Latest news with #BeckyDruhan
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Nova Scotia NDP says province too secretive, must release environmental racism report
Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender speaks to reporters at the provincial legislature in Halifax, Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX — Nova Scotia's Opposition NDP called on Premier Tim Houston's government Friday to release a report about the province's long history of environmental racism, saying it's a matter of accountability. An eight-member panel was expected to submit its report to Houston's government in December 2023. Justice Minister Becky Druhan, who is also responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, did not answer Thursday when pressed by reporters to explain why the government is sitting on the report. Druhan also wouldn't answer when asked whether she had seen the panel's recommendations, saying its work predated her appointment as minister. NDP Leader Claudia Chender told reporters Friday that Druhan's evasiveness is part of a 'concerning pattern' by a government that is acting as if it's above accountability. 'People are noticing this government's aversion to transparency,' said Chender. 'Having a majority (government) is not a blank cheque to keep Nova Scotians in the dark.' As another example, she pointed to the government's failure to publicly disclose it had agreed earlier this year to sign a $170-million federal infrastructure deal. As for the environmental racism panel, it was appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment. The idea for the panel came from NDP caucus member Suzy Hansen, who proposed its creation in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Hansen said she was 'disappointed and frustrated' to hear that Druhan had refused to provide any information about the panel's report or its recommendations. She said the report's release would mean a great deal to the province's Black and indigenous communities. 'This is an opportunity for the government to show that they, in good faith, are going to do the right thing -- and they didn't do any of that by hiding the information,' Hansen said. Examples of environmental racism in Nova Scotia include the toxic dump and landfill that operated for decades near the historic Black communities of Shelburne and Lincolnville. As well, the cleanup continues at Boat Harbour, N.S., near the Pictou Landing First Nation, where a once pristine body of water served for decades as an effluent lagoon for a now defunct paper mill. The NDP leader's news conference came a day after Chender called for more transparency around the government's push to encourage uranium exploration in three areas of the province with known deposits. Chender was reacting to comments made by Natural Resources Minister Tory Rusthon, who confirmed Thursday that he has the power under the Minerals Resources Act to compel private property owners to allow mineral exploration on their land. But he said that option has barely been used 'over decades.' 'My understanding is, yes, it can be (used), but right now we are encouraging landowners and the researchers to have the conversation, ' said Rushton. 'They'd have to prove to me that they've had the negotiations before we'd ever intervene.' Opponents of uranium exploration, however, have drawn attention to the fact that Rushton used the act earlier this year to allow an Australian company to explore for lithium deposits without the permission of landowners in southwestern Nova Scotia. 'Landowners are very concerned about this,' Chender said Thursday. 'I think we need more clarity.' By Keith Doucette This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 30, 2025.
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
NDP chastises N.S. government over environmental racism recommendations
Social Sharing The leader of Nova Scotia's Official Opposition says the government's refusal to release the recommendations from a panel on environmental racism is the latest example of the Progressive Conservatives ducking transparency. On Thursday, Justice Minister Becky Druhan refused to say why the government is withholding the recommendations or even if she's read them. A government spokesperson said on Friday that the panel shared its recommendations at the end of June 2024 and that a public report was not part of its mandate. Druhan did not say that Thursday. During a news conference at Province House on Friday, Chender told reporters that there is no way to know what actions the Tories are taking and what actions are being ignored if the public does not get to see the recommendations. "How can we measure progress if no one knows what the goal was in the first place?" she said. 'This was an opportunity' Halifax Needham MLA Suzy Hansen, whose amendment to the Progressive Conservatives' signature environmental legislation in 2022 led to the creation of the panel, told reporters that she is frustrated and disappointed by Druhan's comments. Hansen said people from communities with a history of environmental racism put their faith in the process and participated in the hope that it would lead to improvements. Those people deserve to see what's in the report, she said. "This was an opportunity for the government to show that they in good faith are going to do the right thing. And they didn't do any of that by hiding the information," she said. As she was pressed by reporters on Thursday about whether she'd read the recommendations, Druhan noted that the report was ordered before she became justice minister. Hansen said that shouldn't matter, and that it's Druhan's job as minister to know what's in the report. Chender said the Tory position on the panel recommendations follows a continued delay on a report looking at transportation in the province — despite portions of it making its way into the Tories election platform — and a lack of details around a 10-year, $170-million infrastructure deal the province signed with the federal government in February. Public Works Minister Fred Tilley told reporters on Thursday that it's up to Ottawa to release the text of the agreement, which he expects will happen soon. He also said the transportation study would come soon, but could not be more specific. Chender linked the delays in releasing information or holding it back altogether to recent attempts by Premier Tim Houston to pass legislation that would have curbed the powers of the province's auditor general and privacy commissioner. Houston pulled back on that in the face of strong public outcry. Regardless, Chender said there is only one conclusion that can be drawn based on mounting examples. "I think that this government believes that they are above accountability." she said.
