Latest news with #EcologyActionCentre
CTV News
7 days ago
- 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.
Toronto Star
12-06-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
As N.S. farmers struggle, report urges steps to help increase stagnant local sales
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.
Global News
12-06-2025
- Business
- Global News
As N.S. farmers struggle, report urges steps to help increase stagnant local sales
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 A new report says that struggling Nova Scotia farmers could benefit from selling more produce in local markets. The report was released by the Ecology Action Centre. It cites Statistics Canada data indicating the province's farming industry has been losing money on average between 2017 and 2024. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The study says farmers in Nova Scotia are largely facing the biggest deficits in the country. Lead author Vicki Madziak also documented steep declines in acreage between 2011 and 2021 and a decrease in the amount of land being used for crops over the same period. The report cites research showing how farmers could increase profits by improving local sales since there would be fewer intermediaries taking a cut. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 12, 2025.
