NAVIGATION
This page is a subpage of www.nsforestmatters.ca/In the News
See In the News for other subpages.
Subpages:
– Background
– In the News – NS Democracy Issues 2025
Related:
– Letter from Premier Jan 21, 2025
BACKGROUND Lack of transparency surrounding NS Governments’ handing of forestry and of environmental issues more broadly has been a major issue for decades, and regardless of the party forming government. Those governments more recently were formed by PCs (1999-2009), NDP (2009-2013), Liberals (2013-2021) and PCs again (2021, ongoing)…Read more.
Page created 27Feb2025
Apr 23, 2026:
Andrew Younger comments on the Fracking Issue on FB “Fracking: To the best of my ability I try to stay out of politics these days. It was a brutal time during some periods. Especially the fracking debate which led to all kinds of (often wrong and salacious) personal attacks. But here we are…Here’s the thing. I’ve been to fracking operations. They can be done safely and responsibly and they can be catastrophic. There is a lot of misinformation and hyperbole on both sides. However in the context of Nova Scotia the economics and interest by responsible industry partners simply seemed to not be there. And I’d argue it’s still not there by any well funded player (this is important as if something goes wrong you want well funded companies to be able to clean up and not just go bankrupt). My view is the current process doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense given the industry conditions and interest now or in the past or the conflicts which exist between existing profitable uses and speculative exploration. But I do think it’s up to communities to decide what they do and don’t want. But that also means being open and honest about where the greatest potential actually is so you can have honest discussions about the potential conflicts.”
Apr 21, 2026:
– Fracking battle at the Super 8: Nova Scotia’s public consultations on natural gas exploration off to loud start
By Aaron Beswick for the Chronicle Herald “The lines of the fracking battle to come were drawn through Windsor’s Super 8 on Monday evening. In the hotel foyer, members of the Nova Scotia Fracking Resource and Action Coalition handed out pamphlets warning of earthquakes and dangers to groundwater and public health. Inside the conference room, posters lined the walls telling of how Nova Scotia’s large untapped natural gas reserves could be used to help get us off coal, the economic benefits it has meant for Western Canadian provinces and how hydraulic fracturing technology, which would be needed to extract most of the shale bed methane, has improved over the past decade…Representatives of the Subsurface Energy R&D Investment Program, the provincial government and Dalhousie University were placed between the posters to answer questions. “It’s a decade since we’ve talked about this as a province,” said Kim Doane, executive director of energy resources for the Department of Energy. “We want to approach this from a research lens, understand any new technologies and look at all angles of the (onshore natural gas) industry.”..”
Apr 20, 2026:
– David Wheller: Open Submission to the Dalhousie University Project on Hydraulic Fracturing
David Wheeler “As a former Dean of Management (2006-2019) and subsequent chair of the Nova Scotia Independent Review Panel on Hydraulic Fracturing (2013-2014) I am writing to express my profound disappointment in Dalhousie University as an institution agreeing to accept a C$30 million commission from the Province of Nova Scotia to fast track studies on the engineering and geological feasibility of hydraulic fracturing.[i]…Finally, I would urge all Nova Scotians, and especially those living in communities who may be directly affected by these engineering experiments to speak out as clearly and as forcefully as you did in 2013-14. The careful recommendations my panel made in our report (reproduced below) were designed to protect your health, your environment and your rights. This is why we proposed serious baseline studies before any new wells were drilled and a power of veto (via a ‘community permission to proceed’) for communities that are not convinced that hydraulic fracturing should proceed in their area….”
The ‘almost invisible’ homeless in Nova Scotia’s woods: How one man slid through the cracks
By Josh Healey for the Chronicle Herald “…Coun. David Hendsbee, who represents the district that stretches from Lake Echo to Ecum Secum, said rural homelessness looks a lot different than in the city. He said there are natural places for homeless people to gather in a city, whether it be near a shelter or transit, that draw the eye. Citizens sleeping outside are seen by thousands of people going about their daily business.But the rural homeless can often go unseen. “They’re in the woods, in a sheltered spot, or they’re in their cars moving to different places. They’re a little more transient, I guess you could say, in rural areas,” Hendsbee told The Chronicle Herald. “It seems to be almost invisible unless you know where to look.” “
Apr 19, 2026:
There are better alternatives to the Marshdale methane gas site
Mark Brennan & Amanda Dunfield on FB
“The project intersects the boundaries of the Town of Stellarton’s protected water supply area.
👉Locals say five farms exist in an approximate two kilometre radius — including one that shares a property boundary with the subject property.
👉Marten, snapping turtle sightings. Significant cat (bobcat and lynx) population. Moose sightings in nearby areas with potential impacts to the provincial Moose Recovery Strategy suggested.
👉Mi’kmaq rights holders have not been consulted.
👉Public engagement attempts have been limited — questions tabled remain unanswered. Many not linked into social media remain unaware of plans to construct this facility in their rural unserviced community.
👉Attempts to secure adequate water resource for the facility were unsuccessful at last update.
👉Health officials and organizations have issued public statements about the negative health implications of fossil fuel infrastructures. These extend to wildlife and livestock.
👉If undertakings in NB are an indication, projects like these with an anticipated lifespan of 30 to 50 years will raise the cost of power for rate payers — not lower it.
👉Energy analysts with relevant experience have advocated for large scale battery storage alternatives, citing lower construction costs and ongoing operational costs relative to new fossil burning infrastructure.
❗️None of this has mattered to date — Minister Halman approved the provincial environmental assessment for this project in Premier Houston’s own riding.
This provincial government’s priorities are clear — none of the above.
The Federal assessment is not yet complete.
My heart weeps for my former home community as Premier Houston, landowner Elmer MacKay and corporate interests smile while standing on the wrong side of history.”
Apr 17, 2026:
– Supreme Court of Nova Scotia strikes down province’s woods ban as unconstitutional
Justice Centre for Constututional Freedoms “HALIFAX, NS: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia has struck down the province’s sweeping 2025 ban on entering the woods, ruling that the government acted unreasonably and failed to consider the Charter rights and values affected by the ban. The decision follows a constitutional challenge brought by lawyers funded by the Justice Centre on behalf of Canadian Armed Forces veteran Jeffrey Evely, who was fined $28,872.50 for walking in the woods under the province’s blanket prohibition.In its ruling, the Court found that the province’s decision-making process was fundamentally flawed, stating: “There is no evidence in the record that when the Minister issued the proclamation there was any consideration given to mobility rights.” The Court emphasized that while governments may act in response to emergencies, they must still consider the impact of their decisions on Charter rights…”<//small>
Apr 13, 2026:
– New polling shows a Nova Scotia PC popularity drop after spring sitting
Ally Bowes fpr the Chronicle Herald “Experts say the polls reflect that provinces political environment is becoming more competitive with the public increasing engagement in the political process… national survey offers a snapshot of Nova Scotians’ feelings toward the government following a tense spring sitting at Province House defined by spending cuts, affordability pressures and questions of public trust all wrapped in a historical deficit…The Angus Reid Institute’s Cross-Canada Outlook, published April 7, suggests many of the issues that dominated debate in the chamber are on Nova Scotians’ minds outside there, as well.About 26 per cent of Nova Scotians say the province is on the right track, a sharp drop from a year ago when 53 per cent had the same view. On affordability, a core theme throughout the sitting, roughly 15 per cent of Nova Scotians say the provincial government has done a “good job,” a reflection of economic pressures facing many households. Health care, a defining issue for the government, shows more mixed results. Nova Scotia ranks highest in the country in terms of doing a “good job” in that area, but that top ranking is at 35 per cent…Looking at Premier Tim Houston, 58 per cent of Nova Scotians view him unfavourably or very unfavourably, with a 39 per cent approval rating. Opposition and NDP Leader Claudia Chender is viewed more positively, with a 42 per cent approval rating…The report showed that 27 per cent of people are unsure about the opposition leader. Urbaniak said the numbers show “there is some room to grow” for the New Democrats. Mainly, he pointed to a need to expand outside urban areas like Halifax.”
