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, 2008

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:      Abdurrehman Muhammadi
Title:     Vice President, Financial Accounting and Reporting
Phone:     416-866-7898

Signature, Place, and Date of Signing:

     /s/ Abdurrehman Muhammadi     Toronto, On, Canada     May 06, 2008


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:     158

Form13F Information Table Value Total:     $17,692,791 (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 Investment 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      966    12245 SH       DEFINED 1               12245        0        0
ACCENTURE LTD BERMUDA          CL A             G1150G111      879    25000 SH       SOLE                    25000        0        0
AGNICO EAGLE MINES LTD         COM              008474108    15200   224107 SH       SOLE                   224107        0        0
AGRIUM INC                     COM              008916108    15866   255436 SH       SOLE                   255436        0        0
ALCOA INC                      COM              013817101      426    11845 SH       DEFINED 1               11845        0        0
ALTRIA GROUP INC               COM              02209S103      282    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
AMERICAN EXPRESS CO            COM              025816109      555    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
AMERICAN INTL GROUP INC        COM              026874107      548    12715 SH       DEFINED 1               12715        0        0
AMGEN INC                      COM              031162100     4178   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
ANADARKO PETE CORP             COM              032511107     9455   150000 SH       SOLE                   150000        0        0
ANHEUSER BUSCH COS INC         COM              035229103     3559    75000 SH       SOLE                    75000        0        0
APPLE INC                      COM              037833100      486     4000 SH       DEFINED 1                4000        0        0
AT&T INC                       COM              00206R102      467    12245 SH       DEFINED 1               12245        0        0
BALLARD PWR SYS INC            COM              05858H104      261    63000 SH       SOLE                    63000        0        0
BANK MONTREAL QUE              COM              063671101   982530 21949312 SH       SOLE                 21949312        0        0
BANK OF AMERICA CORPORATION    COM              060505104    23694   625000 SH       SOLE                   625000        0        0
BARRICK GOLD CORP              COM              067901108   173163  3960688 SH       SOLE                  3960688        0        0
BCE INC                        COM NEW          05534B760     4756   140500 SH       SOLE    1              140500        0        0
BCE INC                        COM NEW          05534B760  1185502 35019222 SH       SOLE                 35019222        0        0
BIOVAIL CORP                   COM              09067J109    50212  4664610 SH       SOLE                  4664610        0        0
BOEING CO                      COM              097023105      944    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB CO        COM              110122108     2663   125000 SH       SOLE                   125000        0        0
BROOKFIELD ASSET MGMT INC      CL A LTD VT SH   112585104   560237 20791149 SH       SOLE                 20791149        0        0
BROOKFIELD PPTYS CORP          COM              112900105    25924  1343885 SH       SOLE                  1343885        0        0
CAE INC                        COM              124765108    16755  1478832 SH       SOLE                  1478832        0        0
CAMECO CORP                    COM              13321L108    34187  1037039 SH       SOLE                  1037039        0        0
CANADIAN NAT RES LTD           COM              136385101   187193  2734502 SH       SOLE                  2734502        0        0
CANADIAN NATL RY CO            COM              136375102   244211  5036918 SH       SOLE                  5036918        0        0
CANADIAN PAC RY LTD            COM              13645T100    51272   797428 SH       SOLE                   797428        0        0
CATERPILLAR INC DEL            COM              149123101      955    12240 SH       DEFINED 1               12240        0        0
CDN IMPERIAL BK OF COMMERCE    COM              136069101   979496 15211124 SH       SOLE                 15211124        0        0
CEMEX SAB DE CV                SPON ADR NEW     151290889    17631   675000 SH       SOLE                   675000        0        0
CHC HELICOPTER CORP            CL A SUB VTG     12541C203    38352  1295000 SH       SOLE                  1295000        0        0
CHESAPEAKE ENERGY CORP         COM              165167107     4615   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
CITIGROUP INC                  COM              172967101      252    11830 SH       DEFINED 1               11830        0        0
CITIGROUP INC                  COM              172967101    16601   775000 SH       SOLE                   775000        0        0
CLEARPOINT BUSINESS RES INC    COM              185061108      549   840000 SH       SOLE                   840000        0        0
