Amendment to the Municipal Grants Act

The province will continue to pay the 10 municipalities with university and hospital residences 100 per cent of the grants-in-lieu of taxes, which began in 2006-07.

Jamie Muir, Minister of Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations, introduced an amendment to the Municipal Grants Act, today, March 21.

"Last year we increased the grants-in-lieu for property of universities, which has been a long-standing request of the Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities," said Mr. Muir. "The change will allow the department to continue to cover the full taxes for property of university residences."

This amendment puts the existing practice of paying municipalities this grant-in-lieu into law. It would secure the benefit for ten municipalities including the Halifax Regional Municipality, Cape Breton Regional Municipality, Antigonish, Clare, Pictou, Port Hawkesbury, Truro, Wolfville, Yarmouth and Colchester.