– Hundreds opposed to fossil gas plants in Pictou County gather for Mi’kmaq healing ceremonies to honour the land and water
Joan Baxter in Halifax Examiner, intro in Monring File “Close to 100 people attended the ceremony near Marshdale, where Nova Scotia’s Independent Energy Systems Operator is planning to put up a 300-megawatt fast-generation plant that will be fuelled by fossil gas and diesel. At a second ceremony near the site of the planned Salt Springs plant, close to 150 people gathered for prayers and songs near the edge of Six Mile Brook, a tributary of the West River, both crucial and increasingly rare habitat for wild Atlantic salmon. Baxter writes that there were “no placards, chants, or speeches” at the events, which featured “large human circles…quiet but powerful smudging ceremonies and prayers led by Pictou Landing First Nation Knowledge keeper Tonya Francis.” Related: Overwhelmingly negative reactions to proposed fossil fuel power plants in Pictou County by Joan Baxter Feb 18, 2026. “Big concerns about climate, environment, human and community health, lack of consultation with Mi’kmaq, and tight timelines”
– Renewables win in Ontario’s newest bid for energy
By Cloe Logan fpr National Observer “More than a dozen wind and solar projects will be built in Ontario, nearly a decade after the Ford government spent hundreds of millions of dollars cancelling renewable energy projects in the province…Ontario’s procurement of renewable energy fits into a broader trend across the country, as investment into renewables in Canada is expected to hit over $200 billion by 2025, spurred by rising demand for electricity.”Apr 9.2026:
– ‘Nova Scotia has become the example on how to destroy relationships with First Nations’
Philip Muscovitch in the Halifax Examiner. “Winnipeg Free Press columnist Niigaan Sinclair’s latest piece is on the Nova Scotia government’s heavy hand when it comes to Indigenous cannabis sales: Cannabis sales may or may not constitute an Indigenous and treaty right — time will tell — but this did not stop the premier of Nova Scotia issuing a directive to police to stop and arrest every private cannabis retailer in the province… The conflict got ugly last week when RCMP raided Potlotek First Nation and were forced to leave seven of their vehicles behind after community members blocked the roads out of the community. Officers returned Friday to find their car windows smashed and tired slashed. Some vehicles were even missing wheels. The scene was symbolic of the state of relations between Indigenous and Nova Scotia: broken, shattered and going nowhere. Nova Scotia has become the example on how to destroy relationships with First Nations.”
Apr 8, 2026:
– Nova Scotia funds Dalhousie University to study fracking
By Marc Fawcett-Atkinson for the National Observer “Nova Scotia will pay Dalhousie University to study fracking risks while simultaneously helping gas companies drill exploratory wells — a deal critics call “very worrisome.” The deal will see the university receive $30 million to coordinate a study of fracking’s feasibility in the province and assess seismic risks, methane emissions and public health impacts. Dalhousie is also responsible for helping private companies drill exploratory wells in the province, on the condition the gas companies share their drilling data with the university and provincial government. Gas companies have until April 15 to submit their proposals to collaborate on the project, with Dalhousie reaching a final decision about which companies will participate at the end of the month. Under the agreement, the provincial government has “exclusive” rights over all research generated through the program and allows the province to hide all research findings from public scrutiny. It also prohibits the university — including researchers associated with the project — from communicating about the work with the public unless the provincial government approves…”
Apr 7, 2026:
Bill 193 is about who profits from our renewable energy resources
Post by Ulrich Vom Hagen on Facebook “Bill 193 is about who profits from our renewable energy resources. Premier Tim Houston has framed Bill 193 as the Powering the Economy Act. It’s a compelling title, but Nova Scotians should be asking a more precise question: Whose economy is this bill designed to power? Bill 193 does something important. It creates the legal framework to unlock large-scale offshore wind energy development in Nova Scotia. That matters. Offshore wind could be a generational opportunity — one capable of reshaping the province’s energy system and economy for decades. Yet, enabling development is not the same as shaping its outcomes. And that’s where this bill falls short…”
Apr 6, 2026:
– Nova Scotia cannabis conflict details relationship gone to pot
Niigaan Sinclair in the Winnipeg Free Press “In the east of Canada there is one issue so explosive and divisive it seeks to undo nearly a century and a half of relationships between Indigenous communities and Canadians. Canabis…According to the Nova Scotia government, a provincially-controlled system “ensures young people are safe, products are tested and traceable, and crime is not involved in the supply chain.” It also — I’m sure coincidentally — means the Maritime province holds a monopoly on who can and does profit off the annual sales of more than $125 million of cannabis in the province.Mi’kmaq leaders throughout the 13 First Nations in the province have argued for years that the sale of cannabis is an Indigenous and treaty right…The conflict got ugly last week when RCMP raided Potlotek First Nation and were forced to leave seven of their vehicles behind after community members blocked the roads out of the community. Officers returned Friday to find their car windows smashed and tired slashed. Some vehicles were even missing wheels. The scene was symbolic of the state of relations between Indigenous and Nova Scotia: broken, shattered and going nowhere.Nova Scotia has become the example on how to destroy relationships with First Nations.”
Mar 31, 2026:
– N.S. legislature: PCs amend Financial Measures Act and Druhan targeted by ad
Jennifer Henderson in the Halifax Examiner. “Premier Tim Houston’s government has withdrawn proposed changes to a piece of legislation that would have affected the ability of conservation and community easements to protect land for use by future generations of Nova Scotians…Continue to comb through clauses The politicians sat until midnight Monday night and will continue to comb through each of the 137 clauses contained in the Financial Measures Act throughout the week. Lohr has not withdrawn another controversial clause contained in Bill 198, one which actually changes the wording in the Forests Act around woodlots used for the purpose of capturing carbon. Some private woodlot owners have expressed concerns that land being held as a carbon sink will be taxed at a higher rate than property that is being actively logged…During this session – and no longer bound and gagged by party loyalty – the public and reporters are seeing a different side of Druhan. And some of the questions she’s asking are making those in power squirm. Druhan has raised questions during question period about the impact of the premier’s friendship with the president of EverWind Fuels, about whether the process begun on her watch to find and hire the director for public prosecutions was completed and followed, about whether patronage was involved in government grants to emergency first responders, and whether conservation officers have the independence required to do their jobs. So maybe it’s no surprise that the former PC-turned-independent was the target of an ad suggesting her questions were not local enough.”
Mar 30, 2026:
IT’S OFFICIAL. The Nova Scotia government has voted against the clauses that would have weakened conservation easements and community easements.
Lindsay lee writing on Annapolis Nature & Ecology (Public FB group)
“While more issues remain, nixing these problematic clauses from Bill 198 is extremely welcome news, and I’ll update this post as more information becomes available.
