Aug 5, 2026:
– Report shows N.S. government returned $5M in unspent federal funding for land protection
Michael Gorman · CBC News “The Nova Scotia government returned $5 million in federal funding earmarked for land protection because it did not spend it, and it made no measurable progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the last year. Those are some of the details in the most recent provincial update on progress to achieve goals related to addressing climate change, released last week….”
Comments Nina Newington on Aug 6, 2026:
“So let’s see. We don’t have enough money to keep our public library system properly funded but we can afford to give back $5 million to the federal government. $5 million that was sitting there in our collective bank account, waiting to be spent on buying private land of the highest possible conservation value, land that the landowners wanted to sell, land that would help us meet the goal of protecting 20% of Nova Scotia’s lands and waters by 2030.
“Protecting 20% is a goal this government ran on then put into law. Minister Halman claims to be committed to meeting this goal. Doing so will require protecting another 300,000 hectares. But, at the same time, he appears to be claiming that we really can’t afford to protect any land in case ‘we’ need it for something else.
“Notably Halman does not mention mining, the industry that is most rabidly opposed to identifying protected areas, even on private land. Why are they so opposed? Because when land is formally protected they lose the right to access the minerals under that land. A right they can exercise against the will of the landowner.
“So the government chose to return at least $5 million rather than spend it to buy parcels of privately owned land that the owners wanted to see permanently protected. Land the owners most definitely do not want to see mined. Land that had already been studied by the Protected Areas branch of the department Halman supposedly leads. Some of these landowners have been waiting for several years for the contracts to be signed. But instead of acquiring pristine lands for all Nova Scotians to enjoy, this government decided to return the money.
“Here a million, there a million. This government doesn’t mind our money well.
“They need to be reminded that a strong majority of Nova Scotians — 67% according to a poll taken in June — support protecting more Wilderness Areas.
“Of note too, and in keeping with this government’s undermining of transparency and accountability across the board, this year’s report on progress in meeting environmental goals is no longer specific enough to allow us to accurately track that progress. Suffice to say that NO progress was made in cutting emissions in the past year.
“I know, it’s hot, it’s tiring and maddening and terrifying that government at every level is failing us as the climate and biodiversity crises intensify. They count on us giving up. But we can’t. What is at stake is a livable planet.
“It’s nowhere near enough but drop them a line. minister.environment@novascotia.ca
“Let your MLA know too.”