COCA COLA CO                   COM              191216100     3044    50000 SH       SOLE                    50000        0        0
COCA COLA CO                   COM              191216100      773    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
COMPANHIA VALE DO RIO DOCE     SPONSORED ADR    204412209     1938    56000 SH       SOLE                    56000        0        0
COMPANIA DE MINAS BUENAVENTU   SPONSORED ADR    204448104     2740    40000 SH       DEFINED 1               40000        0        0
CONCUR TECHNOLOGIES INC        COM              206708109      457    14709 SH       SOLE                    14709        0        0
CORUS ENTERTAINMENT INC        COM CL B NON VTG 220874101    11697   666666 SH       SOLE                   666666        0        0
CVS CAREMARK CORPORATION       COM              126650100     6077   150000 SH       SOLE                   150000        0        0
DENISON MINES CORP             COM              248356107     1146   181500 SH       SOLE                   181500        0        0
DISNEY WALT CO                 COM DISNEY       254687106      367    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
DOW CHEM CO                    COM              260543103    10134   275000 SH       SOLE                   275000        0        0
DU PONT E I DE NEMOURS & CO    COM              263534109      552    11845 SH       DEFINED 1               11845        0        0
E TRADE FINANCIAL CORP         COM              269246104       77    20000 SH       SOLE                    20000        0        0
EL PASO CORP                   COM              28336L109     3328   200000 SH       SOLE                   200000        0        0
ENBRIDGE INC                   COM              29250N105   659402 15990478 SH       SOLE                 15990478        0        0
ENCANA CORP                    COM              292505104   407695  5354262 SH       SOLE                  5354262        0        0
ENERPLUS RES FD                UNIT TR G NEW    29274D604    31480   723886 SH       SOLE                   723886        0        0
ENTERRA ENERGY TR              TR UNIT          29381P102      412   225000 SH       SOLE                   225000        0        0
ERICSSON L M TEL CO            ADR B SEK 10     294821608     8444   430100 SH       SOLE                   430100        0        0
EXXON MOBIL CORP               COM              30231G102     1074    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
FLEXTRONICS INTL LTD           ORD              Y2573F102     1878   200000 SH       SOLE                   200000        0        0
FORDING CDN COAL TR            TR UNIT          345425102    12683   242260 SH       SOLE                   242260        0        0
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO            COM              369604103      437    11845 SH       DEFINED 1               11845        0        0
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO            COM              369604103     8327   225000 SH       SOLE                   225000        0        0
GENERAL MTRS CORP              COM              370442105      225    11845 SH       DEFINED 1               11845        0        0
GENEREX BIOTECHNOLOGY CP DEL   COM              371485103     1496  1360300 SH       SOLE                  1360300        0        0
GILDAN ACTIVEWEAR INC          COM              375916103     6114   162100 SH       SOLE                   162100        0        0
GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC            SPONSORED ADR    37733W105      216     5100 SH       SOLE                     5100        0        0
GOLDCORP INC NEW               COM              380956409    54760  1409152 SH       SOLE                  1409152        0        0
HALLIBURTON CO                 COM              406216101     7866   200000 SH       SOLE                   200000        0        0
HARRY WINSTON DIAMOND CORP     COM              41587B100     7187   300000 SH       SOLE                   300000        0        0
HARVEST ENERGY TR              TRUST UNIT       41752X101    26520  1183809 SH       SOLE                  1183809        0        0
HEWLETT PACKARD CO             COM              428236103      541    11895 SH       DEFINED 1               11895        0        0
HOME DEPOT INC                 COM              437076102      327    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
HOME DEPOT INC                 COM              437076102     8391   300000 SH       SOLE                   300000        0        0
HONEYWELL INTL INC             COM              438516106      716    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
IMPERIAL OIL LTD               COM NEW          453038408   448620  8559634 SH       SOLE                  8559634        0        0
INTEL CORP                     COM              458140100      248    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
INTEL CORP                     COM              458140100     2118   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHS   COM              459200101     1347    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
INTEROIL CORP                  COM              460951106     4484   265470 SH       SOLE                   265470        0        0
JOHNSON & JOHNSON              COM              478160104      759    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