Clause 52 is defeated!
Clauses 53 to 55 are defeated!
Vote happened here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/RD3kL_aFsXw?t=19969s
To all the individuals and groups who advocated against these clauses, congratulations on pulling off a win during very difficult circumstances.
Some of the groups that spoke against these clauses at the Public Bills Committee last week included the Nova Scotia Nature Trust, Nova Scotia Farmland Trust, Save Dartmouth Cove, Nova Scotia Working Woodlands Trust, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, Ecology Action Centre, and Save Our Old Forests.”
Mar 27, 2026:
Tom Urbaniak on the decision to ban the public from the NS legislature (Audio)
CBC Information Morning – Cape Breton with Steve Sutherland ” Poli-sci prof Tom Urbaniak weighs in on the banning of public spectators at the Legislature” An Excerpt: CBC… in her explanation the speaker said that there were several incidences on the property where MLAs appeared to be intimidated and that staffers were frightened she said… is that not enough of an explanation do you think? TU: That’s an important piece of information for sure and that does raise security concerns. The speaker has to be alive and vigilant about ensuring security and safety on the grounds and that includes safety for the public not only for personnel. The speaker In her explanation to the legislature mentioned that she is going to be convening a small group. I would like to hear more details about who that small group will be and whether that will involve the Board of Mmanagement of the legislature because the process here is very important… Ideally when the speaker takes such decisions they should be met with or they should be done in a way that can be met with all party consensus with broad consensus within the legislature; this should not be a partisan matter.”
Mar 26, 2026:
– Clarity in Canadian law of Aboriginal title is not optional
By Joesph Roberson, retired judge of the New Brunswick Court of Appeal ain The Globe and Mail
As described in treefrogcreative.ca: The BC Supreme Court’s decision in Cowichan v. Canada has drawn national attention. For the first time, a Canadian court has granted a declaration of Aboriginal title over privately owned lands. …But at the same time, the New Brunswick Court of Appeal in J.D. Irving v. Wolastoqey Nation ruled that the private lands held by timber companies were not subject to declarations of Aboriginal title. …We need to understand each ruling to understand the trajectory of Canadian law’s engagement with reconciliation. It’s clear that the rulings in fact point in just one direction, because Cowichan can be sustained only by rewriting the Supreme Court’s settled doctrine of Aboriginal title, while Wolastoqey, with one severable modification, remains faithful to it. Of the two decisions, only Wolastoqey offers an approach that is legally sound and clear in its application. …Wolastoqey demonstrates that proven wrongs can be addressed through compensation and negotiation without unsettling land titles or distorting the doctrine of Aboriginal title; Cowichan does the opposite. [to access the full story a Globe & Mail subscription is required]”
Mar 25, 2026:
– N.S. government’s budget bill passes as public barred from Province House
CBC. “The Nova Scotia government passed its budget bill Wednesday afternoon with the public barred from watching inside the legislature and the premier and finance minister absent for the vote. The CBC’s Michael Gorman has the story.”
– Nova Scotia budget bill passes as public banned from Province House
Jennifer Henderson in the Halifax Examiner “March 25, 2026 will go down as a strange and memorable day in Nova Scotia’s political history. The public was not permitted to enter the building or the grounds of Province House after a group of visitors to the gallery disrupted a vote on the provincial budget on Tuesday night by singing and shouting for about 15 minutes while elected representatives were attempting to pass the legislation. Speaker Danielle Barkhouse adjourned proceedings at midnight. MLAs reported for work at 1pm Wednesday. With the building silent and locked down, the budget passed with neither the premier, the finance minister, nor the House leader in attendance. The Premier is in Texas and the other two ministers were in meetings, but there were 40 other Progressive Conservative members who ensured the bill passed.”
Mar 24, 2026:
– The public outrage at the Houston government continues unabated
Tim Bousquet in the Halifax Examiner/Morning File “To begin, see Jennifer Henderson’s article (linked to below) about the long line of people coming to the public bills committee to berate the government for its newest budget. It takes a lot of initiative and time to go down to Province House and stand in line to give a five-minute presentation that will mostly be ignored, but these folks feel the need to express their anger and be part of the public record for history. And they’ll keep doing it for three more days…”
– Public bills committee: Democracy in action or ‘box ticking exercise?’
Jnnifer Henderson in the Halifax Examiner. Good coverage of speakers talking about the Easements Issue which speakers pointed out impacts, in addition to private woodlot owners, “community easements”. Henderson wonders whether the hearings are simply ‘A box-ticking exercise’: “The public bills committee will hear more comments from members of the public over the next three days. It’s unclear whether any of these comments or letters received by MLAs will result in the government making changes to Bill 198 (the Financial Measures Act) when it comes back to the legislature at the end of the week.”
Mar 23, 2026:
– As public blasts ‘weakened’ land protection laws, N.S. government says tweaks coming
Taryn Grant · CBC News “Leslie Wade thought she’d found a way to indefinitely protect the land she’s owned, lived on and cherished for five decades, until the introduction of a new government bill last month.
“It’s a very emotional issue for me. I’m so upset about what’s happened with these changes that have been made to the easement act. I don’t understand it,” she said in an interview Monday…”I think it’s good news for these easements in conservation groups and community groups. It sort of provides a pathway to have the easement removed in some cases but it also provides a very strong pathway for the easement to be protected,” Lohr said earlier this month. On Monday, after members of the public critiqued the bill at a legislative committee, Lohr continued to guard what specific amendments are coming. He said the government would wait to hear everything that’s said this week at the public bills committee, which is scheduled to continue Tuesday through Thursday.”
– RON MELCHOIRE’s presentation to the Public Bills Committee
” He and his wife Joanna won the 2022 Eastern Region Woodland Owner of the Year award. He is speaking about parts of Bill 198 about changing easements on woodland land trusts AND on the proposed changes to taxation of woodlots.” Link and comment posted by Bev Wigney on Annapolis Nature & Ecology (public FB group). Also, ‘can listen to more comments related to Bill 198 in these Public Bills Committee Proceedings Mar. 23, 2026, e.g. Nina Newington
Mar 22, 2026:
– Doctors. Concerned citizens… some of the people who spoke out this week against Bill 6
Lindsay Lee post on ProtectIng Nova Scotia Democracy FB page. Copied onto NSFM for EZ access and “for the record”.
Mar 21, 2026:
Nova Scotia government’s overreach troubling–
Michael Kaczorowski in the Chronicle Herald “Legislature treated as little more than a nuisance…In October2024, Houston called a snap election, ignoring his government’s own fixed- date election law. With its re-election in November 2024, the Houston government secured a “supermajority,’ winning 43 seats, compared to a combined opposition of 12 (nine New Democrats,two Liberals and one Independent). Voter turnout in the election fell to an historic low, with only 45 per cent of eligible voters casting a ballot. Fully half of the PC caucus (21 members) were sworn in as cabinet ministers in December 2024, while the other half were all named ministerial assistants. In other words, every single member of the government caucus was bound to the premier’s office, with no possibility of dissent. Far more troubling,the Houston government did not allow any media or other members of the public to attend the cabinet swearing-in, allegedly due to “capacity issues” at the Halifax Convention Centre. The excuse fooled no one. In addition, neither the premier nor any member of the cabinet was made available for questions from the media. Not an auspicious beginning, but an unfortunate foreshadowing of things to come…”
Mar 20, 2026:
– Opinion: Nova Scotia’s current Progressive Conservatives not much like predecessors
By Brad Gaetz, Contributed Chronicle Herald “Modern conservative political parties or movements regularly demonstrate that they are unfamiliar with the concept of irony, so perhaps Premier Tim Houston and his Progressive Conservative government fail to see the irony of using the spectre of U.S. President Donald Trump to act politically as acting an awful lot like Trump. The premier likes to point out that Nova Scotia’s conservative party is still Progressive Conservative. The supposition being, I suppose, that because they are not openly dismissive of minority populations that they are unlike their Western Canadian or American counterparts and therefore can still claim the progressive moniker.If only it were that simple. In a past life, I was politically active in the former Progressive Conservative parties of Bob Stanfield, Joe Clark, Brian Mulroney, John Hamm and Rodney MacDonald. The Houston party bears little resemblance to those parties. Like Trump’s Republicans, they actually aren’t even truly conservative, in the classic political science mode. It may be true that the Houston Progressive Conservatives are kinder and more gentle than Trump Republicans in their approach to social issues but, in most other areas, in particular environmental policy and democratic governance, their approach is remarkably similar to the Trump administration.In the latest textbook iteration of a conservative party applying shock doctrine political tactics, explained in detail by author Naomi Klein in her 2007 book of the same name, the Houston government is using a real but greatly exaggerated political or economic crisis, actually largely the result of their own spendthrift financial management and populist economic policies, as justification to bring in right wing economic and environmental policies that they did not even vaguely campaign on. Almost certainly, the single policy area in which Houston and his government most mirror the Trump doctrine is environmental regulation. Houston has adopted the “drill, baby, drill” mantra as his own. His Environment Department is reeling as 25 to 30 years of sometimes frustratingly slow but steady progress on environmental policy, beginning with the Hamm and MacDonald governments, is eviscerated under Houston’s leadership. Contacts in the department have said that below the level of director, morale is dead, as it has been made clear to employees that their department is now an adjunct of economic development and the resource extraction industry. The recent announcement of “simple” administrative changes was in reality the obliteration of the wildlife protection division of the Department of Natural Resources. The protection of wildlife habitats, biodiversity and ecological systems has been subordinated to economic development . In addition, the recategorizing of lands deemed unsuitable for forestry activity as being eligible for protected status and therefore counting toward meeting protected area commitments is absurd. By this standard, the province could simply designate Walmart parking lots as protected and be done with it…Changing the Forestry Act to remove tax credits available to land owners who manage their woodlots in a manner conducive to carbon sequestration is essentially a form of blackmail to force woodlot owners to open their lands to industrial logging. By some measurements, car use in North America is responsible for 15 to 20 per cent of the greenhouse gases we produce. The Houston government proposal that electric car drivers pay a $500 fee every two years is bad policy and clearly a Trumpian “own the Libs” sop to his increasingly conservative base.The premier is winning his race to the right in a Trumpian manner. He displays open contempt for 170 years of responsible government in Nova Scotia, ramming omnibus bills through the legislature in the shortest legislative sessions, by a wide margin, of all Canadian provinces.He bristles at press scrutiny. He uses his supermajority to stifle critical legislative committee debate…”
Mar 19, 2026:
– Conservation organizations, students concerned about layoff at Acadia’s herbarium
Frances Willick · CBC News “Students and conservation organizations are concerned about the elimination of a key position at Acadia University’s herbarium. Last week, the Wolfville, N.S., university laid off 31 employees in a cost-cutting measure, including the curator of the E.C. Smith Herbarium. The herbarium began in 1910, and stores more than 200,000 specimens of plants, mosses, fungi and lichens dating back to the 1860s…”
Mar 18, 2026:
– Tim Houston’s approval drops to 39 per cent amid budget backlash
By Ally Bowes for Saltwire/Chronicle Herald “Poll shows 11 point decline, one of the steepest among premiers, as deficits and cuts weigh on public opinion”
Mar 14, 2026:
– Jobs argument doesn’t hold water
Lindsay Lee in the Chronicle Herald print ed. “It’s all about “jobs, jobs, jobs” – until it isn’t. Time after time, the Nova Scotia government has told citizens and communities to set aside their concerns because jobs come first. Worried about mining poisoning our land and waters? “But think of the jobs.” Don’t want public lands to be clearcut? “But think of the jobs.” …Environmental, health and community impacts have often been presented as the price of employment. From open-net pen fish farms and the Donkin coal mine to green hydrogen and fracking. politicians have repeatedly used the promise of jobs to diminish people’s concerns and stifle debate, Jobs has been the ultimate political currency, a veritable “get out of jail free” card. Until now. The revised Defending Nova Scotia budget is still full of devastating cuts that will destabilize or eliminate programs, support and workers. Despite what we’ve always been told, it’s not really about jobs. It’s not really about the economy. It’s not really about the deficit. It’s about values. And it always has been. We’re being told that the province has tocut funding to the arts, education, tourism, heritage and culture sectors that shape our province. But the budget allocates plenty of funds for the mining sector,including $28 million related to digitizing geoscience assets and $300,000 to support “mining industry growth.” The government is slashing funding for the student transit pass program but budgeting $4.4 million to establish artificial intelligence capabilities. The government is reducing funding for domestic violence, courts but putting another $1 million toward the SailGP yacht race…We’ve all seen behind the curtain; the Tim Houston government’s willingness to sacrifice a thousand full-time workers this year alone has completely discredited its jobs argument. If nothing else, this budget has shown just how hollow and selective the jobs argument has always been. Lindsay Lee is the Wwilderness Community Outreach Coordinator at the Ecology Action Centre in Halifax.”
Mar 13, 2026:
This table compares all four sectors across revenue/GDP impact, employment, and provincial tax contribution over the study period. Note that ‘Revenue’ for tourism represents total tourism spending (a broader measure than GDP), while Forestry, Mining, and Oil & Gas figures represent GDP impact or value-add.
– Celes Davar: My letter to the Public Bills Committee
Celes Davar in a FB post “…Highlights from my letter ( have not included my detailed substantiation under each of these points, which I have provided in my letter to the Public Bills Committee): 1. The false narrative for a fiscal crisis does not warrant the systematic dismantling of the Wildlife Branch and Environment and Climate Change staff. This is a deliberate act to remove science and evidence and environmental monitoring input into resource development activities that the Premier and Cabinet are proposing in mining for critical minerals, uranium, fracking, oil and gas exploration, and accelerated logging of our forests…Tourism as a high performing Sector deserves more investment. Tourism has become Nova Scotia’s largest employer among these four sectors by a wide margin. With approximately 54,000 estimated employees in 2024 — compared to roughly 6,400 in forestry, 3,028 in mining, and fewer than 400 in oil and gas — tourism provides employment for approximately 5.5 times as many workers as the other three sectors combined. This employment is distributed across the province, benefiting coastal communities, the Annapolis Valley, Cape Breton, and Halifax Metro equally…” Read more
– Public’s chance to speak to N.S. budget bill coming after spring break
Taryn Grant · CBC News “Nearly 200 people have already registered to speak…The date for the committee to meet has not been set, but Government House Leader Brendan Maguire said it will not happen until at least March 23. There is no rule that says when the government has to notify the public before a bill appears before the committee, but Maguire said “appropriate” notice would be given.”
– Finance minister won’t say if economic impact analysis was done on arts and culture cuts
Frances Willick · CBC News “John Lohr told reporters analysis was of ‘trajectory of our province'”
– The government is about to argue Nova Scotians don’t have a right to walk in the woods. So, do we?
By Aaron Beswick in the Chronicle Herald. “…The Nova Scotia Crown responds in its brief that R v. Heywood is “too slender a reed” and that in a society the rights of the individual are limited by the rights of the group.Because the vast majority of wildfires in Nova Scotia are started by humans. “(The) recognition of such a right to roam might also cause the rights of others to security of the person to be ignored or diminished,” reads the Crown’s brief. “The proclamation was issued to ‘protect the woods’ but also to protect those individuals whose livelihoods and safety would be adversely affected by wildfires. Mr. Evely’s right to roam cannot trump the corresponding rights of others.” The charter also demands that when a government does infringe on the right, it infringes as little as possible to achieve its stated goal. “The government needs to show in court that as they considered the woods travel ban they really thought about Nova Scotians’ liberty and that they were balancing infringement against their objective,” said Moore. “They can’t seek to justify it retroactively, it has to have been done at the time. We have all the government evidence, and the words we don’t see in any of the documents are the constitution and charter rights of Nova Scotians.”
Mar 12, 2026
– OPINION: Houston’s natural resources agenda: At what cost and on whose authority?
Doug Lowry, West Mabou in the Cape Breton Post
“The industry-friendly and environmentally harmful posture of this government has invited corporations seeking access to Nova Scotia’s lands and resources to invest in the province as Premier Houston makes commitments to turn Nova Scotia into an energy superpower. The harms of this vision are wide-ranging and tragic in that they will result in the clear-cutting of forests, noise and air pollution and the long-term poisoning of soil and water – including drinking water – with heavy metals and radioactive material….Despite the PC’s intense focus on natural resources extraction since the election, the party never actually campaigned on the controversial practices of fracking and uranium mining. They didn’t even seriously campaign on natural resources development or making Nova Scotia an energy superpower. Rather, the PC’s 2024 “Make it Happen” platform touted “lower taxes,” “more doctors” and “higher wages,” but did not include the mention of its plan for the province’s natural resources…re we, as Nova Scotians, willing to sacrifice our air, soil and water – the very foundation of our health, well-being and survival – to the ideological ambition of becoming an energy superpower, as the premier – without the electorate’s
consent – has unilaterally decided for all Nova Scotians?”
– N.S. premier says out-of-budget spending will continue as necessary
Michael Gorman · CBC News “Government’s budget includes a $1.2-billion deficit and cuts to jobs and grants”
– Floods, fires, and Fiona: Premier Tim Houston’s government ignores enormous climate risks. As a result, insurance costs are skyrocketing
Joan Baxter in the Halifax Examiner. Helpful review of the impacts of the new budget on efforts to contribute to global efforst to reduce GHG emissions, local efforts to reduce flooding risks, enhance biodiversity protection etc. Comments Baxter: “These look like ideologically targeted cuts to eliminate initiatives that help Nova Scotians adapt to and tackle climate change.”
– Masthead News, March issue articles and letters highlight wildlife, tourism issues with budget changes
– Who will look out for Nova Scotia’s wildlife now by Mike Lancaster, Exec Dir. SMB Stewardship Assoc.
– Province needs to invest more in tourism services, not less by Shelly Webb, Former B&B Operator, SMB
– Closing Visitor Centres will hurt tourists by Taylor Butts, Lunenburg
– Government decisions putting province on damgerous path by R. Fraser, Halifax
– Premier has no mandate to eliminate wildlife division by Helga Gudeley, Boutiliers Point
– We’re paying for the PC supermajority by Robert Campbell, hammonds Plain
– Now we must be the voice for wildlife and nature by Lindsay Lee, EAC, Halifax
and related: Thick of fog: Another province approved salmon feedlot to have “dreadful environmental impact” by Jeff leBoutilier, Glen Haven
Mar 11, 2026:
– Hundreds rally outside N.S. legislature for third time in a week to demand ‘new budget now’
Madiha Hughes in Morning File (Halifax Examiner) “The intersectional rally titled “Shoulder to Shoulder to Shoulder: New Budget Now” organized by NS Arts Coalition and Theatre Nova Scotia was attended by Mi’kmaq land defenders, artists, people with disabilities, members of several environmental stewardship and student groups, and others. Shortly before the noon hour rally began, Premier Tim Houston announced that he was restoring some of the proposed cuts. As reported here by Jennifer Henderson, the areas where funding was restored include programs for people with disabilities, seniors, and African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities. But the rally still echoed with slogans like, “Hey Tim, you work for us, this isn’t good enough,” “new budget now,” and “Scotians, united, will never be divided,” because they argued that restoring only part of the funding creates a divide in the community…High school students in the province are hitting the picket lines today, and Tuesday’s rally included a large number of student protesters.”
Mar 10, 2026:
– Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston apologizes and reverses some budget cuts amid outcry
By Lyndsay Armstrong in the National Observer “…Vicky Levack, a disability rights advocate in Halifax, agreed that Houston’s reversal was proof that public pressure and protests work. “When we use our voices, our government does the right thing. It’s unfortunate they have to be shamed into doing it … but democracy is not dead,” she said in an interview outside the legislature Tuesday. Levack said she remains angry over the government’s cuts to arts and culture programming, and she will continue to protest in support of these sectors. “The arts are also disability support. Those grants allow people with disabilities and other minorities to tell their stories where commercial art spaces don’t allow us those opportunities,” she said….”One kind of rule that I always have …. is can I put my hand on my heart and (ask) — ‘we did the right thing there?’ And I think when I put hand on my heart and said, ‘well, what would the impact be on people living with disabilities?’ I couldn’t live with that,” Houston said. The premier said when it comes to cuts to other sectors, he wishes he “could do more. But I have to live with that.” He acknowledged that some, including people in the arts and culture sector, would be disappointed they were not included among the programs he’s choosing to reinstate. “To the arts community, even though the program adjustments will remain, you are valued. Art and culture is a big part of what makes this province special. It’s a big reason why people want to live here, it’s a reason why others want to come here,” Houston said. Another demonstration outside the legislature on Tuesday followed Houston’s announcement. It featured performances from several musicians and bands. Chants and music from the rally could be heard clearly from inside the legislature for more than three hours.”
–
– Hundreds of people gathered once again outside Province House
Halifaxnoise with friendsofckdu in Halifax, NS on FB “Today, from @friendsofckdu —
Hundreds of people gathered once again outside Province House to rally against cuts to arts, culture, education, and healthcare programs on Tuesday, March 10, 2026. N.S. based artists Jah’Mila (pictured) and Ben Caplin pump the crowd up before the speakers began. The rally opened with Mi’kma’ki grandmothers chanting the traditional Honour Song and Gathering Song. A plethora of new, spicy signs were hoisted for all to see #hfxnoise @hfxnoise @jahmilasings @nsartscoalition @musicnovascotia #artsns
– ‘I’m sorry’: Nova Scotia premier reverses some budget cuts, stands firm on others
By Rebecca Lau Global News “Nova Scotia’s premier has apologized for some of the province’s budget cuts after some “soul-searching” and announced his government will restore funding and grants to certain areas after days of protests and outcry….Houston said his government will be reinstating $21.4 million in grants to support seniors and people with disabilities, as well as programs that assist African Nova Scotian and Indigenous people in accessing educational opportunities. Another $10 million will be reinstated for organizations that support these groups and $22.2 million in funding for community programs will be re-established…Nova Scotia’s original 2026-27 budget reduced or eliminated more than 280 grants across multiple government departments as the province aimed to save about $130 million while projecting a deficit of roughly $1.2 billion. The reductions affected a range of programs, including scholarships, arts funding and initiatives supporting Mi’kmaw and Black and African Nova Scotian communities. As well, the province announced it was closing three provincial museums and several tourist information centres.” The budget also included a five per cent yearly cut in the civil service and a three per cent cut in public service and Crown corporations, all of which were projected to save $95 million.”
A Call To Action: Hunters Mountain
by Climate Change Task Force Unamaki, Mar 9, 2026 (on YouTube)
“From this time-lapse we can see that what was once a lush forest covering Hunters Mountain has turned into a patchwork quilt telling a tale of negligent, exploitative extraction. Forestry has been clear cutting large swathes of the mountain. Where there was once a diverse forest with deep, water and carbon sequestering roots that prevented disease and erosion, we now have vulnerable monocultures of short root spruce and pine. Our land, water, and wildlife (in particular moose) are now suffering the consequences. In 2025, land protectors stepped up to protest the harm done to the mountain and its medicines. The CCTF stands with them as they call on the government and all the people to end the exploitation. On December 10th 2025, during the CCTF hosted Hunters Mountain Webinar, Dr. Elder Albert Marshall shared a message of compassion and responsibility, calling on us to care for this land as it cares for us. Part of that message can be heard here.”
Mar 9, 2026:
–CBC Maritime Noon with Bob Murphy March 9, 2026 (Audio)
And off the top, we speak with Raymond Plourde from the EAC about potential impacts of the NS budget on forestry
“RP: the omnibus bill for the Budget Bill 198 affects Conservation Easements and Community Easements Acts, so two different acts of law, one is for conservation easements – that’s… private land trusts, like Nova Scotia Nature Trust, the Nature Conservancy of Canada, would use this tool to protect land in this province and it looks like this kind of undermines that.” View Rough Transcript
– Why Halifax musician Ben Caplan’s budget explanation videos have hit a chord with Nova Scotians
By Josh Healey for the Chronicle Herald “This dulcet baritone is using his pipes to make informative, viral budget breakdowns on social media…When asked why they have done so well, Caplan said many people haven’t been paying attention with daily demands of life but have tuned back in with government decisions impacting so many.”
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Finance Minister John Lohr delivers the government’s 2026-27 budget at Province House in Halifax.
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Mar 8, 2026
How Nova Scotia spent our money
Bev W. post on Annapolis Environment & Ecology (public FB group) “Here’s something very interesting that we should all be taking a good hard look at. This shows the expenses for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025. Some of these departments cost a lot of $$$ to operate. Dept. of Cyber Security and Digital Solutions = $246,549,111.62. That Department actually cost more than the full $$$ of the Dept. of Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage that is being severely chopped this year ($242,321.004.00). Anyhow, here’s a link to take a look around at what the Province spent money on in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2025. It’s all broken down so that you can see what things cost. Have fun! https://notices.novascotia.ca/files/public-accounts/2025/pa-supplementary-2025.pdf
Mar 7, 2026:
– To those living and working in Nova Scotia
A full page paid advertisement appeared in Saturday March 7 edition of the Chronicle Herald.Maw-lukutilik Saqmag/Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs. “…The year 2026 and beyond will bring many opportunities and challenges to the
Province of Nova Scotia. Handling those effectively will be made more difficult by the recent decisions of the Province to reduce funding to important initiatives and staff to deparments like Natural Resources. The Province’s pursuit of short-term economic gain cannot be to the detriment of the environment of Mikma’ki. Although the Province may intend to neglect its duties to our shared lands and waters, the Mikmaq do not. We have been caretakers and co-managers of the lands, waters and resources for centuries. Our Indigenous sisters and brothers across Turtle Island share these concerns and have too used their voices, bodies and spirits to protect the resources, when necessary…”
– NN to Premier “Please withdraw this budget and try again”
A letter from Nina Newington, Mount Hanley to Premier Houston “I learned today that this government’s planned budget cuts extend even to cutting the budget of Carlton Road Industries Association in Lawrencetown, a small village in Annapolis County, close to where I live. Carlton Road helps adults with disabilities of all sorts transition to the workforce and, when that is not possible, provides meaningful employment opportunities with the supervision of qualified staff. They run the gas station, recycling depot, post office and laundromat in Lawrencetown, a benefit to the whole village…If this government wants to encourage mining, the very least it could do is make sure all Nova Scotians benefit. If you had doubled the royalty rate on gold to 2% from the rock-bottom rate of 1%, back when you talked about doing so in 2023, we would not be in the financial hole. We can’t afford to have the lowest royalty rate in the world for gold mining companies, and why should we?…”
Mar 5
John Lohr MLA Kings North’s Bill 198 (Financial Measures Act) is attempting to increase tax for forest landowners not currently involved in forestry activities.
Post by Nature NS on FB. View copy of post on NSFM
Mar 4, 2026:
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston speaks with reporters in Halifax – March 4, 2026
CPAC on YouTube. “Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston speaks with reporters following the daily question period in the provincial legislature.” Comment: At 3:28 the Premier is questioned about the $1M for the Sail GP event in Halifax harbour (see article below).
Question Given the broad range of cut, annual cuts to budgets, organizational budgets, how can you justify the continued spending of $1,000,000 for two days for Sail GP in Halifax harbour?
Premier: It all comes down to what are the opportunities to grow the province, what are the opportunities, [these] are just decisions that are made. We always examine them. I mean there are those that would maybe think that I should spend more time doing this and less time promoting Nova Scotia. Like they’re all decisions, all demands on time they are all the demands on resources. But I believe there are opportunities for this province, we’re trying to make the best decisions we can to unleash the potential we have so we can get to those days where we can once again, as we did in prior days, spend more. We’re not there today but we’re trying to get there.
– Wind in their sails: Billionaires’ SailGP event spared from Houston government’s budget cuts
Tim Bousquet in the Halifax Examiner “Premier Tim Houston’s austerity budget is inflicting huge cuts on a broad range of government initiatives and civil society groups…One grant, however, has not been cut or eliminated. A $1 million grant to Sail Nova Scotia for sponsoring the SailGP event, which allows a handful of rich and mostly white men to come to Halifax Harbour this summer to race their high performance boats.”
– Culture is Critical rally fills street to protest budget cuts outside of the Nova Scotia legislature
By Ally Bowes in the Chronicle Herald.“‘Sometimes when the government has been saying everybody’s got to do their part, this is disproportionately asking us to do everybody’s part’…Schwartz said many projects rely on collaboration among multiple groups, and those partnerships may become harder to maintain with reductions across the sector.c“If we are all cut by 30, 40, 50 per cent, the collective strength of the community is so diminished that we might not be able to accomplish anything at all,” he said. “It’s laying waste to the fabric of the things that we have built for many decades.”
