OIC Number: 2024 - 425

Date of Order: Dec 12, 2024

Statute: Public Service Act

OIC Text: The Governor in Council, on the report and recommendation of the President of the Executive Council dated December 12, 2024, and pursuant to Sections 2A, 3, 4 and 4B of

Chapter 376 of the Revised Statutes of Nova Scotia, 1989, the Public Service Act , is pleased, effective December 12, 2024, to: (

a) create the Department of Energy; (

b) direct that the Department of Energy shall be presided over by the Minister of Energy who has the supervision, direction and control of all affairs and matters relating to the Department of Energy and who shall supervise the performance and functions of the Department of Energy; (

c) assign to the Minister of Energy or the Department of Energy, as the case may be, all affairs and matters relating to energy which have heretofore been assigned by or under any Act of the Legislature to the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables or the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, including: (

i) matters over which the Legislature has jurisdiction relating to the development, management, conservation and protection of energy; (ii) all matters relating to energy resources, including oil and gas, electricity and renewable energy and other natural resources when used for the production of energy, including: (

A) developing and implementing energy policies and programs, (

B) conducting research and analysis related to the effective management, including exploration, development and use, of the Province’s energy resources, (

C) liaising with other governments, departments, organizations, advisory groups, regulators and associations to advance the interests and concerns of the Province and facilitating co-ordinated energy policies, activities and programs, (

D) managing the Province’s energy resources in order to achieve optimum economic, social and environmental value from the energy sector, including issuing rights to use the Province’s oil and gas resources and monitoring the use of these rights, and (

E) promoting the efficient, effective and environmentally sound use of energy; (iii) the administration of Acts, orders and regulations relating to the matters set out in clauses (

i) and (ii); (

d) change the name of the Department of Natural Resources and Renewables to the Department of Natural Resources; (

e) change the name of the Department of Community Services to the Department of Opportunities and Social Development; (

f) change the name of the Department of Economic Development to the Department of Growth and Development; (

g) assign to the Minister of Growth and Development or the Department of Growth and Development, as the case may be, all affairs and matters relating to housing which have heretofore been assigned by or under any Act of the Legislature to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing or the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing; (

h) change the name of the Department of Municipal Affairs and Housing to the Department of Municipal Affairs; and (

i) change the name of the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Service Effectiveness to the Office of Service Efficiency.

Department(s): Executive Council