Angela Giles reflects on the results of last week’s provincial election, and what it tells us about the need for electoral reform, and most importantly, the task at hand. “We need to hold Premier-elect Tim Houston and his party’s feet to the fire on issues like health care and climate. Organize in your communities and be ready to fight against any proposal to privatize health care.”
Press release: ight prominent environmental groups from across the country are urging federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada to ensure that Pieridae Energy’s proposed Goldboro Liquefied Natural Gas export facility project (Goldboro LNG) undergoes a comprehensive, up-to-date federal impact assessment.
In mid-October, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) seized around 200 lobster traps from Mi’kmaq fishers in Unama’ki (Cape Breton, Nova Scotia). “It’s a struggle for them. They’re not making a lot of money, but it’s not about the money,” Bernadette Marshall told Robin Tress “It’s about the treaty right, and we’ve waited long enough.”
PSA: On the heels of a similar event in Mahone Bay that drew 300 people, the Twin Bays Coalition is holding a rally in opposition to the provincial government’s plan to impose industrial scale open net pen fish farming in our waters.
Robin Tress on what Freedom of Information requests have revealed about the hidden backroom manoeuvres of the federal government to pave the way for the Alton Gas project.
Media release: This morning, the Council of Canadians together with Mi’kmaq grassroots grandmothers and community researchers shared documents that show the Alton Gas Project is on a path to break the Fisheries Act by depositing high concentration brine into fish-bearing waters.
The Nova Scotia Offshore Alliance (NSOA) is reaffirming its call for a moratorium on all offshore oil and gas exploration and drilling until a full public inquiry can be completed on this dangerous activity. This statement comes in response to this week’s news that the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board (CNSOPB) has approved an extension to BP Canada’s license to drill offshore.
Robin Tress, of the Council of Canadians speaks at Law Amendments about Bill 213, the Sustainable Development Goals Act. She makes some great points, about respecting treaty rights, the tendency of governments to allow corporate interests to frame the discussion, and the nature of true consultations.
Media release: The Offshore Alliance is claiming MKI’s delay of its offshore seismic exploration project as a victory, following news that the company will take some time to “assess demand for seismic data from region.”
News that BP is abandoning its oil exploration off the shore of Nova Scotia is a relief, but it’s way too early to celebrate. There are other companies eyeing our offshore, and harmful seismic testing may start as early as next spring.