DRAFTING…
CBC Maritime Noon with Bob Murphy March 9, 2026
… And off the top, we speak with Raymond Plourde from the EAC about potential impacts of the NS budget on forestry.
Rough Transcript
CBC: …But first, Nova Scotia’s proposed budget and concerns about the potential impact on wood lot owners. The budget is contained in bill 198, it’s called the Financial Measures 2026 Act which is an omnibus bill introduced by the PC government last month.
People in the forestry sector are now coming forward with questions about how proposed changes could negatively affect conservation efforts.
We contacted the office of Nova Scotia’s Minister of Natural resources Kim Masli; ourrequest for an interview was declined.
To hear what industry watchers are saying, we’ve reached Raymond Plourde, he’s the Senior Wilderness Coordinator with the Ecology Action Centre. Raymond thanks for taking our call…
So what’s your primary concern at this point when it comes to the potential impact on forestry practices in Nova Scotia?
RP: Well I think there’s some potential impacts here for both conservation and for small private woodlot owners in in a few different areas.
And because the government is slamming these things through in omnibus legislation with a whole bunch of things that are loosely or not connected at all, in a very very short legislative session…it makes it difficult for the public public interest groups such as ourselves, woodlot owner organizations and individuals to actually understand what’s happening in such a rapid fire legislative environment.
So the approach is the first thing we have a concern with.
In the past, changes in legislation would occur based on the area of legislation they were affecting; so if it was amendments to the Forests Act for example, or the Easements Act, then it would be contained within its own bill and explained and there would be debate on the floor.
But when they’re being jammed through, under in this case the Financial Measures Act, essentially the budget Bill with all kinds of other things, [and ]in a rapid period, it becomes much much harder to track, follow, even to understand what they’re doing.
CBC: I understand one of your areas of concern centres around conservation easements and what power they could end up having in the end should this budget pass as advertised; what’s your concern?
RP: