News release

Government Modernizes Land Surveyors Act

Natural Resources (to July 2018)

The Land Surveyors Act will be modernized to better serve the public by providing greater accountability and high standards for the self-regulated profession.

The province introduced legislation today, Dec. 1, to repeal the act and replace it with a new one that will allow the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors to more effectively monitor and enforce standards among land surveyors.

"These changes were led by the association and we were pleased to work with them to help modernize this act," said Minister of Natural Resources John MacDonell. "The new Land Surveyors Act will make life better for Nova Scotians who hire surveyors and rely on their work."

The changes will include public representation on the associations' council and streamlining the public complaints and discipline process.

There have been no major revisions to the act since 1989. But over the last 20 years many changes have occurred in the land surveying profession, including self-regulations and development of legal principles.

"We commend the department for their work on this new act and regulations," said Glenn Myra, president of the Association of Nova Scotia Land Surveyors. "It will ensure a high professional standard for land surveyors and also provide more protection for the public."

The new act will reflect leading practices that have been adopted by other self-regulating professions.