Closures, cancellations and service changes

Disability Support Program support

Disability Support Program support is available for extended hours in the evenings and weekends through a toll-free phone number. Call 1-877-424-1177 to apply for the Disability Support Program or get answers to your questions about the program.

Hours of operation

Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 7 pm
Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday 10 am to 2 pm

During regular business hours (Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm) you can also call your local Community Services office.

Income Assistance support

Income Assistance support is available for extended hours in the evenings and weekends through a toll-free phone number. Call 1-877-424-1177 to apply for Income Assistance or get answers to your questions about the program.

Hours of operation

Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 7 pm
Saturday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Sunday 10 am to 2 pm

During regular business hours (Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm) you can also call your local Community Services office.

Government employee, retiree and member employer benefits

Government employee, retiree and member employer benefit applications and changes may experience a delay. If you can, send your form to the Benefits Unit by email. For the Life Insurance Beneficiary Nomination Form, you need to send it by both email and mail.

Food hygiene (food handler) certification

Food hygiene (food handler) certifications that expire between 1 March and 31 December 2020 are extended for 1 year.

Foster care information sessions

The foster care information session scheduled for Wednesday, 5 May 2021 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm will be held online. Register by emailing gillian.groom@novascotia.ca.

The foster care information session scheduled for Wednesday, 19 May 2021 is cancelled.

Driving tests

Road tests for driver licences are unavailable until further notice. If you booked a test that was cancelled due to COVID-19, Registry of Motor Vehicles will contact you to rebook your test once testing is available (you don’t need to call Access Nova Scotia to rebook).

Food hygiene (food handler) training courses

Food hygiene (food handler) training courses are suspended until further notice. To meet regulatory requirements, you can take an approved course from another provider.

GED tests

General Education Development (GED) testing at NSCC is suspended until further notice. Contact the GED Testing Service if you have any questions.

Insurance agent licensing exams

Insurance agent licensing exams are suspended until further notice.

Pesticide Applicator Certification exams

In-person Pesticide Applicator Certification exams are suspended until further notice. Online exams are available. Check the pesticide certification exam schedule (PDF) for online exam dates and registration details.

Water and Wastewater Operator Certification exams

In-person Water and Wastewater Operator Certification exams are suspended until further notice.

Nova Scotia Drugs and Therapeutics Committee submissions

You need to send a request to submit a pharmaceutical product for review by email until further notice. Send the request to ns.interchangeability.committee@medavie.bluecross.ca using the subject line "REQUEST to SUBMIT". In the body of the email, only include the product name, Drug Identification Number and submission type (for example, full, expedited or notice of change). The Nova Scotia Drugs and Therapeutics Committee notifies manufacturers that it's received the request and provides details on how to make a submission.

MSI (Medavie Blue Cross)

MSI reception location at 230 Brownlow Avenue (Dartmouth) is closed until further notice.

MSI optometry services

Optometrists can submit a claim to MSI for certain services provided by phone or virtual care (PDF).

MSI dental services

Dentists can submit a claim to MSI for certain services provided by phone or virtual care (PDF).

Correctional facilities

Adult correctional facilities and youth correctional facilities are closed to visitors and volunteer organizations until further notice.

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia

Art Gallery of Nova Scotia is closed until further notice.

Nova Scotia Archives

Nova Scotia Archives is closed until further notice.

Nova Scotia Museum

Provincially operated museums are closed until further notice.

Province House

Nova Scotia Legislature (Province House), including building tours and the legislative library, is closed to visitors until further notice.

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park

Shubenacadie Wildlife Park is closed until further notice.

Access Nova Scotia

In-person services are also available by appointment at Access Nova Scotia. Check which services are available at Access Nova Scotia, including hours and what services you can access online.

Business Registration Unit

In-person business registration services are available by appointment. Contact the Business Registration Unit to make an appointment or call 902-424-3369.

Conciliation and Mediation Services

Conciliation and Mediation Services is operating remotely until further notice. You can apply by email or fax for conciliation, grievance mediation, conflict coaching, relationship development programs or to have an arbitrator appointed. Responses to applications may be delayed.

Information Access and Privacy Services

Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (FOIPOP) requests may experience a delay. If your request isn't urgent, consider postponing the request.

Lands and Forestry

Sales of general fishing licences at Lands and Forestry field offices are suspended until further notice. Other services are available by phone or by appointment.

Natural Sciences Library

In-person services are unavailable until further notice. Contact the Natural Sciences Library by phone or email for assistance.

Provincial Tax Commission

In-person services are unavailable until further notice.

Public Enquiries (Contact Centre)

If you’re calling Public Enquiries (Contact Centre), you may experience longer wait times.

Registry of Motor Vehicles

In-person services are also available by appointment at Access Nova Scotia.

Residential Tenancies

Applications to the Director of Residential Tenancies can be dropped off at Access Nova Scotia (except Lower Sackville). Landlords and tenants need to drop off the Application Drop-off Payment Form with their applications. In-person services are also available by appointment at Access Nova Scotia.

Vital Statistics

In-person services are also available by appointment at Vital Statistics, including urgent requests for marriage licence appointments.