JOHNSON & JOHNSON              COM              478160104    11352   175000 SH       SOLE                   175000        0        0
JP MORGAN CHASE & CO           COM              46625H100      545    12745 SH       DEFINED 1               12745        0        0
KINROSS GOLD CORP              COM NO PAR       496902404    21402   959333 SH       SOLE                   959333        0        0
LULULEMON ATHLETICA INC        COM              550021109     5641   198100 SH       SOLE                   198100        0        0
LUNDIN MINING CORP             COM              550372106     3531   517853 SH       SOLE                   517853        0        0
MAGNA INTL INC                 CL A             559222401    26456   363838 SH       SOLE                   363838        0        0
MANULIFE FINL CORP             COM              56501R106  1980827 51751558 SH       SOLE                 51751558        0        0
MASTERCARD INC                 CL A             57636Q104     7285    32668 SH       SOLE                    32668        0        0
MCDONALDS CORP                 COM              580135101      653    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
MDS INC                        COM              55269P302     7153   367148 SH       SOLE                   367148        0        0
MERCK & CO INC                 COM              589331107      463    12245 SH       DEFINED 1               12245        0        0
MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC         COM              590188108     2037    50000 SH       SOLE                    50000        0        0
METHANEX CORP                  COM              59151K108    42230  1605498 SH       SOLE                  1605498        0        0
MI DEVS INC                    CL A SUB VTG     55304X104    27993   959412 SH       SOLE                   959412        0        0
MICROSOFT CORP                 COM              594918104      332    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
MINEFINDERS LTD                COM              602900102     1218   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
MOLSON COORS BREWING CO        CL B             60871R209     3368    64270 SH       SOLE                    64270        0        0
MOODYS CORP                    COM              615369105      871    25000 SH       SOLE                    25000        0        0
NEUROCHEM INC                  COM              64125K101      349   220900 SH       SOLE                   220900        0        0
NEW GOLD INC CDA               COM              644535106     1567   225000 SH       SOLE                   225000        0        0
NEXEN INC                      COM              65334H102    94730  3192441 SH       SOLE                  3192441        0        0
NISOURCE INC                   COM              65473P105     5172   300000 SH       SOLE                   300000        0        0
NORTEL NETWORKS CORP NEW       COM NEW          656568508     4665   684064 SH       SOLE                   684064        0        0
NORTHERN DYNASTY MINERALS LT   COM NEW          66510M204     2289   250000 SH       SOLE                   250000        0        0
NOVA CHEMICALS CORP            COM              66977W109    42450  1775442 SH       SOLE                  1775442        0        0
NOVAGOLD RES INC               COM NEW          66987E206      777   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
OPEN TEXT CORP                 COM              683715106     5790   183000 SH       SOLE                   183000        0        0
ORBITAL SCIENCES CORP          COM              685564106      349    14500 SH       DEFINED 1                   0        0    14500
PAETEC HOLDING CORP            COM              695459107     5569   836205 SH       SOLE                   836205        0        0
PENGROWTH ENERGY TR            TR UNIT NEW      706902509     2700   140901 SH       SOLE                   140901        0        0
PENN WEST ENERGY TR            TR UNIT          707885109    24497   873327 SH       SOLE                   873327        0        0
PETRO-CDA                      COM              71644E102   134403  3085253 SH       SOLE                  3085253        0        0
PFIZER INC                     COM              717081103      255    12245 SH       DEFINED 1               12245        0        0
PFIZER INC                     COM              717081103    18314   875000 SH       SOLE                   875000        0        0
POPULAR INC                    COM              733174106     2041   175000 SH       SOLE                   175000        0        0
POTASH CORP SASK INC           COM              73755L107   171517  1103833 SH       SOLE                  1103833        0        0
PRECISION DRILLING TR          TR UNIT          740215108     1138    48895 SH       SOLE                    48895        0        0
PROCTER & GAMBLE CO            COM              742718109      816    11695 SH       DEFINED 1               11695        0        0
PROVIDENT ENERGY TR            TR UNIT          74386K104     2247   210956 SH       SOLE                   210956        0        0
QLOGIC CORP                    COM              747277101     1535   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
QUALITY SYS INC                COM              747582104     2987   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
