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National Observer
4 days ago
- Politics
- National Observer
Who shoulders responsibility to prevent wildfire disasters: government or individuals?
As climate change continues to raise the risk of extreme wildfires, a debate has arisen over who bears the responsibility to prevent disasters: government or individuals? Wildfires have been raging across Canada all summer, including in the Atlantic region that hasn't historically seen as many fires as the rest of the country, prompting restrictions that aim to reduce risk of human-caused ignition. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, last week provincial governments banned hiking, fishing and using vehicles in the woods in addition to their existing bans on open fires. Both provinces are actively battling multiple blazes. Their provincial governments have received a flood of feedback from people expressing confusion and frustration, and some have claimed the restrictions represent an infringement on their personal freedoms. Jennifer Baltzer, a Wilfrid Laurier University biology professor and Canada Research Chair in forests and global change who is from Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, said it's reasonable to expect these sorts of government-imposed restrictions as climate change results in hotter and dryer summers. 'As we experience conditions on the ground that are riskier… people are going to have to modify their behaviour to help mitigate potential accidental ignitions,' she said in an interview Thursday. However, Baltzer said governments have a lot of work to do to tackle the root cause of the worsening fire seasons: climate change. 'We really need to be implementing much stronger climate change mitigation policies than governments currently are. Because that's ultimately the solution to this,' she said. A day after the Nova Scotia restrictions were implemented, Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre criticized the ban and called on the province to address wildfire risk by making long-term investments in sustainable forestry management and climate adaptation, along with ramping up funding for local fire services. 'Serious moments demand thoughtful, long-term responses — not blunt tools and heavy-handed bans,' reads the statement shared on social media. 'This ban is a poor mechanism for addressing the underlying problem of dry, dangerous conditions. It leaves Nova Scotians wondering: is this what we should expect now? Will growing drought risk mean fewer and fewer opportunities to access and enjoy nature?' A follow-up statement from the centre said the province needs to ensure local fire services, which are largely volunteer-based in Nova Scotia, have adequate funding and up-to-date gear. The Ecology Action Centre said no one was available to be interviewed Wednesday and Thursday. The centre's executive director Maggy Burns said in an emailed statement hot and dry conditions are a reality that is not going away, and it may be necessary to restrict activity to keep communities safe. 'But Nova Scotians deserve an evidence-backed, long-term and clearly communicated plan to address the climate emergency, including wildfire,' she said Thursday. Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Ottawa, Alberta Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner criticized the restrictions in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia while accusing Ottawa of "inaction" on wildfires. Rempel Garner said that while she understands the fear Maritimers feel, restricting individuals' movements is "not right." "Whenever there's a major crisis, what the Liberal government has done by their inaction has conditioned Canadians to expect that the only response they can see out of their federal government is to restrict their movement," Rempel Garner told reporters. Both restrictions were implemented by provincial governments. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston brushed off the criticisms at a press conference later Wednesday. "I find it remarkable, the interest in travelling in Nova Scotia woods by people who aren't in Nova Scotia and probably haven't been here much in their life," Houston told reporters. "We're only concerned with keeping people safe. We'll do what's necessary to protect lives, and that's what we're doing in this case." Baltzer said Atlantic Canadians may have to get used to such precautions, while considering ways they can reduce wildfire risk around their homes. This can include removing flammable materials or thinning out some forested areas. "I think some of these things aren't probably such a hot of a topic (in Atlantic Canada) compared to Western Canada where fire regularly comes through the system… but I think across the country we can expect wildfire to become a more important issue that we're all going to have to be dealing with as the climate warms and dries," she said. "It's going to require both really strong policy action on the part of governments to mitigate climate change as fast as possible, and also on the community level, some personal action to help minimize risk."
Winnipeg Free Press
4 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Who bears responsibility to prevent wildfire disasters: government or individuals?
