UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    Form 13F

                              Form 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: March 31, 2006

Check here if Amendment [  ]; Amendment Number:
This Amendment (Check only one.): [  ] is a restatement.
                                  [  ] adds new holdings entries.

Institutional Investment Manager Filing this Report:

Name:    The Bank of Nova Scotia
Address: 40 King St. West
         Scotia Plaza 9th Floor
         Toronto, Ontario,   M5H 1H1

13F File Number:  28-11475

The institutional investment manager filing this report and the person by whom
it is signed hereby represent that the person signing the report is authorized
to submit it, that all information contained herein is true, correct and
complete, and that it is understood that all required items, statements,
schedules, lists, and tables, are considered integral parts of this form.

Person Signing this Report on Behalf of Reporting Manager:

Name:      Maria Theofilaktidis
Title:     Vice President, Financial Accounting and Controls
Phone:     (416) 866-4269

Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:

     /s/ Maria Theofilaktidis     Toronto, Ontario, Canada     May 11, 2006


Report Type (Check only one.):

[  ]         13F HOLDINGS REPORT.

[  ]         13F NOTICE.

[ X]         13F COMBINATION REPORT.


List of Other Managers Reporting for this Manager:

       Form 13F File Number          Name

       28-11461                      Scotia Capital Inc.
       28-11460                      Scotia Cassels Investment Counsel Ltd.
       28-11459                      Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Co.



                              FORM 13F SUMMARY PAGE


Report Summary:

Number of Other Included Managers:         1

Form13F Information Table Entry Total:     141

Form13F Information Table Value Total:     $15,804,367 (thousands)


List of Other Included Managers:

Provide a numbered list of the name(s) and Form 13F file number(s) of all
institutional managers with respect to which this report is filed, other
than the manager filing this report.

No.  13F File Number               Name


     28-11472                      BNS Investments Inc.