RESEARCH IN MOTION LTD         COM              760975102    83150   739053 SH       SOLE                   739053        0        0
ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS INC      CL B             775109200    32098   892454 SH       SOLE                   892454        0        0
ROYAL BK CDA MONTREAL QUE      COM              780087102  2689314 57572370 SH       SOLE                 57572370        0        0
SAP AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT         SPONSORED ADR    803054204     1239    25000 SH       SOLE                    25000        0        0
SCHERING PLOUGH CORP           COM              806605101      768    53325 SH       SOLE                    53325        0        0
SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC        CL B CONV        82028K200    42541  2325448 SH       SOLE                  2325448        0        0
SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO            COM              824348106    10208   200000 SH       SOLE                   200000        0        0
SIERRA WIRELESS INC            COM              826516106      480    30000 SH       SOLE                    30000        0        0
SILICON IMAGE INC              COM              82705T102      501   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
SILVER WHEATON CORP            COM              828336107     4135   266294 SH       SOLE                   266294        0        0
SMTC CORP                      COM NEW          832682207      858   469082 SH       SOLE                   469082        0        0
SOURCE INTERLINK COS INC       COM NEW          836151209      114    60035 SH       SOLE                    60035        0        0
SOUTHERN COPPER CORP           COM              84265V105      745     7176 SH       DEFINED 1                7176        0        0
SOUTHWEST GAS CORP             COM              844895102     3523   126000 SH       SOLE                   126000        0        0
SUN LIFE FINL INC              COM              866796105   925073 19787237 SH       SOLE                 19787237        0        0
SUNCOR ENERGY INC              COM              867229106   214982  2224622 SH       SOLE                  2224622        0        0
SUNOCO INC                     COM              86764P109     7871   150000 SH       SOLE                   150000        0        0
TALISMAN ENERGY INC            COM              87425E103   415229 23406555 SH       SOLE                 23406555        0        0
TATA MTRS LTD                  SPONSORED ADR    876568502     3038   194500 SH       SOLE                   194500        0        0
TECK COMINCO LTD               CL B             878742204   591530 14426570 SH       SOLE                 14426570        0        0
TELUS CORP                     NON-VTG SHS      87971M202   219886  5218890 SH       SOLE                  5218890        0        0
THOMSON CORP                   COM              884903105   273067  8120048 SH       SOLE                  8120048        0        0
TIM HORTONS INC                COM              88706M103     9900   290775 SH       SOLE                   290775        0        0
TONGJITANG CHINESE MED CO      SPON ADR         89025E103     1110   135000 SH       SOLE                   135000        0        0
TORONTO DOMINION BK ONT        COM NEW          891160509  1984613 32280235 SH       SOLE                 32280235        0        0
TRANSALTA CORP                 COM              89346D107   184094  5919599 SH       SOLE                  5919599        0        0
TRANSALTA CORP                 COM              89346D107    54435  1750000 SH       SOLE    1             1750000        0        0
TRANSCANADA CORP               COM              89353D107    26007   675000 SH       SOLE    1              675000        0        0
TRANSCANADA CORP               COM              89353D107   791715 20577450 SH       SOLE                 20577450        0        0
UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP       COM              913017109      839    12240 SH       DEFINED 1               12240        0        0
VALERO ENERGY CORP NEW         COM              91913Y100     4911   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0
VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS INC     COM              92343V104      426    11745 SH       DEFINED 1               11745        0        0
WACHOVIA CORP NEW              COM              929903102    12758   472500 SH       SOLE                   472500        0        0
WAL MART STORES INC            COM              931142103      637    12145 SH       DEFINED 1               12145        0        0
WAL MART STORES INC            COM              931142103    10536   200000 SH       SOLE                   200000        0        0
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTL INC NEW   COM              948626106      905    19534 SH       DEFINED 1                   0        0    19534
WHOLE FOODS MKT INC            COM              966837106     1649    50000 SH       SOLE                    50000        0        0
YAMANA GOLD INC                COM              98462Y100    15497  1056319 SH       SOLE                  1056319        0        0
ZALE CORP NEW                  COM              988858106     1976   100000 SH       SOLE                   100000        0        0