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Global News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Global News
N.S. opposition call government out over withholding environmental racism report
Nova Scotia's provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye. Their comments came after Becky Druhan, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, told reporters Thursday that government has requested a meeting with the environmental racism panel that created the report to 'discuss with them before sharing any additional information.' The report was completed by an eight-member panel appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment in Nova Scotia. Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism where environmentally hazardous activities like landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants and toxic waste facilities are set up near Black and racialized communities or Indigenous territories. The report was delivered to the province about a year ago. 'In this instance, the (panel's) mandate didn't include a public report. The mandate was advice to government. So we want to respect the parameters of that,' Druhan said after a cabinet meeting when asked if she will release the report. Story continues below advertisement The panel members included community leaders with expertise in subjects such as Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian history, law, health and environmental sciences. 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 'We do know that Nova Scotians want to hear more, and we want to respect the panel and have a conversation with them before we do that,' Druhan said. Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal member Derek Mombourquette both said Thursday it's puzzling the province is choosing to withhold this critical information about environmental racism. 'I think they probably don't like what it (the report) says,' Chender said of the provincial government. 'We're talking about a legacy of wrongdoing and harm that this government is now complicit in, because they will not address what it was that came forward' from this panel's work, she added. The idea for the panel came from the NDP, who proposed it in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Chender said it 'was no one's understanding' that this panel's work would be kept from the public. 'That report came from an amendment that was put forward by our caucus that specifically called for the establishment of a panel that would provide recommendations to the province for redress,' Chender said. 'It didn't say that it would privately provide some things that the government might consider, and then not tell anyone about it. That doesn't make any sense.' Story continues below advertisement Mombourquette agreed, saying it's 'really shameful' that the report has not yet been made public to Nova Scotians, adding that he represents a constituency that has faced environmental racism in the form of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites in Cape Breton. 'I think that the government should release it immediately. I don't buy this argument that there needs to be a meeting with the panel beforehand. Release the report, let Nova Scotians see what's in it,' he said. When asked if he thinks the report ought to be made public, Premier Tim Houston did not directly answer. 'We're using that to formulate public policy. It's having a positive impact. There is a meeting being organized with a number of ministers and the panellists to talk about… the ways forward,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. When pressed on if he is of the opinion that it should be public, he said 'we'll have a discussion with the panels. I think the most important thing is that the work is actually used.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
N.S. opposition call government out over withholding environmental racism report
HALIFAX – Nova Scotia's provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye. Their comments came after Becky Druhan, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, told reporters Thursday that government has requested a meeting with the environmental racism panel that created the report to 'discuss with them before sharing any additional information.' The report was completed by an eight-member panel appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment in Nova Scotia. Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism where environmentally hazardous activities like landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants and toxic waste facilities are set up near Black and racialized communities or Indigenous territories. The report was delivered to the province about a year ago. 'In this instance, the (panel's) mandate didn't include a public report. The mandate was advice to government. So we want to respect the parameters of that,' Druhan said after a cabinet meeting when asked if she will release the report. The panel members included community leaders with expertise in subjects such as Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian history, law, health and environmental sciences. 'We do know that Nova Scotians want to hear more, and we want to respect the panel and have a conversation with them before we do that,' Druhan said. Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal member Derek Mombourquette both said Thursday it's puzzling the province is choosing to withhold this critical information about environmental racism. 'I think they probably don't like what it (the report) says,' Chender said of the provincial government. 'We're talking about a legacy of wrongdoing and harm that this government is now complicit in, because they will not address what it was that came forward' from this panel's work, she added. The idea for the panel came from the NDP, who proposed it in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Chender said it 'was no one's understanding' that this panel's work would be kept from the public. 'That report came from an amendment that was put forward by our caucus that specifically called for the establishment of a panel that would provide recommendations to the province for redress,' Chender said. 'It didn't say that it would privately provide some things that the government might consider, and then not tell anyone about it. That doesn't make any sense.' Mombourquette agreed, saying it's 'really shameful' that the report has not yet been made public to Nova Scotians, adding that he represents a constituency that has faced environmental racism in the form of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites in Cape Breton. 'I think that the government should release it immediately. I don't buy this argument that there needs to be a meeting with the panel beforehand. Release the report, let Nova Scotians see what's in it,' he said. When asked if he thinks the report ought to be made public, Premier Tim Houston did not directly answer. 'We're using that to formulate public policy. It's having a positive impact. There is a meeting being organized with a number of ministers and the panellists to talk about… the ways forward,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. When pressed on if he is of the opinion that it should be public, he said 'we'll have a discussion with the panels. I think the most important thing is that the work is actually used.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
