The Story of Law Reform in Nova Scotia: A Perilous Enterprise

The basic or overarching question addressed by the author is why institutional law reform in Nova Scotia has experienced such operational difficulties and challenges, particularly in relation to funding, to the point where it can be described as a perilous enterprise. In the process of searching for an answer to this question, the author examines the origins and development of organized law reform in Nova Scotia over the last 65 years, with special attention paid to the experience of Nova Scotia's two statutory commissions. As a backdrop to the discussion, the author examines the complicated process of law reform itself and suggests reasons why governments are not the most suitable agencies to carry out this type of work. Finally, the author provides suggestions as to why governments appear to have such difficulty providing consistent and adequate funding for independent law reform commissions.