Nova Scotia

Apply for a Nova Scotia health card (MSI)

First-time applicants contact MSI directly. Rules and start dates depend on your status: check them on the official page.

Source: Government of Nova Scotia · Nova Scotia health insurance program (MSI) · checked Oct 21, 2026

Moving provinces: keep your old health card for now

Your new province or territory can make you wait up to three months before its plan covers you. During that wait, your former province must keep paying for insured care. Apply for the new card as soon as you settle.

Source: Government of Canada · Canada Health Act, section 11: portability · checked Oct 21, 2026

Asylum claimants and refugees: federal coverage until your province takes over

The Interim Federal Health Program covers asylum claimants, resettled refugees and protected persons until they qualify for provincial or territorial health insurance. Most people do not need to apply: it follows from your immigration status.

Source: Government of Canada · Interim Federal Health Program · checked Oct 21, 2026

Arriving from abroad: plan for the gap

Where a waiting period applies to someone arriving from outside Canada, no public plan covers that time and care is billed at full cost. Private insurance bought before you arrive covers the gap.

Source: Government of British Columbia · MSP coverage wait period · Government of New Brunswick · Applying for a Medicare card · checked Oct 21, 2026

Get your Social Insurance Number

You need a SIN to work in Canada and to receive government benefits, including the Canada child benefit.

Source: Government of Canada · Social Insurance Number · checked Oct 21, 2026

Apply for the Canada child benefit

A tax-free monthly payment for families with children under 18. After a birth, or on arrival with children, apply; newcomers use form RC66, usually with its schedule RC66SCH.

Source: Government of Canada · Canada child benefit · Government of Canada · Form RC66, Canada Child Benefits Application · checked Oct 21, 2026

Your province’s child benefit comes with the CCB

The Canada Revenue Agency also pays your province’s or territory’s child benefit, using your Canada child benefit application. You do not apply to the province: file your taxes every year to keep receiving it.

Source: Government of Canada · T4114: Canada child benefit and related provincial and territorial programs · checked Oct 22, 2026

Maternity and parental benefits come from EI

Outside Québec, Employment Insurance pays maternity and parental benefits to eligible parents. Plan the dates with your employer before the birth.

Source: Government of Canada · EI maternity and parental benefits · Government of Canada · EI digest, ch. 12: Québec residents are covered by the QPIP · checked Oct 21, 2026

Regulated child care is getting cheaper

Under the Canada-wide agreements, fees for regulated child care are falling toward an average of $10 a day. Spaces and waiting lists are run by your province or territory.

Source: Government of Canada · Toward $10-a-day: early learning and child care · checked Oct 21, 2026

Routine vaccines start at 2 months

In most provinces and territories the first routine vaccines are given at 2 months, then at 4, 6 and 18 months. Schedules differ: check yours.

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada · Provincial and territorial routine and catch-up vaccination schedules for infants and children · checked Oct 21, 2026

Bring your children’s vaccination records

Each province and territory has its own schedule, with catch-up programs for children who started elsewhere. Their records let a nurse see what is missing.

Source: Public Health Agency of Canada · Provincial and territorial routine and catch-up vaccination schedules for infants and children · checked Oct 21, 2026