Understanding occupier liability claims in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia has a piece of legislation called the Occupiers Liability Act. This legislation imposes a duty of care on all property owners/occupiers to keep visitors to the property safe from risk of injury. The law requires all property owners/occupiers to take reasonable steps to address foreseeable risks. This means that landlords, grocery stores, and malls (for example) all have a positive duty to address a possibly unsafe situation. Regularly salting ice, monitoring stores for spills, and ensuring stairs are up to building code are common examples of meeting the duty of care. Where reasonable steps are not taken, and an injury results, the injured person can seek compensation for the damages.