Province
Public services in Nova Scotia
Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked
At a glance
Who handles public services in Nova Scotia, with a page for each of 51 services. Below: the 12 biggest cities and towns, Nova Scotia's benefit payment dates and the main provincial government bodies.
- Services
- 51 public services have a page for Nova Scotia on this site. #
- Places
- 142 cities, towns and communities in Nova Scotia have public places on the map, 1,876 places in all. #
- Biggest city
- The biggest by population is Halifax: 439,819 people (2021 Census). #Source: Statistics Canada, Population and dwelling counts: Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities), table 98-10-0002-01, 2021 Census of Population (Statistics Canada Open Licence)
- Government
- 27 provincial government bodies in Nova Scotia are on record. #
Canada Service Map is independent and not a government website. The official page always has the final word.
Services in Nova Scotia
Each page says who handles the service here, with the official links we have and the date we checked each one.
Identity and documents
- Order a birth certificateVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- Order a death certificateVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- Order a marriage certificateVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- Legally change your nameVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive)Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- Change your address with the provinceGovernment of Nova Scotia
Driving and vehicles
- Get, renew or replace a driver's licenceRegistry of Motor Vehicles, Access Nova Scotia (Service Nova Scotia)
- Book a road test or knowledge testRegistry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- Register a vehicle and renew licence platesRegistry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- Get an accessible parking permitRegistry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- Check road conditions and closures (511)511 Nova Scotia (Department of Public Works)
Health
- Apply for or renew your health cardMSI Resident Services (Department of Health and Wellness)
- Find a family doctor or nurse practitionerNova Scotia Health
- Talk to a nurse (811 health line)811 Nova Scotia (Department of Health and Wellness)
- Get help paying for prescription drugs (pharmacare)Nova Scotia Pharmacare (Department of Health and Wellness)
- Vaccines and immunization recordsNova Scotia Health Public Health
- Register as an organ and tissue donorMSI Health Card Registry (Department of Health and Wellness)
- Home care and community careNova Scotia Health Continuing Care (Department of Seniors and Long-term Care)
Family and children
- Register a baby's birthVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- Get a marriage licenceVital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- Get help paying for child careDepartment of Education and Early Childhood Development
- Find licensed child care or daycareDepartment of Education and Early Childhood Development
- Collect child or spousal supportMaintenance Enforcement Program (Department of Justice)
- Report child abuse or neglectChild and Family Wellbeing (Department of Opportunities and Social Development)
Benefits and money
- Apply for income assistance (welfare)Employment Support and Income Assistance (Department of Opportunities and Social Development)
- Disability income support from the provinceDepartment of Opportunities and Social Development
Work and business
- Register a business name or incorporateRegistry of Joint Stock Companies (Service Nova Scotia)
- Report a workplace injury (workers' compensation)WCB Nova Scotia
- Your rights at work: pay, hours, leave and firingLabour Standards (Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration)
- Get help finding a job or trainingNova Scotia Works (Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration)
- Become an apprentice or get certified in a tradeNova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency
Housing and property
- Search or register a land titleLand Registry (Service Nova Scotia)
- Check or appeal your property assessmentProperty Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC)
- Renting: rules, rent increases, evictions and disputesResidential Tenancies Program (Service Nova Scotia)
- Apply for social or affordable housingNova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency
Education
- Apply for student loans and grantsNova Scotia Student Assistance (Department of Advanced Education)
- Get a high school transcript or diploma copyYour former high school or regional centre for education (Department of Education and Early Childhood Development)
Justice and safety
- Sue for a small amount (small claims)Small Claims Court of Nova Scotia
- Get legal aidNova Scotia Legal Aid
- Make a human rights complaintNova Scotia Human Rights Commission
- Complain about a business (consumer protection)Consumer Protection (Service Nova Scotia)
- Emergency alerts and how to prepareDepartment of Emergency Management (Government of Nova Scotia)
Environment and outdoors
- Buy a fishing licenceDepartment of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Buy a hunting licenceDepartment of Natural Resources (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Reserve a campsite in a provincial or territorial parkNova Scotia Provincial Parks (Department of Natural Resources)
- Wildfire status and fire bansDepartment of Natural Resources (Government of Nova Scotia)
Immigration, citizenship and travel
- Immigrate through a province or territoryImmigration and Population Growth Branch (Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration)
Voting and democracy
- Vote in a provincial or territorial electionElections Nova Scotia
- Find your member of the provincial or territorial legislatureNova Scotia Legislature
Seniors
- Apply for a long-term care homeNova Scotia Health Continuing Care (Department of Seniors and Long-term Care)
- Provincial income top-ups for low-income seniorsDepartment of Service Nova Scotia
Benefit payment dates
Benefits paid by Nova Scotia, with the next date on each official list.
- Nova Scotia Income Assistance
Next payment:
Source: novascotia.cachecked
Biggest cities and towns
The 12 biggest by population, of 142 communities with public places on the map. Each page lists its libraries, pools, clinics and more.
- HalifaxPopulation 439,819 · 1,237 places
- Cape BretonPopulation 93,694 · 86 places
- East HantsPopulation 22,892 · 21 places
- West HantsPopulation 19,509 · 15 places
- AnnapolisPopulation 18,252 · 1 place
- TruroPopulation 12,954 · 19 places
- ChesterPopulation 10,693 · 8 places
- QueensPopulation 10,422 · 17 places
- New GlasgowPopulation 9,471 · 11 places
- AmherstPopulation 9,404 · 14 places
- BridgewaterPopulation 8,790 · 12 places
- ArgylePopulation 7,870 · 11 places
Main provincial government bodies
The ones with the most services and places on record, of 27 provincial government bodies.
- The Government of Nova Scotianovascotia.ca
- Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commissionnslegalaid.ca
- Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agencynspha.ca
- Property Valuation Services Corporationpvsc.ca
- Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotiawcb.ns.ca
- Art Gallery of Nova Scotiaagns.ca
- Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority - Nova Scotia portionapsea.ca
- Build Nova Scotiabuildns.ca
- Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Boardcnsoer.ca
- Council of Atlantic Premiers - Nova Scotia portioncap-cpma.ca
- EfficiencyOneefficiencyone.ca
- Invest Nova Scotiainvestnovascotia.ca
Cite this page
Canada Service Map, "Public services in Nova Scotia: who handles what", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nova-scotia