serve Members through
4545-690: The RCMP was prohibited by law from forming a Union. This changed following a Supreme Court of Canada ruling in January 2015 which declared the ban against RCMP unionization unconstitutional . The Treasury Board subsequently introduced An Act to amend the Public Service Labour Relations Act, the Public Service Labour Relations and Employment Board Act and other Acts and to provide for certain other measure s in Parliament, and on June 19, 2017,
4646-461: The Senate at the opening of each new session of Parliament. Counsel appearing before the court may use either English or French. The judges can also use either English or French. There is simultaneous translation available to the judges, counsel and to members of the public who are in the audience, or watching by livestream. The decision of the court is sometimes rendered orally at the conclusion of
4747-615: The Supreme Court has declined to answer a question from the Cabinet. In that case, the court said it would not decide if same-sex marriages were required by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms , because the government had announced it would change the law regardless of its opinion, and subsequently did. The Supreme Court thus performs a unique function. It can be asked by the Governor-in-Council to hear references considering important questions of law. Such referrals may concern
4848-437: The Supreme Court is referred to as The Honourable Mr/Madam Justice and the chief justice as Right Honourable . At one time, judges were addressed as "My Lord" or "My Lady" during sessions of the court, but it has since discouraged this style of address and has directed lawyers to use the simpler "Justice", "Mr Justice" or "Madam Justice". The designation "My Lord/My Lady" continues in many provincial superior courts and in
4949-541: The Supreme Court of Canada are located on the laws-lois.justice.gc.ca website, as well as in the Canada Gazette , as SOR/2002-216 (plus amendments), made pursuant to subsection 97(1) of the Supreme Court Act . Fees and taxes are stipulated near the end. Since 1967, the court has hired law clerks to assist in legal research. Between 1967 and 1982, each puisne justice was assisted by one law clerk and
5050-476: The Supreme Court of Canada. It also contains two courtrooms used by the Federal Court and the Federal Court of Appeal . The building was designed by Ernest Cormier and is known for its Art Deco style —including two candelabrum-style fluted metal lamp standards that flank the entrance and the marble walls and floors of the lobby —contrasting with the châteauesque roof. Construction began in 1939, with
5151-531: The bar or superior judiciary of Quebec, by law, must hold three of the nine positions on the Supreme Court of Canada. This is justified on the basis that Quebec uses civil law , rather than common law , as in the rest of the country. As explained in the reasons in Reference Re Supreme Court Act, ss. 5 and 6 , sitting judges of the Federal Court and Federal Court of Appeal cannot be appointed to any of Quebec's three seats. By convention,
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#17327913180225252-511: The bench reached its current composition of nine justices. Prior to 1949, most of the appointees to the court owed their position to political patronage . Each judge had strong ties to the party in power at the time of their appointment. In 1973, the appointment of a constitutional law professor Bora Laskin as chief justice represented a major turning point for the court. Laskin's federalist and liberal views were shared by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau , who recommended Laskin's appointment to
5353-623: The capture of Port Royal in 1710, Francis Nicholson announced it would be renamed Annapolis Royal in honour of Queen Anne . As a result of Father Rale's War (1722–1725), the Mi'kmaq signed a series of treaties with the British in 1725. The Mi'kmaq signed a treaty of submission to the British crown. However, conflict between the Acadians, Mi'kmaq, French and the British persisted in the following decades with King George's War (1744–1748). Father Le Loutre's War (1749–1755) began when Edward Cornwallis arrived to establish Halifax with 13 transports on 21 June 1749. A General Court, made up of
5454-469: The chief justice had two. From 1982, the number was increased to two law clerks for each justice. Currently, each justice has up to three law clerks. The Supreme Court of Canada Building ( French : L'édifice de la Cour suprême du Canada ) is located just west of Parliament Hill , at 301 Wellington Street . It is situated on a bluff high above the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa and is home to
5555-642: The chief justice is Richard Wagner . Along with the German Federal Constitutional Court and the European Court of Human Rights , the Supreme Court of Canada is among the most frequently cited courts in the world. The structure of the Canadian court system is pyramidal, a broad base being formed by the various provincial and territorial courts whose judges are appointed by the provincial or territorial governments. At
