SMITH-MCCROSSIN TABLED BILL TO CREATE RESIDENTIAL ADDICTION REHABILITATION CENTRES
September 9th, 2026
HALIFAX, N.S.: Independent Cumberland North MLA Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin tabled the Residential Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act, legislation requiring the Province to establish publicly funded, substance-free residential addiction treatment and rehabilitation centres across Nova Scotia.
“When someone makes the decision to fight their addiction, a lack of publicly funded residential rehabilitation facilities should never stand between them and recovery,” said Smith-McCrossin. “Nova Scotians need a place where they can receive the comprehensive treatment and support required to rebuild their lives.”
The centres would provide 24-hour, live-in treatment that includes professional counselling, relapse prevention, mental-health treatment, life-skills programming, peer support and aftercare planning.
“Withdrawal management, outpatient treatment, harm-reduction services and supportive housing all have an important role, but none replaces full residential rehabilitation,” said Smith-McCrossin. “At the same time, six residential facilities across the province will be left empty as residents move into community-based living, and many experienced staff will be left without work. Converting suitable facilities into addiction rehabilitation centres is a natural transition that would put those buildings to use and allow skilled workers to continue caring for Nova Scotians.”
The Nova Scotia Human Rights Remedy requires the province to support persons with disabilities as they move from institutional facilities into appropriate community-based living. As these facilities become wholly or partially available, the Bill would require the province to assess whether they could be safely converted into addiction rehabilitation centres without compromising the Remedy.
The Minister would also be required to report annually on treatment beds, wait times, unmet demand and government spending across addiction services.