Globe and Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Globe and Mail
N.S. government won't release findings of environmental racism panel
The Nova Scotia government is refusing to release recommendations from a panel tasked with examining environmental racism in the province, and the minister responsible isn't saying why. Justice Minister Becky Druhan, who is also responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, avoided giving an explanation when pressed by reporters after a provincial cabinet meeting Thursday. Druhan did say the province's Progressive Conservative government is committed to addressing issues of equity and racism and she said the panel's work will 'inform' those efforts. 'One of the important insights that the panel provided to us … is that systemic and foundational change is needed to address racism around environmental issues,' the minister said. Druhan wouldn't answer when asked whether she had seen the panel's recommendations, saying its work had predated her time as minister. The eight-member panel was appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment and it was expected to submit its recommendations by the end of that year. It was chaired by Augy Jones, who is now the government's executive director of African Nova Scotian Affairs. When he was appointed to the panel in December 2022, Jones was clear about how he wanted its work to be perceived. 'We want this process to be an example to Canada on how you engage with marginalized communities who have been traumatized in an intergenerational way,' he told The Canadian Press in an interview. The idea for the panel came from the opposition New Democrats, who proposed an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Examples of environmental racism include instances where landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants, toxic waste facilities and other environmentally hazardous activities are located near communities of colour, Indigenous territories and the working poor. Opposition NDP Leader Claudia Chender said it was 'disheartening' that the government has sat on the panel's findings for more than a year. She said the report should be released to the public. 'The promise made when this panel was established was to bring some clarity and truth and recommendations to what is a really shameful legacy in this province of environmental racism,' Chender said. Interim Liberal leader Derek Mombourquette said the government was sending a 'disgraceful' message in not releasing the panel's recommendations. 'The minister has the absolute obligation to release that report so communities and Nova Scotians can read it,' he said. Examples of environmental racism in Nova Scotia include the toxic dump and landfill that operated for decades near the historic Black communities of Shelburne and Lincolnville. As well, the cleanup continues at Boat Harbour, N.S., near the Pictou Landing First Nation, where a once pristine body of water served for decades as an effluent lagoon for a nearby paper mill. Liberal critic Iain Rankin, a former environment minister and premier, once referred to Boat Harbour as one of the worst cases of environmental racism in Canada.
CTV News
5 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Nova Scotia mum on why it won't release findings of environmental racism panel
Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender speaks to reporters at Province House in Halifax on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese HALIFAX — The Nova Scotia government is not releasing recommendations from a panel tasked with examining environmental racism in the province — and it isn't saying why. Justice Minister Becky Druhan repeatedly avoided giving a reason under repeated questioning by reporters today following a provincial cabinet meeting. Druhan did say the government is committed to addressing issues of equity and racism, and she said she believes the panel's work will 'inform' those efforts. The eight-member panel was appointed in June 2023 to examine how racism affects a community's natural environment, and it was expected to submit recommendations by the end of that year. The panel was created as the result of an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Opposition NDP Leader Claudia Chender said it was 'disheartening' that the government has sat on the findings for more than a year and she said the panel's report should be released to the public. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
Global News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
Nova Scotia quiet why it won't release findings of environmental racism panel
The Nova Scotia government is not releasing recommendations from a panel tasked with examining environmental racism in the province — and it isn't saying why. Justice Minister Becky Druhan repeatedly avoided giving a reason under repeated questioning by reporters today following a provincial cabinet meeting. Druhan did say the government is committed to addressing issues of equity and racism, and she said she believes the panel's work will 'inform' those efforts. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The eight-member panel was appointed in June 2023 to examine how racism affects a community's natural environment, and it was expected to submit recommendations by the end of that year. The panel was created as the result of an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Opposition NDP Leader Claudia Chender said it was 'disheartening' that the government has sat on the findings for more than a year and she said the panel's report should be released to the public.