5656-600: The common law, on the interpretation of statutes, or on any other application of law, can, in effect, be nullified by legislation, unless the particular decision of the court in question involves application of the Canadian Constitution , in which case, the decision (in most cases) is completely binding on the legislative branch. This is especially true of decisions which touch upon the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , which cannot be altered by
5757-448: The constitutionality or interpretation of federal or provincial legislation, or the division of powers between federal and provincial spheres of government. Any point of law may be referred in this manner. However, the Court is not often called upon to hear references. References have been used to re-examine criminal convictions that have concerned the country as in the cases of David Milgaard and Steven Truscott . The Supreme Court has
5858-454: The cornerstone laid by Queen Elizabeth , consort of King George VI and later known as the Queen Mother. In her speech, she said, "perhaps it is not inappropriate that this task should be performed by a woman; for woman's position in a civilized society has depended upon the growth of law." The court began hearing cases in the new building by January 1946. In 2000, the edifice was named by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada as one of
5959-408: The county of Sunbury was created. This included the territory of present-day New Brunswick and eastern Maine as far as the Penobscot River . In 1769, St. John's Island became a separate colony. The American Revolution (1775–1783) had a significant impact on shaping Nova Scotia, with the colony initially displaying ambivalence over whether the colony should join the revolution; Rebellion flared at
6060-462: The court became the world's most gender-balanced national high court with four of its nine members being female. Justice Marie Deschamps ' retirement on 7 August 2012 caused the number to fall to three; however, the appointment of Suzanne Côté on 1 December 2014 restored the number to four. After serving on the court for 28 years, 259 days ( 17 years, 341 days as chief justice), McLachlin retired in December 2017. Her successor as
6161-460: The court may not call on counsel for the appellant and instead calls directly on counsel for the respondent. However, in most cases, the court hears from all counsel and then reserves judgment to enable the justices to write considered reasons. Decisions of the court need not be unanimous – a majority may decide, with dissenting reasons given by the minority. Justices may write separate or joint opinions for any case. A puisne justice of
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#17327913180226262-475: The court of last resort for criminal appeals in 1933 and for all other appeals in 1949. Cases that were begun prior to those dates remained appealable to the Judicial Committee, and the last case on appeal from the Supreme Court of Canada was not decided until 1959. The increase in the importance of the Supreme Court was mirrored by the numbers of its members; it was established first with six judges, and these were augmented by an additional member in 1927. In 1949,
6363-399: The court under Chief Justice Brian Dickson (1984–1990) through to that of Antonio Lamer (1990–2000) witnessed a continuing vigour in the protection of civil liberties. Lamer's criminal law background proved an influence on the number of criminal cases heard by the Court during his time as chief justice. Nonetheless, the Lamer court was more conservative with Charter rights, with only about
6464-427: The court, but from that appointment onward appointees increasingly either came from academic backgrounds or were well-respected practitioners with several years' experience in appellate courts. The Constitution Act, 1982 , greatly expanded the role of the court in Canadian society by the addition of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms , which greatly broadened the scope of judicial review. The evolution from
6565-399: The court. Usually the other governments are given the right to argue their case in the court, although on rare occasions this has been curtailed and prevented by order of one of the court's judges. The Supreme Court sits in three sessions in each calendar year. The first session begins on the fourth Tuesday in January, the second session on the fourth Tuesday in April, and the third session on
6666-670: The current members of the court, having been appointed in October 2011. Richard Wagner's cumulative tenure is 12 years, 54 days— 5 years, 74 days as puisne justice, and 6 years, 346 days as chief justice. Mary Moreau has the briefest tenure, having been appointed 1 year, 22 days ago. The length of tenure for the other justices are: Suzanne Côté, 9 years, 363 days; Malcom Rowe, 8 years, 31 days; Sheilah Martin, 6 years, 346 days; Nicholas Kasirer, 5 years, 73 days; Mahmud Jamal, 3 years, 150 days; and Michelle O'Bonsawin, 2 years, 88 days. The Rules of
6767-464: The efforts of Joseph Howe . Nova Scotia had established representative government in 1758, an achievement later commemorated by the erection of Dingle Tower in 1908. Nova Scotians fought in the Crimean War of 1853–1856. The 1860 Welsford-Parker Monument in Halifax is the second-oldest war monument in Canada and the only Crimean War monument in North America. It commemorates the 1854–55 Siege of Sevastopol . Thousands of Nova Scotians fought in
6868-414: The first Tuesday in October. The Court determines how long each session will be. Hearings only take place in Ottawa , although litigants can present oral arguments from remote locations by means of a video-conference system. Hearings are open to the public. Most hearings are taped for delayed telecast in both of Canada's official languages. When in session, the court sits Monday to Friday, hearing two appeals
6969-470: The freezing point than inland areas to the west. The Nova Scotian climate is in many ways similar to the central Baltic Sea coast in Northern Europe, only wetter and snowier. This is true although Nova Scotia is some fifteen parallels further south. Areas not on the Atlantic coast experience warmer summers more typical of inland areas, and winter lows are a little colder. On 12 August 2020, the community of Grand Étang, famous for its Les Suêtes winds, recorded
7070-401: The governor and the council, was the highest court in the colony at the time. Jonathan Belcher was sworn in as chief justice of the Nova Scotia Supreme Court on 21 October 1754. The first legislative assembly in Halifax, under the Governorship of Charles Lawrence , met on 2 October 1758. During the French and Indian War of 1754–1763 (the North American theatre of the Seven Years' War ),
7171-406: The hearing. In these cases, the court may simply refer to the decision of the court below to explain its own reasons. In other cases, the court may announce its decision at the conclusion of the hearing, with reasons to follow. As well, in some cases, the court may not call on counsel for the respondent, if it has not been convinced by the arguments of counsel for the appellant. In very rare cases,
7272-400: The language is taught in a number of secondary schools throughout the province. In 2018 the government launched a new Gaelic vehicle licence plate to raise awareness of the language and help fund Gaelic language and culture initiatives. They estimated that there were 2,000 Gaelic speakers in the province. According to the 2021 census , religious groups in Nova Scotia included: According to
7373-528: The larger British settlements in North America, and infused Nova Scotia with additional capital and skills. The migration caused political tensions between Loyalist leaders and the leaders of the existing New England Planters settlement. The Loyalist influx also pushed Nova Scotia's 2000 Mi'kmaq People to the margins as Loyalist land grants encroached on ill-defined native lands. As part of the Loyalist migration, about 3,000 Black Loyalists arrived; they founded
7474-584: The largest free Black settlement in North America at Birchtown , near Shelburne. There are several Black Loyalists buried in unmarked graves in the Old Burying Ground in Halifax. Many Nova Scotian communities were settled by British regiments that fought in the war . During the War of 1812 , Nova Scotia's contribution to the British war effort involved communities either purchasing or building various privateer ships to attack U.S. vessels. Perhaps
7575-610: The legislative branch unless the decision is overridden pursuant to section 33 (the " notwithstanding clause "). The creation of the Supreme Court of Canada was provided for by the British North America Act, 1867 , renamed in 1982 the Constitution Act, 1867 . The first bills for the creation of a federal supreme court, introduced in the Parliament of Canada in 1869 and in 1870, were withdrawn. It
7676-585: The majority of the population of the region. Warfare was a common in Nova Scotia during the 17th and 18th centuries. During the first 80 years the French and Acadians lived in Nova Scotia, nine significant military clashes took place as the English, Dutch, French and Mi'kmaq fought for possession of the area. These encounters happened at Port Royal, Saint John , Cap de Sable (present-day Pubnico to Port La Tour, Nova Scotia ), Jemseg (1674 and 1758) and Baleine (1629). The Acadian Civil War took place from 1640 to 1645. Beginning with King William's War in 1688,
7777-615: The most dramatic moment in the war for Nova Scotia occurred when HMS Shannon escorted the captured American frigate USS Chesapeake into Halifax Harbour in 1813. Many of the U.S. prisoners were kept at Deadman's Island . Nova Scotia became the first colony in British North America and in the British Empire to achieve responsible government in January–February 1848 and become self-governing through
7878-545: The next level are the provincial and territorial superior trial courts, where judges are appointed by the federal government. Judgments from the superior courts may be appealed to a still higher level, the provincial or territorial superior courts of appeal. Several federal courts also exist: the Tax Court , the Federal Court , the Federal Court of Appeal , and the Court Martial Appeal Court . Unlike
