The legislative amendments were introduced Feb. 25, according to a provincial government news release, which calls the changes a bid to “further protect the privacy rights, safety and well-being of children, youth and families in Nova Scotia.”
One change would involve the use of social media. Specifically, it would “further protect the privacy rights of children who are or have been the subject of a court proceeding by adding social media as a prohibited form of publication.”
Another change would make it so “publication bans related to child and family well-being proceedings remain in place even after a proceeding has ended, including cases where a child or youth has died.”
Another involves Nova Scotia’s Child Abuse Registry.
The amendment would require that anyone “who has pled guilty or been found guilty of an offence against or involving a child be entered on the Child Abuse Register” — including those who have been granted a conditional or absolute discharge.
Including those who are granted a discharge “strengthens the register as an important safeguard to help protect children and youth,” the release states.
The Child Abuse Register keeps a record of those who were found in court to have harmed a child.
A request put to government for comment on possible implications of this change to the abuse register was not returned by press time.
Nova Scotia Minister of Opportunities and Social Development Barbara Adams spoke of the proposed amendments.
“At the heart of these amendments are children and youth, as well as survivors of domestic violence who deserve privacy, protection and the right supports at the right time,” said Adams in a statement. “Those navigating difficult circumstances deserve care, respect and strong safeguards — these changes help ensure that.”
The amendments would also “formally recognize” the province’s responsibility to offer supports when it comes to preparing youth aging out of state care for their adulthood.
This will reinforce “existing practice” and ensure “continued focus on successful transitions to independence.”
The amendments would also extend the maximum length of emergency protection orders from 30 days to one year, thus strengthening “the safety and security of survivors of domestic violence.” Nova Scotia’s current 30-day maximum “is the shortest among all jurisdictions in Canada,” states the release.
The changes would also move the oversight of social work to the Regulated Health Professions Act and repeal the province’s Social Workers Act.
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