Halifax is Atlantic Canada's largest city, home to Irving Shipbuilding's $60-billion shipyard contract, Dalhousie University, the QEII Health Sciences Centre, and a booming tech sector. Yet over 60,000 Halifax Regional Municipality residents are without a family doctor. Walk-in clinics on Spring Garden Road, in Clayton Park, and in Dartmouth regularly have 3-5 hour waits. MedLetter delivers a CPSNS physician-signed sick note to your email the same day — no clinic queue, no wasted sick day.
Halifax employers are bound by Nova Scotia's Labour Standards Code, which provides 5 unpaid sick days plus 3 medical appointment days per year. Under Doctors Nova Scotia guidelines, employers should not require a sick note for absences of 5 days or fewer (with exceptions for pattern absences). However, many Halifax employers — particularly Irving Shipbuilding, Nova Scotia Health, and federal government departments — have their own attendance policies that may request documentation earlier.
A marine electrician at Halifax Shipyard working on AOPS vessels who develops flu symptoms. Irving's strict attendance policy requires documentation for any unscheduled absence — but the nearest walk-in has a 4-hour wait and the employee would lose a full day's pay ($350+) waiting.
A software developer at one of Halifax's growing tech companies who needs to take a mental health day. The company's progressive sick leave policy still requires documentation for absences over 2 days, but their family doctor left NS last year.
A student at Dalhousie University who misses a midterm exam due to illness. Dalhousie's Academic Regulations require a Student Declaration of Absence or medical documentation for missed assessments. Campus health has a 2-week wait for appointments.
A respiratory therapist at the QEII who develops a cough. Infection control requires medical clearance before returning to patient care areas. Staff health services are booked solid for 3 weeks.
A civilian employee at HMC Dockyard who cannot report for duty. DND civilian attendance management requires medical documentation for absences over 24 hours. The base clinic only serves military members, not civilian staff.
A part-time retail worker at Halifax Shopping Centre who wakes up with a stomach bug before an opening shift at 9 AM. No walk-in clinic opens before 8:30 AM, and the manager requires a note for any missed shift during the holiday season.
Our reviewing physicians maintain active registration with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia (CPSNS) and hold valid licences to practise medicine in Nova Scotia. Their registration can be verified through the CPSNS public register at cpsns.ns.ca.
MedLetter processes all personal health information in compliance with Nova Scotia's Personal Health Information Act (PHIA). Your intake form is transmitted via 256-bit TLS encryption. Health information is stored in Canadian data centres and is never shared with employers, schools, or third parties without your explicit written consent.
Sick notes issued by CPSNS-registered physicians through MedLetter are accepted by all Halifax Regional Municipality employers, including Irving Shipbuilding, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Emera, Bell Aliant, and all government departments.
MedLetter provides medical documentation services only. Sick notes are issued only when medically appropriate based on the reviewing physician's independent clinical judgment. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit the QEII Health Sciences Centre, Dartmouth General Hospital, or your nearest emergency department.
Yes. There is no legal requirement in Nova Scotia for a sick note to be issued in person. CPSNS-registered physicians can issue medical documentation via telehealth, and it carries the same legal weight as an in-person note. All Halifax employers accept physician-signed sick notes regardless of how they were issued.
Yes. Irving Shipbuilding, like all Nova Scotia employers, must accept a valid sick note signed by a licensed physician. Our notes are issued by CPSNS-registered physicians and meet all legal requirements under the Labour Standards Code.
Yes. Dalhousie University accepts physician-signed sick notes for missed exams, assignments, and labs. Our documentation meets the requirements of Dalhousie's Academic Regulations for medical absence.
Most Halifax submissions are reviewed and delivered within 2-4 hours. Same-day delivery is guaranteed for submissions before 4 PM AST. Many Halifax workers receive their note within 1-2 hours during business hours.
No. MedLetter does not bill MSI. Our flat $49 fee covers the physician review and documentation. You do not need a valid NS Health card, making this ideal for new residents, temporary workers, and those between coverage.
If you are a parent needing documentation for your child's school absence, MedLetter can provide sick notes for children. If you are an IWK employee needing your own sick note, our service works the same way — CPSNS physician review with same-day delivery.
For those without MSI coverage, yes. Walk-in clinics that accept uninsured patients charge $50-80+ per visit. MedLetter's flat $49 fee includes the physician review and documentation. For those with MSI, the walk-in visit itself is free but costs 3-5 hours of your time (worth $75-150+ in lost wages).
Yes. MedLetter accepts submissions 7 days a week, including weekends and holidays. This is particularly valuable in Halifax where most walk-in clinics are closed on Sundays and have reduced Saturday hours.
Yes. MedLetter serves all communities within Halifax Regional Municipality, including Bedford, Lower Sackville, Fall River, Eastern Passage, Cole Harbour, Tantallon, and Hammonds Plains. Same-day delivery regardless of your location.
Nova Scotia Health employees can use MedLetter for sick notes. Our documentation meets the requirements of NSH's attendance management policy. For infection control clearance, additional in-person assessment may be required depending on your role.