Justin Huston

Justin Huston was appointed Deputy Minister of the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage in August 2021. He was appointed CEO of the Office of L’nu Affairs in December 2016.

Biography

Justin joined the Government of Nova Scotia in 2002 and spent 10 years working at the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture on coastal management issues. He then joined the Office of Aboriginal Affairs, first as Director of Consultation, then as Executive Director before becoming CEO.

Justin has a Master of Marine Management from Dalhousie University and a Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Current roles

Deputy Minister, Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage

The Deputy Minister of the Department of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage leads the department in helping communities preserve and celebrate their culture, heritage, identity and languages. They’re responsible for marketing Nova Scotia and developing the province’s tourism economy. The deputy minister also supports African Nova Scotian Affairs, Gaelic Affairs and Acadian Affairs and Francophonie.

Responsibilities include:

  • providing advice and recommendations to the minister
  • overseeing departmental operations
  • representing the department and the Government of Nova Scotia at municipal, provincial and national levels

CEO, Office of L’nu Affairs

The CEO of the Office of L’nu Affairs leads government’s approach to rights-based negotiations and consultation with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia. The CEO also leads government’s initiatives to improve social and economic wellbeing for Mi’kmaw and Aboriginal communities.

Responsibilities include:

  • providing advice and recommendations to the minister
  • overseeing office operations
  • representing the Government of Nova Scotia in tripartite rights-based negotiations with the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Chiefs and the Government of Canada
  • coordinating government’s approach to consultation with the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia

Previous roles

  • Deputy Minister, Department of Municipal Affairs
  • Deputy Minister, Department of Communities, Culture and Heritage
  • Executive Director, Office of Aboriginal Affairs
  • Director of Consultation, Office of Aboriginal Affairs
  • variety of roles, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture