Latest Updates
Latest Updates/News
The Municipal Funding Database you've been using is now a full Funding Portal – and we launched it today at nsfunding.ca.
The Funding Portal is Now Live!
We rebuilt it from the ground up to make finding funding faster. The portal launches with 100+ programs, with more added regularly as we build toward complete coverage of funding available in Nova Scotia.
What's included:
✓ Federal, provincial, municipal, and private foundation programs – all in one place
✓ Search and filter by deadline, category, eligibility, funder, or keyword
✓ Find what you need in seconds, not hours
Here's what to do:
✓ Visit nsfunding.ca and explore the portal
✓ Try the search and filtering features on the Explore page
✓ Subscribe to monthly updates
✓ Reach out anytime through the contact form on the portal or email me directly at fundnavigator@nsfm.ca
A quick note: This portal exists because of feedback from municipalities like yours. When we asked what you needed, you told us the old database wasn't functional enough – too hard to search, too hard to find, too hard to navigate. We built this to fix those problems.
Now we need your feedback again. What works? What doesn't? What's missing? Positive or critical – it all helps us make this better for everyone.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: November 3, 2025
Municipalities Invited to Apply for Coastal Planning Support Funding
Halifax, NS — The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) is inviting municipalities to apply for support through the new Coastal Planning Support Program, part of The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline A plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change.
The program provides a base funding amount of $20,000 in consulting services to each municipality to support coastal land use planning. Municipalities that share similar coastal challenges are encouraged to work together, and additional support is available for municipalities working on joint projects. This funding ensures each municipality has access to technical expertise to develop locally tailored coastal protection plans and policies.
Consultants can assist municipalities by:
- Supporting the adoption of coastal planning strategies and bylaws
- Navigating and interpreting coastal and climate data
- Supporting public engagement and communication
- Facilitating collaboration across municipalities
- Providing decision-making support on risk management
“Municipalities are on the front lines of climate adaptation,” said Mayor Pam Mood, President of NSFM. “This program provides resources they need to plan responsibly and collaboratively for the future of Nova Scotia’s coastline, in partnership with the Province.”
“Nova Scotians value their coastline, and we all have a shared responsibility to protect it,” said Timothy Halman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change. “The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities plays a vital role in supporting local governments as they plan for the future and protect residents and property from the impacts of climate change. By delivering this program directly to municipalities, NSFM is helping ensure coastal protection plans and by-laws are locally driven, evidence-based, and designed to build safer, more resilient communities.”
To help municipalities learn more, NSFM is hosting five information sessions across the province. These sessions will give municipal staff and leaders a hands-on introduction to the program, outlining available funding, eligibility, and support tools. The sessions are designed to develop coastal protection plans and by-laws that strengthen local resilience.
Municipalities are encouraged to apply early. The application guide and form are available online at Coastal Planning Support Program
Funding of $1 million for the Coastal Planning Support Program is provided by the Government of Nova Scotia under The Future of Nova Scotia’s Coastline: A plan to protect people, homes and nature from climate change and administered by the Department of Environment and Climate Change (ECC).
About NSFM
The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) is non-profit organization representing municipalities across the province. NSFM supports its members through advocacy, collaboration, education, and sustainability initiatives—working to address shared challenges, strengthen local governance, and ensure municipalities are prepared to meet the needs of their communities now and into the future.
Contact:
Charlene Fekeshazy, Communications Advisor
NOVA SCOTIA FEDERATION OF MUNICIPALITIES
Email: cfekeshazy@nsfm.ca
Phone: 902-266-2739
pdf News Release October 28 2025(150 KB)
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Municipal Leaders Face Increased Amounts of Hostility
Halifax, Nova Scotia — October 28, 2025 —When delegates gather at the annual Fall Conference of the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) in Halifax in early November, a topic of discussion will certainly be the growing vitriol faced by municipal leaders.
Online threats and harassment are becoming a more common feature of political life in Nova Scotia. Many municipal leaders and public servants are finding threatening behaviour, particularly in online forums, a common occurrence.
“We as a society cannot allow dangerous rhetoric against public officials to become normalized,” says Mayor David Mitchell, President-elect of NSFM. “Unfortunately, discourse, particularly online, has reached a point where perpetrators of threats and harassment against public officials feel they can do so without consequences. If the temperature is not lowered, we will all suffer the repercussions of this unacceptable behaviour.”
NSFM has recently been made aware that some municipal officials in the province, including the current President of NSFM, Mayor Pam Mood, are in receipt of online comments and messages that are not only derogatory, but physically threatening in nature. In some cases, the seriousness of the comments and threats were such that they have been handed over to law enforcement for investigation.
President-elect Mitchell says, “these comments are unfortunate and unnecessary. The Board of NSFM stands firmly behind our President.” Mitchell feels the recent wave of comments are connected to the Province’s decision to pause some aspects of the Municipal Code of Conduct, including the ability of the public to lodge complaints against municipal officials, pending further review.
“A number of Code of Conduct complaints have been made against council members relating simply to how they voted on a certain matter. Submitting a complaint against a councillor because someone didn’t like how they voted on an item clogs the system,” says President-elect Mitchell. Many complaints that have been received by municipalities are not related to actual Code of Conduct matters. “What is being worked on now is a mechanism to ensure Code of Conduct complaints can be addressed fully, while those unrelated to the Code are redirected,” adds President-elect Mitchell. While the Provincial Government’s pause to the Code as changes are made may be frustrating to citizens, it does not justify dangerous rhetoric or threats towards anyone.
NSFM encourages any elected officials at the municipal level, or at any other level, who are receiving threats to report the matter to their local police force immediately.
About NSFM
The Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities (NSFM) is non-profit organization representing municipalities across the province. NSFM supports its members through advocacy, collaboration, education, and sustainability initiatives—working to address shared challenges, strengthen local governance, and ensure municipalities are prepared to meet the needs of their communities now and into the future.
Contact:
Ian Morrison
Director of Operations & Communications
Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities
imorrison@nsfm.ca | (902) 266-2297
Discover the Fall/Winter 2025 Edition!
From inspiring local stories to key municipal updates, the latest issue of the Atlantic Municipal Magazine offers fresh insights for communities across the region.
Nominations open for the 2025 Board of Directors Election
The 2025 Nominations Committee is now accepting nominations for the following positions:
- President
- Vice President
- Regional Representatives for each NSFM Electoral Region
Nominations will be accepted until October 3. Click here for more information.
