Nova Scotia advances fire service improvements through new legislation that establishes provincewide standards and enhances training access for firefighters. Emergency Management Minister Kim Masland introduced the Support for Fire Protection Services Act at the start of the spring legislative session.
Key Provisions of the Act
The legislation empowers the Emergency Management Department to oversee fire services and implement uniform standards for fire departments, training programs, and personal protective equipment across the province.
Fire protection services in Nova Scotia remain complex and fragmented in many areas, resulting in inconsistent service levels provincewide. Gaps in training, standards, and safety measures have led to serious consequences. We can and must improve.
Masland shared these insights with reporters. The standards will phase in over three years, with provincial resources allocated to support training for fire departments.
Additional enhancements include better mental health support for firefighters, strategies for volunteer recruitment and retention, improved training interoperability, and mutual aid protocols. The act establishes an Office of the Fire Commissioner to coordinate and assist fire services. Municipalities must conduct community-specific reviews to identify local needs.
Consultation and Implementation Details
Development of the bill followed extensive consultations with over 700 fire chiefs, service coordinators, and municipal leaders, alongside reviews from the Fire Services Association of Nova Scotia and an audit of the Nova Scotia Firefighters School.
Fire departments emphasized the need for on-site training to reduce travel costs. Masland highlighted this concern:
Volunteer firefighters host weekly fundraisers like Bingos just to afford essential breathing apparatuses. This situation is unacceptable. Government must provide support, and that is exactly what this bill delivers.
The province operates 363 fire service organizations, including municipal departments, volunteer groups, commissions, and hybrids. Provincial assistance will aid transitions to municipal models where desired.
Fire services have long advocated for standardized oversight, unique among Canadian provinces until now, where local entities set their own benchmarks.
Funding and Reactions
The 2026-27 provincial budget allocates $3 million to bolster fire services. Municipalities adopting a new common records management system will receive funding; this technology tracks call responses, inspections, training, and equipment usage.
Amherst Fire Chief Greg Jones, president of the Fire Services Association of Nova Scotia, welcomed the progress after attending a briefing.
We have waited 50 years for change. Momentum is building, and stakeholders will appreciate the tangible steps forward.
Independent MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin plans to consult local fire services and municipalities. She views the bill positively on paper but questions its timing amid budget proceedings.
This may signal a rushed legislative session, similar to previous ones. Today was not ideal for introducing such critical legislation.
