Nova Scotia Maintenance Enforcement Program Review Committee Report

Delivering Better Service and Enforcement

Minister’s Response to the Maintenance Enforcement Program Review Committee Report

Nova Scotia’s Maintenance Enforcement Program (MEP) helps facilitate court ordered child and spousal support. The program’s goal is to remove or minimize conflict from an important, and often difficult, family matter.

In fall 2014, the Minister of Justice initiated a review of MEP focused on client service. The final report put forward 27 recommendations across five focus areas – communications and program information, enforcement, court orders, staffing structures and skill sets, and technology.

The Final Report by the MEP Review Committee can be found here:

The Minister of Justice’s response to the report can be found here:

The response not only outlines how the Department of Justice would implement the recommendations, but also commits to going much further than what the report suggested. Highlights of the responses actions include:

  • Renewed focus on enforcement and on the most difficult to enforce cases
  • Improved communication between staff and the clients they serve
  • Better information available to clients online
  • A thorough review of the Maintenance Enforcement Act
  • Publicly tracking and updating key indicators of the program