Boost Midwifery Access and Training

Summary#

This bill changes Nova Scotia’s Midwifery Act to expand access to midwifery care across the province. It sets clear goals for how many midwives should be available, creates a path to train them in-province, and requires public reporting on progress. The Minister of Health and Wellness can set a timeline to meet these goals. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.

• Sets a goal to have enough trained, regulated midwives for anyone who asks for midwifery care.
• Aims for one midwife for every 14,000 residents in each health management zone.
• Requires an in-province midwifery education program.
• Orders yearly public reports from the midwifery regulator (the “Council”) on the number of midwives and the number of clients who gave birth with midwives.
• Reports must compare Nova Scotia to other provinces and to OECD countries (a group of developed countries).
• Lets the Minister set a timeline for Nova Scotia Health (the public health authority) to reach these goals.

What it means for you#

• Pregnant people and families

  • More choice for prenatal, birth, and after-birth care, including midwife-led care at home or in hospital.
  • Better chances of finding a midwife in your area, with the goal of shorter wait times.
  • Public reports will make it easier to see where services are available and how many people are served.

• People in rural or smaller communities

  • The 1-per-14,000 target in each health zone is meant to spread midwifery services more evenly, not just in big cities.

• Students and career changers

  • A midwifery program in Nova Scotia means you may not need to leave the province to train and qualify.

• Midwives and trainees

  • Likely more hiring and placements as the province works toward the staffing target.
  • Annual data on workforce and births will be public, which can guide planning and workloads.

• Health system users

  • Some births may shift to midwife-led care, which can ease pressure on doctors and hospitals and improve access to prenatal and postnatal support.

• Timing

  • Changes start in 2027. The Minister can set deadlines for how quickly the health authority must meet the goals.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Expands access and choice in maternity care across the province, including in underserved areas.
• Sets a clear staffing target to guide recruitment and planning.
• Local training helps grow and keep the workforce in Nova Scotia.
• Public reporting with comparisons increases transparency and pushes steady progress.
• More midwife-led care could reduce strain on hospital services and improve continuity of care for families.

Opponents' View#

• Targets may be hard to reach without clear funding, faculty, and clinical placements.
• A single ratio (1 per 14,000) may not match real needs, which vary by community, birth rates, and travel distance.
• Standing up a new education program could take years and cost more than expected.
• International comparisons may not be fair if systems and roles differ.
• Framing these as “objectives” may raise expectations without creating an enforceable right to a midwife.
• The 2027 start date delays improvements for families who need care sooner.