Youth
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Legal Information for Youth in NS
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| Help I've been Charged with a Crime |
| Health Care Consent for Mature Minors |
| Cyberbullying |
This guide aims to help Nova Scotians between the ages of 16 and 25 understand your rights and responsibilities under the law. Some of this information is also useful for youth in other Canadian provinces, but most of the laws affecting youth are slightly different in each province.
Download indvidual chapters from the guide:
The Youth Legal Information Project (YLIP) was funded by The Law Foundation of Ontario (LFO) Access to Justice Fund. LISNS is working in partnership with Nova Scotia Legal Aid and the IWK Health Centre to serve youth in Nova Scotia.
Youth Text Line
If you are unable to find what you are looking for on our website or need more help and clarification, get in touch with us. If you are under the age of 25, feel free to text us at (902) 510-5646.
Our legally trained counsellors provide free, practical information about the law in Nova Scotia, Canada. We will try to answer your questions and suggest where to start to get help with your legal problem.
If you have accessed our text service and would like to provide us feedback, click here.
The Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia (LISNS) provides legal information, not legal advice. The information on this page is not intended to replace legal advice from a lawyer. If you have a legal problem or need legal advice, you should speak to a lawyer.
I’m being bullied
Bullying is when someone has or is trying to hurt someone - whether it’s your body, feeling, self-esteem, reputation or by damaging your property. Helping or encouraging bullying is also bullying.
You are not alone. Trust the way you feel, and you’ll know what to do. Go to a safe and trusted person and share what is going on.
If you are still in grade school, you can report bullying here.
People are bullying me online/People are sharing private images. What can I do?
If you are being cyberbullied, or people are sharing intimate images of you online, you have options.
The CyberScan unit can help victims understand their options and navigate the justice system. They offer voluntary dispute resolution services, including advice, negotiation, mediation and restorative justice approaches to everyone involved.
Remember:
- Note dates and times, usernames and platforms.
- Screenshot everything! Take screenshots of messages being sent, or comments being left.
- Keep a record of this information in a private and secure place.
For more information, go here.
I think I’m being sexually harassed. What is sexual harassment, and what can I do?
Sexual harassment is when you are experiencing unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, or other verbal or physical harassment that could be considered sexual in nature. For example, if someone keeps asking you to go on a date, and will not take no for an answer - it might be sexual harassment.
If you feel like someone is harassing you, it is important to speak with a trusted person in charge. A teacher/professor, counsellor, or manager can and should be able to help you.
For more information on sexual harassment, and to find support if you are being sexually harassed, you can click here.
I think I was sexually assaulted. What is sexual assault, and what can I do?
Assault is when someone is intentionally using force against you without your consent. Sexual Assault is a form of assault that involves circumstances that violate your sexual integrity, such as touching, kissing, fondling, or intercourse without your consent.
If you have been sexually assaulted, it is important to report it to the proper people. For more information on what happens when you report, click here.
For more information on sexual assault, click here.
I think I’ve witnessed someone being abused. What can I do?
It is against the law to assault, threaten, or harass another person. It does not matter whether the people are strangers, friends or family members, whether they are married or living together, or whether they are dating or living together. The law also clearly states that parents and caregivers cannot abuse their children, or allow another person to abuse their child.
For more information, go here.
I don’t think my doctor is doing a very good job. What can I do?
If you feel like your doctor is being inappropriate, you may file a written complaint with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia.
Remember: you always have the right to get a second opinion. If you feel that your care needs are not being met, this may be a good option to explore.
For more information about this process, you can go here.
I’d like to access my personal health records. How do I do this?
The Personal Health Information Act (PHIA) gives you the right of access to your own personal health information. The PHIA sets out rules to protect your privacy, as well as the collection, use, disclosure, retention, and destruction of your personal health information.
For more information about how to access your Personal Health Information, fees, corrections to the records, and more, click here.
What are my rights as an employee?
Employment law deals with the relationship between employers and their employees. Employment law includes statutes, workplace contracts or policies, and common law (court cases).
The Canada Labour Code and the Nova Scotia Labour Standards Code set minimum standards for employment, such as hours of work, minimum wage, overtime pay, vacation and holiday pay, severance pay and employment of youth. They also provide a way for employees to recover wages owed and to make complaints about employment practices. These federal and provincial labour codes apply to full-time, part-time, and casual employees.
For more information on employment law and your rights as an employee, click here.
What are my rights when speaking to the police?
The police can ask you questions, but they must let you go if there is no reason to hold you. They must have a reason to stop you. If an officer has a ‘reasonable suspicion' that you were involved in a crime, this is enough to justify stopping you on the street.
The police have a right to detain people for investigative purposes. If it is based on a reasonable suspicion that the person is implicated in the criminal activity under investigation, it can be considered lawful.
If you are arrested, they must tell you the reason for the arrest and you must provide your name. This is to allow the officer to complete their process. The police are also supposed to inform you of your right to speak with a lawyer.
If you have been arrested, you can be handcuffed and you can be searched.
Remember as many details about the situation as you can. Once you are released, consider taking notes of the interaction and the details that you can remember.
For more information about what happens at the police station, how to find a lawyer, and police search, click here.
I got a ticket. What now?
There are different rules for different types of tickets.
For Traffic tickets ( violations under the Motor Vehicle act or a parking ticket), you will need to follow the instructions on the ticket. For more information, go here.
For any other ticket, if you are under the age of 18 you must appear at an arraignment hearing. The date, time, and location will be on your ticket. You can find a sample ticket here.
You can find more information about tickets here.
The Police searched my property. Can they do that?
If you have been arrested, the police can search you.
If the police have not placed you under arrest, the police should only search you if:
- They have a reasonable belief that you are carrying a weapon or illegal drugs
- You are under 19 and the police reasonably believe that you have liquor in your possession
- You agree to be searched.
If you do not agree to a search, calmly tell the police. Silence could be seen as an OK to be searched.
For more information, click here.
I think I’ve been scammed online. What can I do?
If you have been a victim of a scam, or fraud, you must immediately contact your financial institution (bank) and let them know that you believe you are a victim of a scam or fraud. Financial institutions will have a process for this, so it is best to have a conversation with them.
You can also report the scam/fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
For more information, including about what to do if it involves a credit card, go here.
For more information about identity theft, protecting yourself from scams and frauds, and what to do if your personal information and identification get stolen, go here.
I’ve never been to court. What’s it like?
Going to court can be intimidating, overwhelming, and scary. Learning more about the court system can sometimes help control these emotions.
For more information about going to court, click here.
I was in a car accident. What do I do?
If you have been in a car accident, be sure to call 911 to report it to the police. They will come to the scene of the accident, as well they may bring Fire and Ambulance to review the scene and accident.
Be sure to exchange insurance information with everyone who was involved in the accident.
For more information, go here.
What do we do if the driver is uninsured?
It is an offence under Nova Scotia’s Motor Vehicle Act to drive without insurance. Drivers must provide a Statement of Insurance to the Registry of Motor Vehicles when registering or renewing vehicle registration.
If a driver without insurance injures you or damages your vehicle, you may make a claim under the uninsurance and unidentified driver section of your own insurance policy. This is typically under Section D of a standard automobile insurance policy.
For more information, click here.
Hit and Run
If an unidentified driver injures you or damages your vehicle, you may make a claim under the uninsurance and unidentified driver section of your own insurance policy. This is typically under Section D of a standard automobile insurance policy.
For more information, click here.
I am renting an apartment. I have a few questions…
Renting an apartment, and entering into a lease agreement can feel overwhelming. It can also lead to a number of legal questions and situations that you may need some clarification on. For more information about renting and residential tenancies, go here.
My landlord is trying to evict me to renovate. What can I do?
Landlords evicting tenants to renovate (renoviction) is an overwhelming, and frustrating situation. Know that there are rules that your landlord must follow to do this, and if they are not adhering to those rules, you do have options.
For more information on renovictions, click here.
My landlord is increasing my rent. Is that allowed?
Currently, there is a ‘rent cap,’ or a limit to the increase on rent that your landlord can implement. The current cap is 2% of your rent. However, this is a temporary restriction, as it is in place until December 31st, 2023.
For more information on the rent cap, you can go here.
If you have accessed our text service and would like to provide us feedback, click here.
Guide for Girls
The fourth edition of Guide for Girls was developed by the Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia, and published by the Nova Scotia Advisory Council on the Status of Women. This guide celebrates the journey that all Nova Scotia girls and youth take while growing up. This is a guide to growing up, a resource to ensure that you feel supported in every step of your journey.