HALIFAX – As climate change continues to raise the risk of extreme wildfires, a debate has arisen over who bears the responsibility to prevent disasters: government or individuals? Wildfires have been raging across Canada all summer, including in the Atlantic region that hasn't historically seen as many fires as the rest of the country, prompting restrictions that aim to reduce risk of human-caused ignition. In Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, last week provincial governments banned hiking, fishing and using vehicles in the woods in addition to their existing bans on open fires. Both provinces are actively battling multiple blazes. Their provincial governments have received a flood of feedback from people expressing confusion and frustration, and some have claimed the restrictions represent an infringement on their personal freedoms. Jennifer Baltzer, a Wilfrid Laurier University biology professor and Canada Research Chair in forests and global change who is from Nova Scotia's Annapolis Valley, said it's reasonable to expect these sorts of government-imposed restrictions as climate change results in hotter and dryer summers. 'As we experience conditions on the ground that are riskier… people are going to have to modify their behaviour to help mitigate potential accidental ignitions,' she said in an interview Thursday. However, Baltzer said governments have a lot of work to do to tackle the root cause of the worsening fire seasons: climate change. 'We really need to be implementing much stronger climate change mitigation policies than governments currently are. Because that's ultimately the solution to this,' she said. A day after the Nova Scotia restrictions were implemented, Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre criticized the ban and called on the province to address wildfire risk by making long-term investments in sustainable forestry management and climate adaptation, along with ramping up funding for local fire services. 'Serious moments demand thoughtful, long-term responses — not blunt tools and heavy-handed bans,' reads the statement shared on social media. 'This ban is a poor mechanism for addressing the underlying problem of dry, dangerous conditions. It leaves Nova Scotians wondering: is this what we should expect now? Will growing drought risk mean fewer and fewer opportunities to access and enjoy nature?' A follow-up statement from the centre said the province needs to ensure local fire services, which are largely volunteer-based in Nova Scotia, have adequate funding and up-to-date gear. The Ecology Action Centre said no one was available to be interviewed Wednesday and Thursday. The centre's executive director Maggy Burns said in an emailed statement hot and dry conditions are a reality that is not going away, and it may be necessary to restrict activity to keep communities safe. 'But Nova Scotians deserve an evidence-backed, long-term and clearly communicated plan to address the climate emergency, including wildfire,' she said Thursday. Speaking to reporters Wednesday in Ottawa, Alberta Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner criticized the restrictions in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia while accusing Ottawa of 'inaction' on wildfires. Rempel Garner said that while she understands the fear Maritimers feel, restricting individuals' movements is 'not right.' 'Whenever there's a major crisis, what the Liberal government has done by their inaction has conditioned Canadians to expect that the only response they can see out of their federal government is to restrict their movement,' Rempel Garner told reporters. Both restrictions were implemented by provincial governments. Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston brushed off the criticisms at a press conference later Wednesday. 'I find it remarkable, the interest in travelling in Nova Scotia woods by people who aren't in Nova Scotia and probably haven't been here much in their life,' Houston told reporters. Wednesdays What's next in arts, life and pop culture. 'We're only concerned with keeping people safe. We'll do what's necessary to protect lives, and that's what we're doing in this case.' Baltzer said Atlantic Canadians may have to get used to such precautions, while considering ways they can reduce wildfire risk around their homes. This can include removing flammable materials or thinning out some forested areas. 'I think some of these things aren't probably such a hot of a topic (in Atlantic Canada) compared to Western Canada where fire regularly comes through the system… but I think across the country we can expect wildfire to become a more important issue that we're all going to have to be dealing with as the climate warms and dries,' she said. 'It's going to require both really strong policy action on the part of governments to mitigate climate change as fast as possible, and also on the community level, some personal action to help minimize risk.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 15, 2025.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Nova Scotia looks to become offshore energy superpower
The Nova Scotia government is hoping to become a major energy provider with the Wind West project. The Nova Scotia government thinks it has a resource that could make it one of the major energy providers in Canada. 'We have onshore, but our offshore winds are first class. They're world class and they could be producing enough power to support much of Canada,' says Energy Minister Trevor Boudreau. If the 'Wind West' project gets off the ground, it could cover as much as 25 per cent of the nation's energy needs. Nova Scotia is hoping to have offshore wind turbines producing five gigawatts of electricity but Boudreau thinks the output could be much more. 'They have the potential to produce 66 gigawatts of power so with that in mind, Nova Scotia uses 2.4 gigawatts at its coldest day of the year,' he says. It will be a couple years before turbines are standing in the ocean. Once they are in place, power would move by cable throughout the country and possibly across the ocean to Europe. The Ecology Action Centre is on board but they're closely watching how the project unfolds. 'Ultimately we're very much in favour of building a transmission line and we are in favour of building offshore wind, but the devil is in the details when it comes to building offshore wind,' says Thomas Arnason McNeil. 'Are we making sure that we are engaging fishing communities, indigenous communities that rely on the fishing economy at the earliest stages of project development?' Premier Tim Houston is attending meetings with other premiers and the prime minister to gather support for the project. 'We all see the opportunities that we have before us to make for a stronger country and we're all pushing in that direction,' says Houston. Five areas have been highlighted for potential wind farm development: French Bank Middle Bank Sable Island Bank Western/Emerald Bank. Sydney Bight Four are off the province's eastern shore, the other is off Cape Breton. Wind farm A fishing boat passes the West Pubnico Point Wind Farm in Lower West Pubnico, N.S. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Andrew Vaughan) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
