Bill No. 93, Statistics Act - First Reading

The NDP caucus believes that decisions should be based on good information. This is especially crucial in combatting systemic racism: if we don’t know where and how racialized persons are over or underrepresented in our health, education, justice and other systems, we won't be able to appropriately address the issues. 

The data collected by various departments of the Nova Scotia government is woefully inadequate in this regard. We don’t know the racial, economic, age or gender makeup of people held in solitary confinement. We don’t the full picture of these statistics in this regard to important things like High School completion, and children on Individual Program Plans. We don’t have comprehensive stats on health and wellness in our African Nova Scotian and Mi’kmaw communities. But we should. 

I was proud to introduce Bill 93, which would legislate mandatory data collection and use in program planning by the government. 

Read Bill 93 here.

Statistics Act
(amended) 

Claudia Chender, Dartmouth South

Explanatory Notes

This Bill

(a) requires every department of the Government of Nova Scotia to designate a person to collect, compile and publish statistical information with respect to its clients, users and persons in its care;

(b) specifies the type of information to be gathered, the basis on which information is provided and the use that may be made of it; and

(c) requires the department to report on the use of the information collected in its annual report.

An Act to Amend Chapter 441
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Statistics Act

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Chapter 441 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Statistics Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 5 the following heading and Sections:

DEPARTMENTAL STATISTICS

• 5A (1) Each department shall designate a person to perform the functions and exercise the powers set out in subsection 4(1).

  (2) Two or more departments may designate the same person under subsection (1).

  (3) A person designated under subsection (1) must be sworn under Section 6 before performing any functions or exercising any powers set out in subsection 4(1).

  5B The departmental designee under subsection 5A(1) shall request that information be provided on a voluntary basis by the department’s clients, users of its services and those who have been detained or are in custody or are in the department’s care.

  5C The classifications of information sought under Section 5B must

  (a) match those in use by a statistical agency of Canada; and

  (b) include gender, age, race, language and income level.

  5D Each department shall

  (a) use the information collected under Section 5B in the formation and evaluation of its programs; and

  (b) include a statement in its annual report with respect to the use of the information collected under Section 5B.

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This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2018 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created March 21, 2018. Send comments tolegc.office@novascotia.ca.