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

                                    Form 13F

                              Form 13F COVER PAGE

Report for the Calendar Year or Quarter Ended: September 30, 2005

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: 44 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 Reporting and Controls
Phone:     (416) 866-4269

Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:

     /s/ Maria Theofilaktidis     Toronto, Ontario, Canada     November 14, 2005


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:     135

Form13F Information Table Value Total:     $13,687,769 (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


1    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     1002    13645 SH       Defined                 13645        0        0
ABITIBI-CONSOLIDATED INC       COM              003924107    28233  6951262 SH       Sole                  6951262        0        0
AGRIUM INC                     COM              008916108     5110   232419 SH       Sole                   232419        0        0
ALCAN INC                      COM              013716105    89759  2832087 SH       Sole                  2832087        0        0
ALCOA INC                      COM              013817101      330    13495 SH       Defined                 13495        0        0
ALTRIA GROUP INC               COM              02209S103     1006    13645 SH       Defined                 13645        0        0
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO            COM              025816109      833    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
AMERICAN INTL GROUP INC        COM              026874107      899    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
ANHEUSER BUSCH COS INC         COM              035229103     3228    75000 SH       Sole                    75000        0        0
AT&T CORP                      COM NEW          001957505     4950   250000 SH       Sole                   250000        0        0
ATI TECHNOLOGIES INC           COM              001941103     4749   364810 SH       Sole                   364810        0        0
AVAYA INC                      COM              053499109     3090   300000 SH       Sole                   300000        0        0
BANK MONTREAL QUE              COM              063671101  1114110 22411339 SH       Sole                 22411339        0        0
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION    COM              060505104    12630   300000 SH       Sole                   300000        0        0
BARRICK GOLD CORP              COM              067901108    99846  3444830 SH       Sole                  3444830        0        0
BCE INC                        COM              05534B109    19175   700000 SH       Defined 1              700000        0        0
BCE INC                        COM              05534B109  1081771 39490585 SH       Sole                 39490585        0        0
BIOVAIL CORP                   COM              09067J109     4867   208853 SH       Sole                   208853        0        0
BOEING CO                      COM              097023105      986    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
BRASCAN CORP                   CL A LTD VT SH   10549P606   663135 14241351 SH       Sole                 14241351        0        0
BROOKFIELD PPTYS CORP          COM              112900105     1250    42690 SH       Sole                    42690        0        0
CAE INC                        COM              124765108    14935  2220557 SH       Sole                  2220557        0        0
CAMECO CORP                    COM              13321L108    27045   507066 SH       Sole                   507066        0        0
CANADIAN NAT RES LTD           COM              136385101   166294  3682852 SH       Sole                  3682852        0        0
CANADIAN NATL RY CO            COM              136375102   270326  3809797 SH       Sole                  3809797        0        0
CANADIAN PAC RY LTD            COM              13645T100    44123  1025604 SH       Sole                  1025604        0        0
CATERPILLAR INC DEL            COM              149123101      840    14290 SH       Defined                 14290        0        0
CDN IMPERIAL BK OF COMMERCE    COM              136069101   968470 15510200 SH       Sole                 15510200        0        0
CELESTICA INC                  SUB VTG SHS      15101Q108     3233   288536 SH       Sole                   288536        0        0
CHC HELICOPTER CORP            CL A SUB VTG     12541C203    25157  1170000 SH       Sole                  1170000        0        0
CISCO SYS INC                  COM              17275R102      265    15000 SH       Defined                 15000        0        0
CISCO SYS INC                  COM              17275R102     1792   100000 SH       Sole                   100000        0        0
CITIGROUP INC                  COM              172967101      645    14480 SH       Defined                 14480        0        0
CITIGROUP INC                  COM              172967101    10242   225000 SH       Sole                   225000        0        0
COCA COLA CO                   COM              191216100      626    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
COCA COLA CO                   COM              191216100    12093   280000 SH       Sole                   280000        0        0
COGNOS INC                     COM              19244C109     5089   131733 SH       Sole                   131733        0        0
COMCAST CORP NEW               CL A             20030N101     3935   133927 SH       Sole                   133927        0        0
CONCUR TECHNOLOGIES INC        COM              206708109      182    14709 SH       Sole                    14709        0        0
COTT CORP QUE                  COM              22163N106     1657    93925 SH       Sole                    93925        0        0
CP SHIPS LTD                   COM              22409V102     8044   379543 SH       Sole                   379543        0        0
DISNEY WALT CO                 COM DISNEY       254687106      350    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
