---
title: "Public services in Nova Scotia: who handles what"
url: "https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nova-scotia"
description: "Public services in Nova Scotia: 51 services, the 12 biggest cities and towns and 1,876 public places from open data. Payment dates for 1 provincial benefit."
site: "Canada Service Map"
author: "Mahmoud Halat"
publisher: "Space & Story"
lastReviewed: "2026-10-13"
licence: "Built entirely from public data: open data and official government pages. Each record keeps the licence of its source, listed at https://canadaservicemap.ca/data."
---
# Public services in Nova Scotia

Province

Compiled by Mahmoud Halat, checked 13 October 2026. Not a government website. The official page always has the final word.

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.

## At a glance

- 51 public services have a page for Nova Scotia on this site.
- 142 cities, towns and communities in Nova Scotia have public places on the map, 1,876 places in all.
- 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](https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/t1/tbl1/en/tv.action?pid=9810000201) (Statistics Canada Open Licence).
- 27 provincial government bodies in Nova Scotia are on record.

## Services

### Identity and documents

- [Order a birth certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/birth-certificate/nova-scotia): Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Order a death certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/death-certificate/nova-scotia): Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Order a marriage certificate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/marriage-certificate/nova-scotia): Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Legally change your name](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/name-change/nova-scotia): Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Get a photo ID card (if you don't drive)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/photo-id-card/nova-scotia): Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Change your address with the province](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/change-address/nova-scotia): Government of Nova Scotia

### Driving and vehicles

- [Get, renew or replace a driver's licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/drivers-licence/nova-scotia): Registry of Motor Vehicles, Access Nova Scotia (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Book a road test or knowledge test](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/driving-test/nova-scotia): Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Register a vehicle and renew licence plates](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vehicle-registration/nova-scotia): Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Get an accessible parking permit](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/accessible-parking/nova-scotia): Registry of Motor Vehicles (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Check road conditions and closures (511)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/road-conditions/nova-scotia): 511 Nova Scotia (Department of Public Works)

### Health

- [Apply for or renew your health card](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/health-card/nova-scotia): MSI Resident Services (Department of Health and Wellness)
- [Find a family doctor or nurse practitioner](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-family-doctor/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Health
- [Talk to a nurse (811 health line)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/health-advice-line/nova-scotia): 811 Nova Scotia (Department of Health and Wellness)
- [Get help paying for prescription drugs (pharmacare)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/prescription-drug-coverage/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Pharmacare (Department of Health and Wellness)
- [Vaccines and immunization records](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/immunization/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Health Public Health
- [Register as an organ and tissue donor](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/organ-donor/nova-scotia): MSI Health Card Registry (Department of Health and Wellness)
- [Home care and community care](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/home-care/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care (Department of Seniors and Long-term Care)

### Family and children

- [Register a baby's birth](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/register-birth/nova-scotia): Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Get a marriage licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/marriage-licence/nova-scotia): Vital Statistics (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Get help paying for child care](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/child-care-subsidy/nova-scotia): Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- [Find licensed child care or daycare](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-child-care/nova-scotia): Department of Education and Early Childhood Development
- [Collect child or spousal support](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/child-support-enforcement/nova-scotia): Maintenance Enforcement Program (Department of Justice)
- [Report child abuse or neglect](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/report-child-abuse/nova-scotia): Child and Family Wellbeing (Department of Opportunities and Social Development)

### Benefits and money

- [Apply for income assistance (welfare)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-assistance/nova-scotia): Employment Support and Income Assistance (Department of Opportunities and Social Development)
- [Disability income support from the province](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/disability-assistance/nova-scotia): Department of Opportunities and Social Development

### Work and business

- [Register a business name or incorporate](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/register-business/nova-scotia): Registry of Joint Stock Companies (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Report a workplace injury (workers' compensation)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/workplace-injury/nova-scotia): WCB Nova Scotia
- [Your rights at work: pay, hours, leave and firing](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/employment-standards/nova-scotia): Labour Standards (Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration)
- [Get help finding a job or training](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/employment-services/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Works (Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration)
- [Become an apprentice or get certified in a trade](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/apprenticeship/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

### Housing and property

- [Search or register a land title](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/land-titles/nova-scotia): Land Registry (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Check or appeal your property assessment](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/property-assessment/nova-scotia): Property Valuation Services Corporation (PVSC)
- [Renting: rules, rent increases, evictions and disputes](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/rental-disputes/nova-scotia): Residential Tenancies Program (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Apply for social or affordable housing](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/social-housing/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency

### Education

- [Apply for student loans and grants](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/student-aid/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Student Assistance (Department of Advanced Education)
- [Get a high school transcript or diploma copy](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/high-school-transcript/nova-scotia): Your 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)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/small-claims/nova-scotia): Small Claims Court of Nova Scotia
- [Get legal aid](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/legal-aid/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Legal Aid
- [Make a human rights complaint](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/human-rights-complaint/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission
- [Complain about a business (consumer protection)](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/consumer-complaint/nova-scotia): Consumer Protection (Service Nova Scotia)
- [Emergency alerts and how to prepare](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/emergency-alerts/nova-scotia): Department of Emergency Management (Government of Nova Scotia)

