The Law Reform Commission of Nova Scotia is calling for changes to provincial laws in order to encourage the cleanup of contaminated properties.

A commission report on contaminated sites says that such properties are subject to far-reaching environmental legislation.

But the commission says the current laws can discourage people from purchasing or investing in such properties.

The report takes aim at the current system of assigning potential liability to almost anyone connected with the property.

The report calls for changes including the government giving an assurance that it will respect private agreements transferring liability for future site cleanups from one party to another.

The commission also wants the broad list of people potentially responsible for the cleanup of a contaminated site to be narrowed.