Nova Scotia extends reach to recoup money from deadbeat parents
Nova Scotia is making significant changes to its enforcement of court-ordered child and spousal support payments, as outlined in the proposed Financial Measures Act introduced in the Nova Scotia Legislature.
Finance Minister John Lohr emphasized that these changes are aimed at modernizing legislation and streamlining processes to reduce red tape. One of the key components of the proposed law is the adoption of a 2007 international convention on the “recovery of child support and other forms of family maintenance.” By signing onto this agreement, Nova Scotia will expand its reach to 44 additional countries, providing families with more avenues to recover monies owed to them for support.
Currently, the province has agreements with 19 countries to assist in the enforcement of court-ordered support payments. These payments can be collected through various means, such as wage or pension garnishments, property liens, or bank account seizures. The extension of enforcement power is expected to benefit around 10 individuals who are currently seeking to recover support payments.
In addition to the changes related to support payments, the Financial Measures Act will also implement measures outlined in the latest budget. This includes modest income tax breaks for individuals and a one percent decrease in the small business tax rate. Furthermore, the province will be phasing out its involvement in film classification by dismantling a board responsible for rating films and replacing it with a self-regulating classification system within the year.
Minister Lohr highlighted the need for modernization, stating, “Clearly the act is outdated and things need to be modernized.” He emphasized the importance of adapting to the digital world and involving industry experts in the classification process. Under the new system, film, video, and video game distributors will be responsible for rating their own products, as they have a better understanding of their content and target audience.
The decision to move away from film classification places Nova Scotia in line with most provinces, as only Quebec, Alberta, and British Columbia will continue to operate their own ratings systems. The previous board, which reviewed and rated 161 films last year, will be disbanded, paving the way for a more efficient and industry-driven approach to classification.
Overall, the proposed changes outlined in the Financial Measures Act signal a significant shift towards modernization and efficiency in enforcement and regulatory processes in Nova Scotia. These updates will not only benefit families seeking support payments but also align the province with current industry practices and standards.