### Environment and outdoors

- [Buy a fishing licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/fishing-licence/nova-scotia): Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Government of Nova Scotia)
- [Buy a hunting licence](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/hunting-licence/nova-scotia): Department of Natural Resources (Government of Nova Scotia)
- [Reserve a campsite in a provincial or territorial park](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/provincial-park-camping/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Provincial Parks (Department of Natural Resources)
- [Wildfire status and fire bans](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/wildfire/nova-scotia): Department of Natural Resources (Government of Nova Scotia)

### Immigration, citizenship and travel

- [Immigrate through a province or territory](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/provincial-nominee/nova-scotia): Immigration and Population Growth Branch (Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration)

### Voting and democracy

- [Vote in a provincial or territorial election](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/vote-provincial/nova-scotia): Elections Nova Scotia
- [Find your member of the provincial or territorial legislature](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/find-mla/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Legislature

### Seniors

- [Apply for a long-term care home](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/long-term-care/nova-scotia): Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care (Department of Seniors and Long-term Care)
- [Provincial income top-ups for low-income seniors](https://canadaservicemap.ca/services/seniors-benefits/nova-scotia): Department of Service Nova Scotia

## Benefit payment dates

- [Nova Scotia Income Assistance](https://canadaservicemap.ca/benefit-payment-dates#social-assistance-ns): next payment 28 October 2026. Source: [https://novascotia.ca/coms/employment/income_assistance/information-for-clients.html](https://novascotia.ca/coms/employment/income_assistance/information-for-clients.html), checked 13 October 2026.

Every benefit: [Benefit payment dates](https://canadaservicemap.ca/benefit-payment-dates).

## Biggest cities and towns

- [Halifax](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/halifax): population 439,819, 1,237 public places
- [Cape Breton](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/cape-breton): population 93,694, 86 public places
- [East Hants](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/east-hants): population 22,892, 21 public places
- [West Hants](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/west-hants): population 19,509, 15 public places
- [Annapolis](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/annapolis): population 18,252, 1 public place
- [Truro](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/truro): population 12,954, 19 public places
- [Chester](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/chester): population 10,693, 8 public places
- [Queens](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/queens): population 10,422, 17 public places
- [New Glasgow](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/new-glasgow): population 9,471, 11 public places
- [Amherst](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/amherst): population 9,404, 14 public places
- [Bridgewater](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/bridgewater): population 8,790, 12 public places
- [Argyle](https://canadaservicemap.ca/places/nova-scotia/argyle): population 7,870, 11 public places

## Main provincial government bodies

- [The Government of Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/the-government-of-nova-scotia) ([website](https://novascotia.ca/))
- [Nova Scotia Legal Aid Commission](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/nova-scotia-legal-aid-commission) ([website](https://www.nslegalaid.ca/))
- [Nova Scotia Provincial Housing Agency](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/nova-scotia-provincial-housing-agency) ([website](https://nspha.ca/))
- [Property Valuation Services Corporation](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/property-valuation-services-corporation) ([website](https://www.pvsc.ca/))
- [Workers' Compensation Board of Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/workers-compensation-board-of-nova-scotia) ([website](https://www.wcb.ns.ca/))
- [Art Gallery of Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/art-gallery-of-nova-scotia) ([website](https://agns.ca/))
- [Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority - Nova Scotia portion](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/atlantic-provinces-special-education-authority-nova-scotia-portion) ([website](https://www.apsea.ca/))
- [Build Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/build-nova-scotia) ([website](https://buildns.ca/))
- [Canada Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/canada-nova-scotia-offshore-petroleum-board) ([website](https://cnsoer.ca/))
- [Council of Atlantic Premiers - Nova Scotia portion](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/council-of-atlantic-premiers-nova-scotia-portion) ([website](https://cap-cpma.ca/))
- [EfficiencyOne](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/efficiencyone) ([website](https://www.efficiencyone.ca/))
- [Invest Nova Scotia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/bodies/invest-nova-scotia) ([website](https://investnovascotia.ca/))

27 provincial government bodies are on record in all.

## Other provinces and territories

- [British Columbia](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/british-columbia)
- [Alberta](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/alberta)
- [Saskatchewan](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/saskatchewan)
- [Manitoba](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/manitoba)
- [Ontario](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/ontario)
- [Quebec](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/quebec)
- [New Brunswick](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/new-brunswick)
- [Prince Edward Island](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/prince-edward-island)
- [Newfoundland and Labrador](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/newfoundland-and-labrador)
- [Yukon](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/yukon)
- [Northwest Territories](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/northwest-territories)
- [Nunavut](https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nunavut)

## Cite this page

Canada Service Map, "Public services in Nova Scotia: who handles what", checked 13 October 2026, https://canadaservicemap.ca/provinces/nova-scotia