7979-430: The northeast of the Nova Scotia mainland, is also part of the province, as is Sable Island , a small island notorious for being the site of offshore shipwrecks, approximately 175 km (110 mi) from the province's southern coast. Nova Scotia has many ancient fossil-bearing rock formations. These formations are particularly rich on the Bay of Fundy 's shores. Blue Beach near Hantsport , Joggins Fossil Cliffs , on
8080-676: The province were also hit hard, particularly during the last two decades: coal mining in Cape Breton and northern mainland Nova Scotia has virtually ceased, and a large steel mill in Sydney closed during the 1990s. More recently, the high value of the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar has hurt the forestry industry, leading to the shutdown of a long-running pulp and paper mill near Liverpool . Mining, especially of gypsum and salt and to
8181-404: The province. Michelin is also the province's largest private-sector employer. In July 2024, the provincial government committed CAD$ 18.6 million to build 27 new telecommunication towers to upgrade cellular service province-wide. The Nova Scotia tourism industry includes more than 6,500 direct businesses, supporting nearly 40,000 jobs. Cruise ships pay regular visits to the province. In 2010,
8282-497: The provincial economy each year. To date, 40% of Canada's military assets reside in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia has the fourth-largest film industry in Canada hosting over 100 productions yearly, more than half of which are the products of international film and television producers. In 2015, the government of Nova Scotia eliminated tax credits to film production in the province, jeopardizing the industry given most other jurisdictions continue to offer such credits. The province also has
8383-417: The provincial or territorial courts of appeal, and the Federal Court of Appeal, although in some matters appeals come straight from the trial courts, as in the case of publication bans and other orders that are otherwise not appealable. In most cases, permission to appeal must first be obtained from the court. Motions for leave to appeal to the court are generally heard by a panel of three of its judges and
8484-420: The provincial superior courts, which exercise inherent or general jurisdiction , the jurisdiction of federal courts and provincially appointed provincial courts are limited by statute. In all, there are over 1,000 federally appointed judges at various levels across Canada. The Supreme Court rests at the apex of the judicial pyramid. This institution hears appeals from the provincial courts of last resort, usually
8585-427: The recommendation unless there is a very good reason to not do so. The chief justice receives $ 370,300 while the puisne justices receive $ 342,800 annually. Justices of the Supreme Court of Canada are appointed on the advice of the prime minister. The Supreme Court Act limits eligibility for appointment to persons who have been judges of a superior court or members of the bar for ten or more years. Members of
8686-399: The region, while returning Cape Breton Island ( Île Royale ) and Prince Edward Island ( Île Saint-Jean ) to the French. Despite the British conquest of Acadia in 1710, Nova Scotia remained primarily occupied by Catholic Acadians and Mi'kmaq, who confined British forces to Annapolis and to Canso. Present-day New Brunswick formed a part of the French colony of Acadia. Immediately after
8787-590: The relevant provincial court of appeal) dissented on a point of law, and appeals from provincial reference cases . A final source of cases is the power of the federal government to submit reference cases. In such cases, the Supreme Court is required to give an opinion on questions referred to it by the Governor in Council (the Cabinet ). However, in many cases, including the most recent same-sex marriage reference ,
8888-524: The remaining six positions are divided in the following manner: three from Ontario; two from the western provinces, typically one from British Columbia and one from the prairie provinces, which rotate among themselves (although Alberta is known to cause skips in the rotation); and one from the Atlantic provinces, almost always from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick. Parliament and the provincial governments have no constitutional role in such appointments, sometimes
8989-488: The rights of our Members across the country”. The organization provides a range of services to support and enhance the well-being of the RCMP officers they represent. The NPF is led by an elected President, three elected Vice-Presidents, and up to 13 elected Regional Board Directors representing the three regions the NPF operates in: Each region elects their respective regional Directors, who are assisted by staff teams. A full list of currently serving Directors can be found on
9090-628: The sole certified bargaining agent representing Members of the RCMP within the province of Québec. On April 18, 2017, the National Police Federation submitted its application to the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations and Employment Board (FPSLREB) in a bid to be the sole certified bargaining agent for all RCMP regular Members (excluding officers at the rank of Inspector and above, and civilian members) throughout Canada. The FPSLREB joined
