Update October 4, 2017 -This week Bill 12 passed second reading. Below is the Hansard transcript of the government debate of the bill whereby the current legal problems with Nova Scotia combat sports regulation are acknowledged Bill No. 12 – Boxing Authority Act. MR. SPEAKER « » : The honourable Minister of Communities, Culture and Heritage. HON. LEO … More Nova Scotia Overhauling Combat Sports Legal Landscape
Update January 19, 2017 – Today I confirmed with Nova Scotia’s Registrar of Regulations that the regulations referenced in the below article are indeed current and in force. They replied as follows “ Hello Mr Magraken, The regulations on our website are current consolidations of all the regulations filed with our office. Any amendments filed with our … More Why UFC Halifax Headliners Can Request $380,000
When the UFC came to Halifax in October, 2014, the promotions first and so far only event in Nova Scotia, a host of regulatory issues arose. First the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority, the entity which has legal jurisdiction to regulate ‘combat sports’ in the Province, turned a blind eye to their regulations for the UFC. … More Nova Scotia’s Reported Bungled PED Suspension Following UFC Fight Night 54
Fighter pay is a frequent discussion in MMA circles with much speculation about what percentage of revenues are shared with athletes. Nova Scotia, who just hosted their first UFC event on October 4, 2014 has a law on their books mandating a minimum split to the fighters in the main event of a fight card. Specifically, … More Did Nova Scotia Enforce Their Fighter Pay Rules at UFC Fight Night Halifax?
Update October 3, 2014 – Nova Scotia’s Deputy Registrar of Regulations confirmed to me that the Regulations discussed below remain the ones presently in place. In short this means the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority is simply turning a blind eye to their actual laws in having the UFC Halifax card take place under the Unified … More UFC Halifax Event and Nova Scotia’s Bizarre MMA Rules
There are a few developments in Nova Scotia which are noteworthy and point to the need for legislative overhaul for both professional and amateur MMA. On the amateur side, it is reported that a body called “The Nova Scotia Amateur Mixed Martial Association” will be designated as an authority to oversee amateur MMA in the … More The Problems in Nova Scotia…
Section 83 of the Criminal Code delegates the regulation of MMA to the Provinces. This requirement has created a diverse regulatory patchwork for the sport across Canada. Some Canadian jurisdictions have ‘home licencing requirements‘ – that is, requirements for non-residents to be licensed in their jurisdiction of residency or other jurisdictions prior to being qualified … More “Home Licencing” Requirements and MMA Fighter Mobility Rights
Breaking down the legality of MMA in Canada on a Province by Province basis is an interesting exercise given the strange legislative patchwork various Provinces put together trying to get around the pre Bill S-209 version of the Criminal Code. Today I address the legality of MMA, both professional and amateur, in Nova Scotia. As … More A Legal Breakdown of MMA In Nova Scotia (And Why Sword Fighting Is Boxing in NS!)
Combat Sports Law 