Globe and Mail
13-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
New rules for mining projects will speed up approvals, says N.S. government
Nova Scotia is streamlining the approval process for potential metal mining projects after they passed have through an environmental assessment. Environment Minister Timothy Halman announced changes Friday to the 'industrial approval' process, which sets rules for the daily operations of a mine and the monitoring of environmental requirements. Mr. Halman told a news conference in Halifax that his government's new 'phased' approach allows applicants to submit some details about their plans after their projects have been approved. For example, a company will be able to submit erosion- and sedimentation-control plans after its project's approval, but before construction on the mine begins. Mr. Halman also said his department will create a specialized team to handle all mining files to ensure timely processing of requests. The minister said the changes will help projects begin more quickly and maintain environmental standards. 'What's being presented to you today is years and years of listening to companies asking for greater clarity and greater predictability and we've delivered that today,' he said. Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw chiefs oppose new fracking law, considering legal action The Mining Society of Nova Scotia said in a release the industry welcomes the changes and hopes they will 'improve the efficiency of the permitting process.' However, Karen McKendry, senior wilderness outreach coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax, said in an interview Friday that the provincial government hasn't made needed improvements to transparency in the industrial approval process. The public can't view documents related to industrial approval applications until after they've been approved, she said. 'All of the details about water monitoring and air monitoring and protecting wildlife are very opaque … There's no public input.' In addition, she said, 'under the industrial approval process, the details of how a project operates can be changed over and over again without anybody finding out about it.' She said that while the government is committing to shortening timelines for industry, it has ignored appeals for changes that 'serve the environment or the public' by giving citizens more opportunity to comment on potential projects.
CTV News
12-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
As N.S. farmers struggle, report urges steps to help increase stagnant local sales
A farmer works a field in Churchville, N.S., on Monday, May 9, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX — Nova Scotia farmers who are struggling to break even could benefit from selling more produce in local markets, says a new study released Thursday. The report titled, 'Growing at Home: Nova Scotia local food and agriculture report' was completed by the Ecology Action Centre, the province's largest environmental group, using academic research and data from Statistics Canada. It says the province's farming industry has been losing money between 2017 and 2024. Last year alone, the overall industry deficit was more than $41 million. The study concludes farmers in Nova Scotia are facing some of the biggest deficits in the country -- as their production expenses are often higher than the revenues their crops and livestock bring in. Lead author Vicki Madziak also documented a steep, 29 per cent decline between 2011 and 2021 in the total land used for farming. 'We know that farms across the country are struggling, but this has been a persistent issue for a long time in Nova Scotia,' said Madziak in a telephone interview Thursday. 'We're seeing a lot of concerning trends.' The report says if the province wants a food system that withstands shocks like climate change and economic tariffs, more investment is needed in encouraging local sales of farmers' produce. Using Statistics Canada data, the authors estimated that only 14 per cent of Nova Scotia's food spending went to local farms in 2023. That percentage hadn't increased from figures collected a decade ago. Citing research this year in the journal Food Policy, the study concludes that increasing local sales would allow farmers to increase their profit margins. It also says one bright spot is that Nova Scotia now has more than 40 farmers markets, the highest number per capita in Canada. Madziak concluded that while the province has started some buy-local initiatives, the provincial government must further develop local sales channels. Agriculture Minister Greg Morrow, when asked by reporters what factors were contributing to the industry's problems, said there were a variety of potential answers. 'These are private business, so there's a lot of different factors. It could be the weather, it could be access to markets, any number of things could play a role,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. He said the province is providing $7 million for equipment and programs to help extend growing seasons, is encouraging buy-local programs and working to reduce interprovincial trade barriers. Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette was critical of Morrow's response. 'The minister needs to be able to come before the media and before the public and say, 'These are the steps that we're taking to help to support an important sector in our province.'' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
