Executive Council of Nova Scotia
Encyclopedia
The Executive Council
of Nova Scotia
(informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of Nova Scotia) is the cabinet
of that Canadian
province.
Almost always made up of members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada
while being smaller in size. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ there are a number of different portfolios between the federal and provincial governments.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
, as representative of the Queen in Right of Nova Scotia
, heads the council, and is referred to as the Governor-in-Council
. Other members of the Cabinet, who advise, or minister
, the viceroy, are selected by the Premier of Nova Scotia
and appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor. Most cabinet ministers are the head of a ministry
, but this is not always the case.
As at the federal level the most important Cabinet post after that of the leader is Minister of Finance. Today the next most powerful position is certainly the health portfolio which has a vast budget and is of central political import. Other powerful porfolios include Education and Energy.
Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)
An Executive Council in Commonwealth constitutional practice based on the Westminster system is a constitutional organ which exercises executive power and advises the governor or governor-general. Executive Councils often make decisions via Orders in Council.Executive Councillors are informally...
of Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
(informally and more commonly, the Cabinet of Nova Scotia) is the cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
of that Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
province.
Almost always made up of members of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly
Nova Scotia House of Assembly
The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...
, the Cabinet is similar in structure and role to the Cabinet of Canada
Cabinet of Canada
The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada...
while being smaller in size. As federal and provincial responsibilities differ there are a number of different portfolios between the federal and provincial governments.
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia
The Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia is the viceregal representative in Nova Scotia of the Canadian monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, who operates distinctly within the province but is also shared equally with the ten other jurisdictions of Canada and resides predominantly in her oldest realm, the...
, as representative of the Queen in Right of Nova Scotia
Monarchy in Nova Scotia
By the arrangements of the Canadian federation, the Canadian monarchy operates in Nova Scotia as the core of the province's Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. As such, the Crown within Nova Scotia's jurisdiction is referred to as the Crown in Right of Nova Scotia, Her Majesty in Right of...
, heads the council, and is referred to as the Governor-in-Council
Queen-in-Council
The Queen-in-Council is, in each of the Commonwealth realms, the technical term of constitutional law that refers to the exercise of executive authority, denoting the monarch acting by and with the advice and consent of his or her privy council or executive council The Queen-in-Council (during...
. Other members of the Cabinet, who advise, or minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, the viceroy, are selected by the Premier of Nova Scotia
Premier of Nova Scotia
The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
and appointed by the Lieutenant-Governor. Most cabinet ministers are the head of a ministry
Ministry (government department)
A ministry is a specialised organisation responsible for a sector of government public administration, sometimes led by a minister or a senior public servant, that can have responsibility for one or more departments, agencies, bureaus, commissions or other smaller executive, advisory, managerial or...
, but this is not always the case.
As at the federal level the most important Cabinet post after that of the leader is Minister of Finance. Today the next most powerful position is certainly the health portfolio which has a vast budget and is of central political import. Other powerful porfolios include Education and Energy.
Current Cabinet
The current ministry has been in place since June 19, 2009, when the newly elected NDP government was sworn in.| Lieutenant-Governor | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Her Honour The Honourable Mayann E. Francis Mayann E. Francis -External links:*... | (2006-) | ||||
| Portfolio | Minister | ||||
| Premier of Nova Scotia Premier of Nova Scotia The Premier of Nova Scotia is the first minister for the Canadian province of Nova Scotia who presides over the Executive Council of Nova Scotia. Following the Westminster system, the premier is normally the leader of the political party which has the most seats in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly...
|
Darrell Dexter Darrell Dexter Darrell Dexter is a Canadian lawyer, journalist and former naval officer who is serving as the 27th and current Premier of the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. A member of the New Democratic Party, he has led the Nova Scotia NDP since 2001. He was elected Premier in 2009 after defeating... | (2009-) | |||
Deputy Premier
| Frank Corbett Frank Corbett Frank Corbett is a Canadian politician and member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia. He represents the riding of Cape Breton Centre for the NDP. He is from New Waterford, Nova Scotia... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Health and Wellness
| Maureen MacDonald Maureen MacDonald Maureen MacDonald is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, representing the riding of Halifax Needham for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party. She was first elected in the 1998 election, and was re-elected in 1999, 2003, 2006 and 2009... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Agriculture
| John MacDonell | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal
| Bill Estabrooks Bill Estabrooks Bill Estabrooks is a Member of the Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia and currently Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal. He represents the riding of Timberlea-Prospect for the NDP.... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Finance
| Graham Steele Graham Steele Graham Steele is Nova Scotia's Minister of Finance and Minister of Acadian Affairs in Darrell Dexter's Cabinet. As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, he represents the constituency of Halifax Fairview... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Education
| Marilyn More Marilyn More Marilyn More is a Canadian politician. She serves as Nova Scotia's Minister of Education, Minister of Labour and Workforce Development, and Minister of Volunteerism in Darrell Dexter's Cabinet. As a member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly, she represents the constituency of Dartmouth... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture
| Sterling Belliveau Sterling Belliveau Sterling Belliveau is a politician in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the electoral district of Shelburne in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly. In the Executive Council of Nova Scotia, Belliveau serves as Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture and Minister of Environment... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism
| Percy Paris Percy Paris Percy A. Paris is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Waverley-Fall River-Beaver Bank for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Community Services
| Denise Peterson-Rafuse Denise Peterson-Rafuse Denise Peterson-Rafuse is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Chester-St... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Education
| Ramona Jennex Ramona Jennex Ramona Jennex is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. She represents the electoral district of Kings South as a member of the New Democratic Party. She was previously a schoolteacher. On January 11, 2011 she was appointed... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Justice
| Ross Landry Ross Landry Ross Landry is a Canadian politician, who was elected to the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in the 2009 provincial election. He represents the electoral district of Pictou Centre as a member of the New Democratic Party. He was named Minister of Justice and Attorney General in the NDP's first... | (2009-) | |||
Minister of Natural Resources
| Charlie Parker Charlie Parker (politician) C. L. Parker is a Canadian politician and member of the Nova Scotia House of Assembly in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represents the constituency of Pictou West for the Nova Scotia New Democratic Party.... | (2011-) | |||
Minister of Communities, Culture, and Heritage
| Dave Wilson | (2011-) | |||
See also
- Westminster systemWestminster SystemThe Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
- Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)Executive Council (Commonwealth countries)An Executive Council in Commonwealth constitutional practice based on the Westminster system is a constitutional organ which exercises executive power and advises the governor or governor-general. Executive Councils often make decisions via Orders in Council.Executive Councillors are informally...
- Nova Scotia House of AssemblyNova Scotia House of AssemblyThe Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...