DOLLAR TREE STORES INC         COM              256747106     8660   400000 SH       Sole                   400000        0        0
DOMTAR INC                     COM              257561100     3641   566790 SH       Sole                   566790        0        0
DORAL FINL CORP                COM              25811P100     3267   250000 SH       Sole                   250000        0        0
DU PONT E I DE NEMOURS & CO    COM              263534109      568    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
ENBRIDGE INC                   COM              29250N105   484323 15113330 SH       Sole                 15113330        0        0
ENCANA CORP                    COM              292505104   252211  4321974 SH       Sole                  4321974        0        0
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COM              30231G102    14297   225000 SH       Sole                   225000        0        0
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COM              30231G102      931    14645 SH       Defined                 14645        0        0
FAIRMONT HOTELS RESORTS INC    COM              305204109    18351   550156 SH       Sole                   550156        0        0
FALCONBRIDGE LTD NEW 2005      COM              306104100   445719 16679693 SH       Sole                 16679693        0        0
FOAMEX INTL INC                COM              344123104      350  5475526 SH       Sole                  5475526        0        0
GATEWAY INC                    COM              367626108      810   300000 SH       Sole                   300000        0        0
GENERAL ELEC CO                COM              369604103      589    17495 SH       Defined                 17495        0        0
GENERAL MTRS CORP              COM              370442105      444    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
GENTEK INC                     COM NEW          37245X203     1478   101932 SH       Sole                   101932        0        0
HEWLETT PACKARD CO             COM              428236103      423    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
HOME DEPOT INC                 COM              437076102      553    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
HONEYWELL INTL INC             COM              438516106      544    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
IMPERIAL OIL LTD               COM NEW          453038408   351874  3052866 SH       Sole                  3052866        0        0
INCO LTD                       COM              453258402    12946   273774 SH       Sole                   273774        0        0
INTEL CORP                     COM              458140100      358    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHS   COM              459200101     1176    14645 SH       Defined                 14645        0        0
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHS   COM              459200101    16044   200000 SH       Sole                   200000        0        0
INTRAWEST CORPORATION          COM NEW          460915200      431    15844 SH       Sole                    15844        0        0
IPSCO INC                      COM              462622101     5687    80000 SH       Sole                    80000        0        0
ISHARES INC                    MSCI JAPAN       464286848     8533   700000 SH       Sole                   700000        0        0
ISHARES TR                     DJ US REAL EST   464287739     1373    21360 SH       Sole                    21360        0        0
ISHARES TR                     MSCI EAFE IDX    464287465     1056    18180 SH       Sole                    18180        0        0
ISHARES TR                     MSCI EMERG MKT   464287234      389     4580 SH       Sole                     4580        0        0
JOHNSON & JOHNSON              COM              478160104      864    13645 SH       Defined                 13645        0        0
JPMORGAN & CHASE & CO          COM              46625H100      492    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
KINROSS GOLD CORP              COM NO PAR       496902404     3477   452687 SH       Sole                   452687        0        0
MAGNA INTL INC                 CL A             559222401   228305  3036627 SH       Sole                  3036627        0        0
MANULIFE FINL CORP             COM              56501R106   652233 12231481 SH       Sole                 12231481        0        0
MCDONALDS CORP                 COM              580135101      486    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
MDS INC                        COM              55269P302     7582   422703 SH       Sole                   422703        0        0
MERCK & CO INC                 COM              589331107      451    16495 SH       Defined                 16495        0        0
MERCK & CO INC                 COM              589331107    18623   684400 SH       Sole                   684400        0        0
MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC         COM              590188108     8295   135200 SH       Sole                   135200        0        0
METHANEX CORP                  COM              59151K108     5924   399998 SH       Sole                   399998        0        0
MI DEVS INC                    CL A SUB VTG     55304X104    32620   965562 SH       Sole                   965562        0        0
MICROSOFT CORP                 COM              594918104      373    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
MICROSOFT CORP                 COM              594918104    12865   500000 SH       Sole                   500000        0        0
MOLSON COORS BREWING CO        CL B             60871R209     4898    76667 SH       Sole                    76667        0        0
NEXEN INC                      COM              65334H102    68679  1413942 SH       Sole                  1413942        0        0
NISOURCE INC                   COM              65473P105     7275   300000 SH       Sole                   300000        0        0
NOKIA CORP                     SPONSORED ADR    654902204     3382   200000 SH       Sole                   200000        0        0
NORTEL NETWORKS CORP NEW       COM              656568102    25053  8008841 SH       Sole                  8008841        0        0