                                    
                                                     FORM 13F INFORMATION TABLE
                                                             VALUE  SHARES/ SH/ PUT/ INVSTMT  OTHER            VOTING AUTHORITY
NAME OF ISSUER                 TITLE OF CLASS   CUSIP     (x$1000)  PRN AMT PRN CALL DSCRETN MANAGERS         SOLE   SHARED     NONE
------------------------------ ---------------- --------- -------- -------- --- ---- ------- ------------ -------- -------- --------
3M CO                          COM              88579Y101     1181    15645 SH       Defined                 15645
ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC       COM              003924107    29013  7016032 SH       Sole                  7016032
ADVANTAGE ENERGY INCOME FD     TR UNIT          00762L101     7619   399249 SH       Sole                   399249
AGRIUM INC                     COM              008916108     6178   244955 SH       Sole                   244955
ALCAN INC                      COM              013716105   110704  2420023 SH       Sole                  2420023
ALCOA INC                      COM              013817101      503    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
ALTRIA GROUP INC               COM              02209S103     1106    15645 SH       Defined                 15645
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO            COM              025816109      865    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
AMERICAN INTL GROUP INC        COM              026874107     1087    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
ANHEUSER BUSCH COS INC         COM              035229103     3208    75000 SH       Sole                    75000
AT&T INC                       COM              00206R102      445    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
AT&T INC                       COM              00206R102     5269   194855 SH       Sole                   194855
ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC           COM              001941103     6794   395995 SH       Sole                   395995
AVAYA INC                      COM              053499109     1130   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
BANK MONTREAL QUE              COM              063671101  1246397 21941095 SH       Sole                 21941095
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION    COM              060505104     9108   200000 SH       Sole                   200000
BARRICK GOLD CORP              COM              067901108   115204  4235405 SH       Sole                  4235405
BCE INC                        COM              05534B109   964878 40063185 SH       Sole                 40063185
BCE INC                        COM              05534B109    16859   700000 SH       Defined 1              700000
BIOVAIL CORP                   COM              09067J109     5548   228669 SH       Sole                   228669
BOEING CO                      COM              097023105     1282    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO        COM              110122108     2461   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
BROOKFIELD ASSET MGMT INC      CL A LTD VT SH   112585104   620486 11274541 SH       Sole                 11274541
BROOKFIELD PPTYS CORP          COM              112900105    84555  2492690 SH       Sole                  2492690
CAE INC                        COM              124765108    17287  2199457 SH       Sole                  2199457
CAMECO CORP                    COM              13321L108    38103  1059616 SH       Sole                  1059616
CANADIAN NAT RES LTD           COM              136385101   199743  3594749 SH       Sole                  3594749
CANADIAN NATL RY CO            COM              136375102   345073  7616120 SH       Sole                  7616120
CANADIAN PAC RY LTD            COM              13645T100    44166   885437 SH       Sole                   885437
CATERPILLAR INC DEL            COM              149123101     1167    16290 SH       Defined                 16290
CDN IMPERIAL BK OF COMMERCE    COM              136069101  1086581 14757281 SH       Sole                 14757281
CELESTICA INC                  SUB VTG SHS      15101Q108     3526   308975 SH       Sole                   308975
CHC HELICOPTER CORP            CL A SUB VTG     12541C203    29651  1170000 SH       Sole                  1170000
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP         COM              165167107     4712   150000 SH       Sole                   150000
CISCO SYS INC                  COM              17275R102      288    15000 SH       Defined                 15000
CISCO SYS INC                  COM              17275R102     2167   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
CITIGROUP INC                  COM              172967101      769    16180 SH       Defined                 16180
CITIGROUP INC                  COM              172967101     9446   200000 SH       Sole                   200000
CNX GAS CORP                   COM              12618H309     1300    50000 SH       Sole                    50000
COCA COLA CO                   COM              191216100      689    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
COCA COLA CO                   COM              191216100    11724   280000 SH       Sole                   280000
COGNOS INC                     COM              19244C109     5531   142422 SH       Sole                   142422
COMCAST CORP NEW               CL A             20030N101     3504   133927 SH       Sole                   133927
CONCUR TECHNOLOGIES INC        COM              206708109      273    14709 SH       Sole                    14709
COTT CORP QUE                  COM              22163N106     1323   102739 SH       Sole                   102739
CVS CORP                       COM              126650100     5974   200000 SH       Sole                   200000
DISNEY WALT CO                 COM DISNEY       254687106      459    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
DOLLAR TREE STORES INC         COM              256747106     8301   300000 SH       Sole                   300000
DOMTAR INC                     COM              257561100     4192   593632 SH       Sole                   593632
DORAL FINL CORP                COM              25811P100     2888   250000 SH       Sole                   250000
DU PONT E I DE NEMOURS & CO    COM              263534109      694    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
ELECTRONIC ARTS INC            COM              285512109     5472   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
ENBRIDGE INC                   COM              29250N105   435221 15129115 SH       Sole                 15129115
ENCANA CORP                    COM              292505104   300017  6429715 SH       Sole                  6429715
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COM              30231G102      950    15645 SH       Defined                 15645
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COM              30231G102    21301   350000 SH       Sole                   350000
FAIRFAX FINL HLDGS LTD         SUB VTG          303901102    19101   179634 SH       Sole                   179634
FAIRMONT HOTELS RESORTS INC    COM              305204109    24516   550451 SH       Sole                   550451
FALCONBRIDGE LTD NEW 2005      COM              306104100   460066 13147967 SH       Sole                 13147967
GATEWAY INC                    COM              367626108      657   300000 SH       Sole                   300000
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO            COM              369604103     1043    31495 SH       Defined                 31495
GENERAL MTRS CORP              COM              370442105      350    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
GLAMIS GOLD LTD                COM              376775102     6165   189000 SH       Sole                   189000
GOLDCORP INC NEW               COM              380956409    14276   487988 SH       Sole                   487988
HEWLETT PACKARD CO             COM              428236103     1013    31495 SH       Defined                 31495
HOME DEPOT INC                 COM              437076102      696    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
HONEYWELL INTL INC             COM              438516106      704    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
IMPERIAL OIL LTD               COM NEW          453038408   326939  3036941 SH       Sole                  3036941
INCO LTD                       COM              453258402    15029   301500 SH       Sole                   301500