Screenshot from FB post by Halifaxnoise
– Thousands take to streets to protest cuts to N.S. arts grants
Anjuli Patil · CBC News “About 2,000 people gathered outside Province House in Halifax on Wednesday to let the Houston government know grant cuts to Nova Scotia’s arts, tourism, culture and heritage sectors would cause irreparable harm, but the premier says his government intends to proceed with the budget. “It’ll be about $14 million saved in the [provincial] budget and it will decimate entire art groups,” Kimberlee Stadelmann, the executive director of Neptune Theatre, told CBC News. “It’s not a huge savings for what they’re looking for, but can really destroy our arts and culture, our museums, our theatres and individual artists’ practices.”…Similar rallies were planned in nine communities across the province this week…Inside Province House, where chants from protesters could be heard, Premier Tim Houston stood firm on the cuts. “The reality is a $1.2-billion deficit last year, a $1.2-billion deficit this year—I mean, something has to give,” Houston told reporters.”
The article includes a Commotion with Elamin Abdelmahmoud video in which “Poet and culture critic El Jones and novelist Stephanie Domet join Elamin Abdelmahmoud to explain what’s on the line for the province’s artists and organizations.” Noted Stephanie Domet:
People aren’t coming here because our HST was reduced to 14% or because there’s no tolls on our harbour bridge which together by the way that’s $350 million that the province used to bring in -which is coincidentally just a little bit more than is being cut from these crucial programs that support Nova Scotians. So if we want to talk math, its right there.”
COMMENT ‘Very apt given the purely political, get-the-vote nature of the PC Gov decision to reduce the HST and remove bridge tolls, re: Nova Scotia to Cut HST to Lowest in Atlantic Canada by April 2025 (RRC Dec 14, 2024) & For the first time ever, there are no tolls on Halifax bridges. Why now? (Andrew Sampson · CBC News · Posted: Mar 25, 2025).
Mar 3, 2026
– ‘Please don’t do this’: Heated Rivalry author Rachel Reid speaks out against Nova Scotia arts funding cuts
By Ally Bowes in the Chrinicle Herald. “Bestselling romance author Rachel Reid is speaking out against Nova Scotia’s proposed cuts to arts funding, calling them “devastating” in a letter posted to Instagram. Reid, author of the popular novel Heated Rivalry, said she wrote the letter “both as a lifelong resident of Nova Scotia and as one of the bestselling authors in the world currently.” “The arts are why I live in Nova Scotia,” she wrote. “We have an incredible community that has produced so much art and talent that has been celebrated worldwide.” “I can say without a doubt that I am only an author today because of the strong arts scene here in Halifax,” she wrote, pointing to access to live music, art galleries, independent film screenings and poetry readings. ” According to Reid, those experiences made her believe that she could create, motivation that she worries is at risk for future artists.“I want young people in Nova Scotia, including my own kids, to also have the opportunity to be inspired and amazed here.”
– 
Save the Arts in Nova Scotia: Culture is Critical Rally
Event post on FB
“Tomorrow at 12 pm – 2 pm,
1726 Hollis Street, Halifax, NS B3J 1V9 Canada”
– Nova Scotia travel ban challenge proceeds as lawyers file detailed court brief
Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms “HALIFAX, NS: The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms announces that lawyers have filed a written brief in the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia on behalf of Jeffrey Evely, in advance of a March 17–19, 2026 hearing challenging the Province’s 2025 woods travel ban…“There are serious legal and constitutional issues with the decision of Nova Scotia to completely ban its citizens from being in more than 75 percent of the Province, ostensibly to protect the woods,” said Mr. Moore, one of the lawyers representing Mr. Evely. “Banning people from hiking in the woods despite posing zero fire risk, while expressly permitting heavy industrial activities with significant fire risks to continue, demonstrates the lack of rationality and unconstitutional arbitrariness of Nova Scotia’s woods travel ban,” he added…Mr. Evely, a retired Canadian Armed Forces veteran and father of two, was fined $25,000 under the ban on walking in the woods. He relies on daily, multi-hour walks in the forest to support his physical and mental health, and the travel ban prevented him from maintaining this routine.”
– 
Save West Mabou Beach Provincial Park on the Shoulder to Shoulder Rally
On Save West Mabou Beach Provincial Park FB page.
“Today, March 3, is World Wildlife Day. It’s not just a celebration—it’s a call to action. This year’s focus is “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage, and Livelihoods.”
Here in Nova Scotia, the government’s actions are diametrically opposed to “conserving health, heritage, and livelihoods.”
❌ Slashing the Wildlife Division at DNR
❌ Proposing budget cuts that disproportionately hurt our arts, culture, and most vulnerable citizens
❌ Prioritizing corporate interests over the public good
Today, hundreds of Nova Scotians—representing more than 60 Mi’kmaq and settler groups—protested our government selling out our province to corporate interests. Speakers talked about the need to preserve our land for the next seven generations and for creatures who cannot speak up for themselves. We were proud to be a part of this event and the movement that will keep helping us move forward together.
For those who were unable to join the rally, you can write to your MLA and Premier Houston and let your voice be heard.
Premier Houston: PREMIER@novascotia.ca. https://nslegislature.ca/members/profiles/contactnslegislature.ca
– Protesters rally outside N.S. legislature as tensions rise inside during debate
Rebecca Lau et al., for Global News
– Protesters rally against N.S. budget cuts, call on government to honour Indigenous rights
By Jesse Thomas for CTV News “HALIFAX — Hundreds of people gathered outside the Nova Scotia legislature in Halifax Tuesday afternoon for the “Shoulder to Shoulder” rally, which called on the Progressive Conservative government to honour Indigenous rights and protect the environment. The event brought together groups from across the province, including members of the Mi’kmaw community, environmental activists and labour groups…Mi’kmaq rights activist Cheryl Maloney spoke to the crowd outside the legislature, saying the government has to honour Indigenous rights, consult with them, and include them at the table. “Nothing happens in Nova Scotia without the will of the people and Mi’kmaq rights being met,” said Maloney. “We have to start working together, that’s the only thing that ‘s going to save us, is working together, shoulder to shoulder with all our neighbours…The province spent $300,000 this year to help develop the mining sector and gave Invest Nova Scotia $1.5 million to encourage development of natural resources like mining and forestry work.The Houston government has also lifted blanket bans on uranium exploration and hydraulic fracturing of fossil fuels, which has angered environmentalists and some First Nations leaders.”
– Nimbus Publishing talks about recent funding cuts
globalnews.ca. “We check in with Terrilee Bulger from Nimbus Publishing to get a feel for the impact of the elimination of the Nova Scotia Publisher Assistance Program last week as part of the provincial budget.”
