New laws, more claws: Nova Scotia changes coming in 2018

New laws, altered money mattersand improved animal welfare are some of the changes Nova Scotians can expect in 2018.

Here's a rundown of what to expect.

Your taxes may go down ...

More than 500,000 people will see their taxes go down slightly afterthe provincial government increasedthe basic personal amount in last spring's budget from $8,481 to $11,481.

People making less than $25,000 can claim$11,481, with a sliding scale down to $8,481 for those making up to $75,000.

The average annual saving is $160 per person and the maximum is $263, meaningan additional 60,000 people will pay no provincial tax.

• How the Nova Scotia budget affects you

... while some businessesmay pay more

The federal Liberals recently moved their demand fora carbon-price plan fromthe provinces from the beginning of 2018 to the end. So Nova Scotia has until thento put a price on carbonor the federal government will do it for them.

The province has a new cap-and-trade system comingbut it's not clear yet if it meets the federal requirements.

Only 20 large companies, including Nova Scotia Power and Irving, will be required to participate in the provincial system.

Under cap-and-trade, a government sets a limit on the amount of greenhouse gas emissions for various industries. If a company wants to exceed its emissions limit, it must buy credits from those that burn less. The goal is to push industries to lower their emissions rather than lose money paying for credits.

• Nova Scotia's cap and trade needs targets to be effective, committee told
• Provinces have until the end of 2018 to submit carbon price plans: McKenna

It will be harder to buy a house

Starting in January, uninsured borrowers from federally regulated lenders must have their finances "stress tested" to ensure they would be able to pay off their mortgages if rates were higher than they are today.

To do that, the lender must run a test assuming rates were two percentage points higher than they are right now, and see if borrowers would be able to pay off the loan.

By theestimates of Mortgage Professionals Canada, 18 per centof mortgage borrowers who are stress testedwould fail the stress test. They say it will affect about 100,000 buyers each year across the country, with between 40,000 and 50,000 per year prevented from owning a home.

• New mortgage stress test rules will block 50,000 people from buying: mortgage group

You won't be allowed to declaw your cat

Nova Scotia is the first province to ban the declawing of cats, a rule that will come into effect on March 15.

Animal welfare organizationsin Nova Scotia, including theSPCA,have been calling for the association to end the elective and non-therapeutic practice of partial digital amputation (PDA), oronychectomy, of cats for years.

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association saysthe practice causes unnecessary and avoidable pain.

One retired veterinarianequated the procedure with amputating a human's fingersdown to the last knuckle joint. Recent studies show the procedure createsorthopedic and back problems in cats as they age.

• Nova Scotia Veterinary Medical Association to ban declawing

You'll be able to smoke pot

The federal government has said marijuana will be legalized for recreational use by July 1.

Nova Scotia announced in Decemberthat pot will be sold through certain Nova Scotia Liquor Corporationoutlets and online.

The legal age to use, possess or purchase marijuana will be 19, the same as the legal drinking age.

People will be allowed to have up to 30 grams for personal consumption. They will alsobe allowed to grow up to four plants per household.

• Nova Scotia announces marijuana will be sold through NSLC and online

Boaters will need to do right by whales

The federal government plans to introduce new policies to protect North Atlantic right whales before the summer, including a 100-metre buffer between vessels and most marine mammals.

At least 12right whales died in Canadian waters in 2017.

Otheroptionsthe government has floatedinclude changes tofishing gear, reducing the number of fishing boats on the waterand starting the fishing season earlier, before the whales move north from their winter feeding grounds.

Industries prefer the idea of separate corridors for ships in the Gulf of St. Lawrence over the 10-knotspeed limit thatwasintroduced in August.

The government is also exploring whether increased aerial surveillance couldhelp limit or adjust speed restriction zones or identify alternate marinenavigation routes.

• Feds to consider using $400M fund, innovation prize to save North Atlantic right whales

A new law for intellectually impaired people

The Adult Capacity and Decision-making Act actually comes into effect onDec. 28, 2017, replacing the Incompetent Persons Act.

In 2016, the province'sSupreme Courtdeclaredthe Incompetent Persons Act invalidduring a challenge brought bythen-25-year-oldLandonWebb. The young man had been fighting to overturn his "mentally incompetent" status, which gave his parents guardianship over him. He arguedit infringed on his right to liberty and security of the person.

The new legislationacknowledges there are instances whenintellectually impairedpeople can make decisions for themselves if they have "support."

Some critics say the new law could still face a charter challenge, but theprovincial government says it is constitutionally sound.

• McNeilgovernment tweaks controversial laws
• Liberals push ahead with new intellectual capacity law, despite objections

A Nova Scotian in your wallet

ViolaDesmond, who was jailed forsitting in the "whites only" section of a Nova Scotia movie theatre,will be the first Canadian womantobe featured on the country's$10 bill.

Desmond's image will replace that of Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, on the purple banknote beginning in 2018.

• Viola Desmond as face of $10 bill a priceless honour for N.S.