INTEL CORP                     COM              458140100      973    50000 SH       Sole                    50000
INTEL CORP                     COM              458140100     1049    53495 SH       Defined                 53495
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHS   COM              459200101     1748    21645 SH       Defined                 21645
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHS   COM              459200101    16494   200000 SH       Sole                   200000
INTERNATIONAL RECTIFIER CORP   COM              460254105     4143   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
INTEROIL CORP                  COM              460951106     3237   247400 SH       Sole                   247400
INTRAWEST CORPORATION          COM NEW          460915200     8223   240844 SH       Sole                   240844
IPSCO INC                      COM              462622101    15428   148900 SH       Sole                   148900
ISHARES INC                    MSCI JAPAN       464286848      720    50000 SH       Sole                    50000
ISHARES TR                     MSCI EMERG MKT   464287234      715     7220 SH       Sole                     7220
ISHARES TR                     DJ US REAL EST   464287739     2098    28530 SH       Sole                    28530
ISHARES TR                     MSCI EAFE IDX    464287465     2090    32180 SH       Sole                    32180
JOHNSON & JOHNSON              COM              478160104     1200    20645 SH       Defined                 20645
JP MORGAN CHASE & CO           COM              46625H100      685    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
KINROSS GOLD CORP              COM NO PAR       496902404     5394   494879 SH       Sole                   494879
MAGNA INTL INC                 CL A             559222401   266967  3541367 SH       Sole                  3541367
MANULIFE FINL CORP             COM              56501R106  1211375 19313216 SH       Sole                 19313216
MCDONALDS CORP                 COM              580135101      565    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
MDS INC                        COM              55269P302     7711   428474 SH       Sole                   428474
MERCK & CO INC                 COM              589331107      580    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
MERCK & CO INC                 COM              589331107    17065   484400 SH       Sole                   484400
METHANEX CORP                  COM              59151K108    28647  1399998 SH       Sole                  1399998
MI DEVS INC                    CL A SUB VTG     55304X104    33629   965562 SH       Sole                   965562
MICROSOFT CORP                 COM              594918104      448    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
MOLSON COORS BREWING CO        CL B             60871R209     5259    76667 SH       Sole                    76667
MOTOROLA INC                   COM              620076109    23322  1018000 SH       Sole                  1018000
NEXEN INC                      COM              65334H102    79683  1447424 SH       Sole                  1447424
NISOURCE INC                   COM              65473P105     6066   300000 SH       Sole                   300000
NORTEL NETWORKS CORP NEW       NOTE  4.250% 9/0 656568AB8     1444  1500000 PRN      Defined               1500000
NORTEL NETWORKS CORP NEW       COM              656568102    20785  6800246 SH       Sole                  6800246
NOVA CHEMICALS CORP            COM              66977W109    51182  1795743 SH       Sole                  1795743
NOVELIS INC                    COM              67000X106    11199   545918 SH       Sole                   545918
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP          COM              685564106      229    14500 SH       Defined 1               14500
PATTERSON UTI ENERGY INC       COM              703481101     3196   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
PETRO-CDA                      COM              71644E102   147300  3106655 SH       Sole                  3106655
PFIZER INC                     COM              717081103      410    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
PFIZER INC                     COM              717081103    19313   775000 SH       Sole                   775000
PHARMACEUTICAL HLDRS TR        DEPOSITRY RCPT   71712A206     7140   100000 SH       Sole                   100000
PITNEY BOWES INC               COM              724479100     8612   200600 SH       Sole                   200600
POTASH CORP SASK INC           COM              73755L107    33249   377773 SH       Sole                   377773
PROCTER & GAMBLE CO            COM              742718109      948    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
PROGRESS ENERGY INC            COM              743263105     9192   209000 SH       Sole                   209000
QUEBECOR WORLD INC             COM NON-VTG      748203106    30546  3113243 SH       Sole                  3113243
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTL IN   COM              749121109     1360   200000 SH       Sole                   200000
RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD         COM              760975102    24690   291616 SH       Sole                   291616
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC      CL B             775109200     9819   257433 SH       Sole                   257433
ROYAL BK CDA MONTREAL QUE      COM              780087102  2421121 57441984 SH       Sole                 57441984
SCHERING PLOUGH CORP           COM              806605101    15196   800200 SH       Sole                   800200
SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC        CL B CONV        82028K200     7661   321278 SH       Sole                   321278
SLM CORP                       COM              78442P106   144611  2784200 SH       Sole                  2784200
SMTC CORP                      COM NEW          832682207      788   469082 SH       Sole                   469082
SOURCE INTERLINK COS INC       COM NEW          836151209      665    59612 SH       Sole                    59612
SPDR TR                        UNIT SER 1       78462F103     1995    15360 SH       Sole                    15360
SUN LIFE FINL INC              COM              866796105   700593 16481229 SH       Sole                 16481229
SUNCOR ENERGY INC              COM              867229106   170011  2215474 SH       Sole                  2215474
TALISMAN ENERGY INC            COM              87425E103   419493  7900155 SH       Sole                  7900155
TELUS CORP                     NON-VTG SHS      87971M202   253100  6544634 SH       Sole                  6544634
THOMSON CORP                   COM              884903105   371244  9956682 SH       Sole                  9956682
TORONTO DOMINION BK ONT        COM NEW          891160509  1651994 29653120 SH       Sole                 29653120
TRANSALTA CORP                 COM              89346D107    44787  2350000 SH       Defined 1             2350000
TRANSALTA CORP                 COM              89346D107   115685  6070037 SH       Sole                  6070037
TRANSCANADA CORP               COM              89353D107   576147 19986327 SH       Sole                 19986327
TRANSCANADA CORP               COM              89353D107    35313  1225000 SH       Defined 1             1225000
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP       COM              913017109      925    15990 SH       Defined                 15990
UST INC                        COM              902911106    12480   300000 SH       Sole                   300000
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS         COM              92343V104      560    16495 SH       Defined                 16495
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS         COM              92343V104    14476   425000 SH       Sole                   425000
WACHOVIA CORP 2ND NEW          COM              929903102     1401    25000 SH       Sole                    25000
WAL MART STORES INC            COM              931142103      784    16645 SH       Defined                 16645
WAL MART STORES INC            COM              931142103     5905   125000 SH       Sole                   125000
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTL INC NEW   COM              948626106     3574    69534 SH       Defined 1               69534
ZALE CORP NEW                  COM              988858106     2803   100000 SH       Sole                   100000