9191-847: The top 500 buildings produced in Canada during the last millennium. Canada Post issued a commemorative stamp on 9 June 2011, as part of the Architecture Art Déco series. Two flagstaffs have been erected in front of the building. A flag on one is flown daily, while the other is hoisted only on those days when the court is in session. Also located on the grounds are several statues, including one of Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent , by Elek Imredy in 1976, and two— Veritas (Truth) and Justitia (Justice)—by Canadian sculptor Walter S. Allward . Inside there are busts of several chief justices: John Robert Cartwright (1967–1970), Bora Laskin (1973–1983), Brian Dickson (1984–1990), and Antonio Lamer (1990–2000), all sculpted by Kenneth Phillips Jarvis,
9292-515: The two competing applications and heard both. On July 12, 2019, the FPSLREB released its decision on the Constitutional question, dismissing the AMPMQ application for certification and releasing the results of the NPF certification vote. Members had voted 97% in favour of the NPF in a vote held between November and December 2018, and the National Police Federation was subsequently certified by
9393-434: The ultimate power of judicial review over Canadian federal and provincial laws' constitutional validity. If a federal or provincial law has been held contrary to the division of power provisions of one of the various constitution acts, the legislature or parliament must either live with the result, amend the law so that it complies, or obtain an amendment to the constitution. If a law is declared contrary to certain sections of
9494-587: The west, and then lived alongside the Kwēdĕchk, the original inhabitants. The two tribes engaged in a war that lasted "many years", and involved the "slaughter of men, women, and children, and torture of captives", and the eventual displacement of the Kwēdĕchk by the victorious Mi’kmaq. The first Europeans to settle the area were the French, who sailed into the Annapolis Basin in 1604, but chose to settle at Saint Croix Island in Maine instead. They abandoned
9595-445: The world. Nevertheless, the province's imports far exceed its exports. While these numbers were roughly equal from 1992 until 2004, since that time the trade deficit has ballooned. In 2012, exports from Nova Scotia were 12.1% of provincial GDP, while imports were 22.6%. Nova Scotia's traditionally resource-based economy has diversified in recent decades. The rise of Nova Scotia as a viable jurisdiction in North America, historically,
9696-539: Was CA$ 44,924 , significantly lower than the national average per capita GDP of CA$ 57,574 . GDP growth has lagged behind the rest of the country for at least the past decade. As of 2017, the median family income in Nova Scotia was $ 85,970, below the national average of $ 92,990; in Halifax the figure rises to $ 98,870. The province is the world's largest exporter of Christmas trees , lobster , gypsum , and wild berries . Its export value of fish exceeds $ 1 billion, and fish products are received by 90 countries around
9797-549: Was assured in 1895 when Joshua Slocum became the first man to sail single-handedly around the world. International attention continued into the following century with the many racing victories of the Bluenose schooner. Nova Scotia was also the birthplace and home of Samuel Cunard , a British shipping magnate (born at Halifax , Nova Scotia) who founded the Cunard Line. In December 1917, about 2,000 people were killed in
9898-517: Was driven by the ready availability of natural resources, especially the fish stocks off the Scotian Shelf . The fishery was a pillar of the economy since its development as part of New France in the 17th century; however, the fishery suffered a sharp decline due to overfishing in the late 20th century. The collapse of the cod stocks and the closure of this sector resulted in a loss of approximately 20,000 jobs in 1992. Other sectors in
9999-404: Was inconsistent with the Charter . Saskatchewan has also used it to uphold its labour laws. This override power can be exercised for five years, after which time the override must be renewed or the decision comes into force. In some cases, the court may stay the effect of its judgments so that unconstitutional laws continue in force for a period of time. Usually, this is done to give Parliament or
10100-421: Was insufficient so the court was asked, and agreed, to give more time. Constitutional questions may, of course, also be raised in the normal case of appeals involving individual litigants, governments, government agencies or Crown corporations . In such cases the federal and provincial governments must be notified of any constitutional questions and may intervene to submit a brief and attend oral argument at
10201-712: Was not until 8 April 1875 that a bill was finally passed providing for the creation of a Supreme Court of Canada. However, prior to 1949, the Supreme Court did not constitute the court of last resort : litigants could appeal SCC decisions to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. Some cases could bypass the Supreme Court and go directly to the Judicial Committee from the provincial courts of appeal. The Supreme Court formally became
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