NORTEL NETWORKS CORP NEW       NOTE  4.250% 9/0 656568AB8     1428  1500000 PRN      Defined               1500000        0        0
NOVA CHEMICALS CORP            COM              66977W109    17838   485468 SH       Sole                   485468        0        0
NOVELIS INC                    COM              67000X106    11612   542857 SH       Sole                   542857        0        0
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP          COM              685564106      181    14500 SH       Defined 1               14500        0        0
PETRO-CDA                      COM              71644E102   127612  3047934 SH       Sole                  3047934        0        0
PFIZER INC                     COM              717081103      362    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
PFIZER INC                     COM              717081103    24346   975000 SH       Sole                   975000        0        0
PHARMACEUTICAL HLDRS TR        DEPOSITRY RCPT   71712A206     7032   100000 SH       Sole                   100000        0        0
PITNEY BOWES INC               COM              724479100     8373   200600 SH       Sole                   200600        0        0
PLACER DOME INC                COM              725906101    25256  1475936 SH       Sole                  1475936        0        0
POTASH CORP SASK INC           COM              73755L107    34667   371978 SH       Sole                   371978        0        0
PRECISION DRILLING CORP        COM              74022D100    10740   218224 SH       Sole                   218224        0        0
PROCTER & GAMBLE CO            COM              742718109      862    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
PROGRESS ENERGY INC            COM              743263105     9353   209000 SH       Sole                   209000        0        0
QUEBECOR WORLD INC             COM NON-VTG      748203106    24587  1311219 SH       Sole                  1311219        0        0
QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTL IN   COM              749121109      820   200000 SH       Sole                   200000        0        0
RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD         COM              760975102    18984   276106 SH       Sole                   276106        0        0
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC      CL B             775109200     8978   227720 SH       Sole                   227720        0        0
ROYAL BK CDA MONTREAL QUE      COM              780087102  2160195 29657086 SH       Sole                 29657086        0        0
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC         COM              78387G103      348    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
SBC COMMUNICATIONS INC         COM              78387G103     2996   125000 SH       Sole                   125000        0        0
SCHERING PLOUGH CORP           COM              806605101    16844   800200 SH       Sole                   800200        0        0
SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC        CL B CONV        82028K200     6259   299485 SH       Sole                   299485        0        0
SPDR TR                        UNIT SER 1       78462F103      993     8070 SH       Sole                     8070        0        0
SUN LIFE FINL INC              COM              866796105   491609 13094928 SH       Sole                 13094928        0        0
SUNCOR ENERGY INC              COM              867229106   130701  2157651 SH       Sole                  2157651        0        0
TALISMAN ENERGY INC            COM              87425E103   383608  7841429 SH       Sole                  7841429        0        0
TELESYSTEM INTL WIRELESS INC   COM NEW          879946606     3293  3828301 SH       Sole                  3828301        0        0
TELUS CORP                     NON-VTG SHS      87971M202    83266  2044634 SH       Sole                  2044634        0        0
THOMSON CORP                   COM              884903105   317915  8517041 SH       Sole                  8517041        0        0
TIDEWATER INC                  COM              886423102     3996    82100 SH       Sole                    82100        0        0
TORONTO DOMINION BK ONT        COM NEW          891160509  1484482 30111787 SH       Sole                 30111787        0        0
TRANSALTA CORP                 COM              89346D107    50509  2550000 SH       Defined 1             2550000        0        0
TRANSALTA CORP                 COM              89346D107    94348  4763261 SH       Sole                  4763261        0        0
TRANSCANADA CORP               COM              89353D107   609651 19967350 SH       Sole                 19967350        0        0
TRANSCANADA CORP               COM              89353D107    43509  1425000 SH       Defined 1             1425000        0        0
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP       COM              913017109      726    13990 SH       Defined                 13990        0        0
UST INC                        COM              902911106     8372   200000 SH       Sole                   200000        0        0
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS         COM              92343V104      474    14495 SH       Defined                 14495        0        0
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS         COM              92343V104    10624   325000 SH       Sole                   325000        0        0
WACHOVIA CORP 2ND NEW          COM              929903102     1190    25000 SH       Sole                    25000        0        0
WAL MART STORES INC            COM              931142103      642    14645 SH       Defined                 14645        0        0
WASHINGTON MUT INC             COM              939322103     3922   100000 SH       Sole                   100000        0        0
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTL INC NEW   COM              948626106     2579    50000 SH       Sole                    50000        0        0
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTL INC NEW   COM              948626106    16482   319534 SH       Defined 1              319534        0        0