Bill No. 35 - The Statistics Act - First Reading

Statistics Act
(amended)

Claudia Chender, Dartmouth South

Explanatory Note

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.