Public Trustee Act

An amendment to the Public Trustee Act introduced today, Oct. 6, will clarify the role of the public trustee under the province's new Personal Directives Act legislation, which will be proclaimed later this year.

"The amendment was necessary in order to allow the public trustee to step in and make the best possible financial decisions on behalf of a person who has a personal directive but does not have a power of attorney or a legal guardian," said Justice Minister Ross Landry.

The departments of Justice and Health have been working with the Public Trustee's Office to prepare for the proclamation of The Personal Directives Act, passed in 2008. That act will allow Nova Scotians to prepare for a time when they may no longer be capable of making personal care decisions.