N.S. opposition call government out over withholding environmental racism report
HALIFAX - Nova Scotia's provincial opposition parties are criticizing the government for continuing to keep a year-old report on environmental racism out of the public eye. Their comments came after Becky Druhan, minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism Initiatives, told reporters Thursday that government has requested a meeting with the environmental racism panel that created the report to 'discuss with them before sharing any additional information.' The report was completed by an eight-member panel appointed in June 2023 to look at how racism affects a community's natural environment in Nova Scotia. Environmental racism is a form of systemic racism where environmentally hazardous activities like landfills, trash incinerators, coal plants and toxic waste facilities are set up near Black and racialized communities or Indigenous territories. The report was delivered to the province about a year ago. 'In this instance, the (panel's) mandate didn't include a public report. The mandate was advice to government. So we want to respect the parameters of that,' Druhan said after a cabinet meeting when asked if she will release the report. The panel members included community leaders with expertise in subjects such as Mi'kmaw and African Nova Scotian history, law, health and environmental sciences. 'We do know that Nova Scotians want to hear more, and we want to respect the panel and have a conversation with them before we do that,' Druhan said. Nova Scotia NDP Leader Claudia Chender and Liberal member Derek Mombourquette both said Thursday it's puzzling the province is choosing to withhold this critical information about environmental racism. 'I think they probably don't like what it (the report) says,' Chender said of the provincial government. 'We're talking about a legacy of wrongdoing and harm that this government is now complicit in, because they will not address what it was that came forward' from this panel's work, she added. The idea for the panel came from the NDP, who proposed it in an amendment to climate change legislation that was passed in the fall of 2023. Chender said it 'was no one's understanding' that this panel's work would be kept from the public. 'That report came from an amendment that was put forward by our caucus that specifically called for the establishment of a panel that would provide recommendations to the province for redress,' Chender said. 'It didn't say that it would privately provide some things that the government might consider, and then not tell anyone about it. That doesn't make any sense.' Mombourquette agreed, saying it's 'really shameful' that the report has not yet been made public to Nova Scotians, adding that he represents a constituency that has faced environmental racism in the form of the Sydney tar ponds and coke oven sites in Cape Breton. 'I think that the government should release it immediately. I don't buy this argument that there needs to be a meeting with the panel beforehand. Release the report, let Nova Scotians see what's in it,' he said. When asked if he thinks the report ought to be made public, Premier Tim Houston did not directly answer. 'We're using that to formulate public policy. It's having a positive impact. There is a meeting being organized with a number of ministers and the panellists to talk about… the ways forward,' he said after Thursday's cabinet meeting. When pressed on if he is of the opinion that it should be public, he said 'we'll have a discussion with the panels. I think the most important thing is that the work is actually used.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 11, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Global News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
N.S. mayors concerned for local police services as province pushes larger RCMP role
Some Nova Scotia mayors say they are wary of the province's plan to increase the role of the RCMP. Under changes announced Thursday, Justice Minister Becky Druhan said the government wants to use the RCMP as a provincial police force. Druhan told reporters that the government is auditing local police forces, and those that can't meet provincial standards would be replaced by the RCMP. 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 She also said that all new municipal contracts for specialized services such as dive or dog teams will have to be awarded to the federal police force. Bridgewater Mayor David Mitchell says his community is happy with its local police, adding that most of the other 10 municipalities with their own police forces are happy with theirs. Mitchell questions whether the RCMP can meet the staffing levels required to provide specialized services across the province. Story continues below advertisement Truro Mayor Cathy Hinton says residents are worried that changes contemplated by the province will raise costs for municipal policing. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2025.
Global News
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
N.S. says local police forces that don't meet standards will be replaced by RCMP
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook The Nova Scotia government says it is considering a larger role for the RCMP as the province restructures and modernizes policing services. Justice Minister Becky Druhan has announced six changes aimed at improving policing, resulting from a review launched in September 2023. The review was announced about six months after the Mass Casualty Commission released its final report on the shooting rampage in central and northern Nova Scotia that left 22 people dead in April 2020. 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 Druhan says municipalities will be allowed to keep their local police as long as the force meets provincial standards; otherwise they will need to switch to the RCMP. As well, the minister says the province will introduce a new billing system for municipal police services, and establish a single police records database to replace the three existing systems. Story continues below advertisement Other changes including creating community safety boards, recruiting more officers, and adding more resources for police in the field. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 25, 2025.