– As the powerful burn it all down, regular people are the source of decency, humanity, and common sense
Tim Bousquet in Morning File (Halifax Examiner) “The powerful are waging war against decency, humanity, and common sense…
PEOPLE’S RESPONSES to the current crisis:
1. Government employees: a technician with Dept. of Agriculture
2. Civil service: a retired wildlife biologist, a professor
3. The Arts: a writer, a librarian, a musician, two artists
4. Regular people
Not local, but related:
– Global economy must stop pandering to ‘frivolous desires of ultra-rich’, says UN expert
Matthew Taylor for The Guardian “The global economy must be reordered to ensure it serves ordinary people around the world rather than the “frivolous and destructive demands of the ultra-rich”, according to a leading UN figure. Olivier De Schutter, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, says politicians must stop prioritising “socially and ecologically destructive growth” that only increases the profits – and serves the consumption demands – of the world’s richest individuals and corporations. Instead, to tackle the interwoven crises of rising inequality, ecological collapse and resurgent far-right politics, a new economic agenda is needed…”
Mar 2, 2026:
– TOM URBANIAK: A new era for Nova Scotia politics
By Tom Urbaniak • For The Cape Breton Post. “Centralized scarcity. Welcome to the current era in Nova Scotia politics. Nova Scotia has long been a “have-not” province, so scarcity is nothing new. But there will be a big jolt in the next year. Things have been moving fast. We will certainly notice disappearing services, shrinking organizations (including organizations that help vulnerable people) and disappearing seed funding for local projects. Ideologically, Premier Tim Houston’s ruling Progressive Conservative government has moved away from the centre of the political spectrum, toward the right. A small but consequential example: Halifax bridge tolls ($1.25 per crossing for most drivers) were eliminated last year. It was deemed an affordability measure – at a cost of at least $40 million to the public purse. But drivers of electric vehicles will soon pay a new, Alberta-style $500 levy every two years. And drivers of hybrids will pay a new levy of $250 every two years…The legislature seldom sits. Barely back in session for the first time since Oct. 3, the House of Assembly will probably rise in a couple of weeks and not meet again until next October. MLAs are given almost no time to read complex and consequential omnibus bills. And the government now routinely appropriates significant public money that has not been authorized by the legislature, despite the constitutional requirement to come back to the House. The auditor general has raised alarm bells about this.Meanwhile, municipalities have less authority, especially over developers and planning. Developers can just talk to the provincial government. School boards no longer exist. Universities and Nova Scotia Community College are becoming less autonomous. There are fewer centres of gravity outside the premier’s office to hold out or push back.
I am worried about our province…The government will not try to get back $300 million a year from last year’s one per cent HST reduction. The cold political calculus is that voters will notice that saving/gesture more than the projected 2026-2027 deficit of $1.24 billion. The cold political calculus is also that “special interests”, who probably don’t vote PC, are the people who care most about reduced or eliminated “discretionary” scholarships, arts programs, museums, climate-change prevention projects or public-transit assistance.WATCH FOR BECKY DRUHAN Becky Druhan is someone to watch right now. The former justice minister left the Progressive Conservative caucus last October and is now an independent MLA. She is maintaining a high profile…SILENT PC MLAs In the era of centralized scarcity, you will still see MLAs from the governing party in your riding. You might even see them in the legislature. But you will probably not hear PC backbenchers debating bills. Even ministers don’t speak much. Soon, thanks to a proposed resolution, ministers might not be required to answer questions in the House (they would punt to ministerial assistants), even if the responsible minister is present. The House of Assembly is fading away as an institution. Welcome to the era of centralized scarcity.”
Mar 1, 2026:
– N.S. premier booed at African Heritage Month gala as budget cuts spark upset
Michael Gorman · CBC News “Boos rained down on Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston as he addressed the crowd at an African Heritage Month gala in Halifax Saturday night, attempting to quell concerns about budget cuts.”
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On the abrupt, massive changes at DNR Feb 28, 2026: – The Nova Scotia Government has released its austerity budget after five years of out-of-budget spending Feb 27, 2026: Feb 26, 2026: Feb 25, 2026: – Arts and culture in Nova Scotia left reeling from ‘unprecedented’ cuts Feb 24, 2026: Feb 23, 2026: – Commentary: The BlackRock Boy Makes Good Feb 21, 2026: Received by NSFM.Feb 19, 2026: |
Feb 28, 2026:
On Bills Becoming Law in NS
Post by Becky Druhan, MLA Lunenburg West on her FB Page
What Happened This Week at the Nova Scotia Legislature 🏛️
It has been a packed week. Government has been setting schedules that begin with opposition briefings around 8:00 a.m. and calling the House to sit until 11:59 p.m. most days.
Next week starts with Public Bills Committee on Monday and contact information is below if you want to participate. Also below is a Week In Review overview of government bills and motions you should know about. I’ve tagged the responsible Ministers for anyone who wants to call and share concerns but don’t forget to reach out to your own MLA as well…Read more”
Feb 26, 2026:
– Nova Scotia PCs want to send assistants to question period instead of ministers
By Ally Bowes in the Chronicle Herald.
– Nothing will get in the way of forest extraction
Tim Bousquet in the Halifax Examiner “There were three legislative bills presented yesterday. I haven’t had time to report fully on them, but I’ll just note here that one provision of the Financial Measures Act will allow the government to tow and impound the cars of people parked “illegally” on Crown land. This is completely directed at protestors like the Indigenous folks who blockaded a logging operation at Hunters Mountain last year. It has nothing to do with Finance, but there it is stuck in the Financial Measures Act.”
Feb 24, 2026:
Conservative amendments to C-15 put guardrails on controversial bill [Federal]
By Natasha Bulowski in the National Observer “A handful of Conservative amendments will partially curtail sweeping powers the government is granting itself to exempt corporations from laws, but some opposition MPs and the Canadian Civil Liberties Association say the changes don’t go far enough and still allow exemptions from important environmental laws…Conservative amendments added important guardrails to a proposed legal provision that would let ministers exempt corporations from laws but even with the changes the ministerial powers are too broad Elizabeth May and civil society groups say…This is an improvement, but environmental laws are notably absent from the list, May said — meaning they could still not apply at the discretion of the government. The only environmental law that can’t be circumvented after the amendment is the Nuclear Safety and Control Act, she added. “The Conservatives have achieved an important improvement,” May said, but ideally the provision would be struck out in its entirety, she added. “It’s a lot less awful, but I think it’s still awful.” May argued the “regulatory sandbox” should be restricted to innovations in the financial sector, as has been the case in other countries. One thing is clear: public pressure was a big part of getting these improvements, May said. “I think I’d raised enough of a stink … and a lot of NGOs and a lot of individual Canadians took action so the Liberals and the Conservatives agreed and came up with this compromise,” she said.”
Feb 18, 2026:
– Overwhelmingly negative reactions to proposed fossil fuel power plants in Pictou County
Joan Baxter in the Halifax Examiner “Matt Russell didn’t even hear about the two 300-megawatt fossil fuel power generating plants proposed for his native Pictou County until early 2026, weeks after the projects had been submitted to the Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Climate Change for environmental assessment. When Russell did finally hear about them, he learned that one plant was to be located in Salt Springs close to important salmon habitat in tributaries to the West River, and the other in Marshdale near the East River about 12 kilometres southwest of New Glasgow. He was shocked and alarmed…Russel, 25 years old and a member of the Pictou Rivers Association, is also a marine ecologist who did his master’s degree on salmon ecology in freshwater systems, specifically in the East River that is crucial habitat for juvenile Atlantic salmon…It wasn’t until Jan. 5, 2026 that the federal Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) opened the projects to public comments. As it was for comments to NSECC, the deadline for comments to IAAC was Feb. 9. Still, dozens of people and organizations managed to find the time to slog through more than a thousand pages of environmental assessment documents for the two projects, and then submit comments before the tight deadline…Each plant will use about 330,000 litres of fresh water every day, about the same amount used by 750 rural households…The power plants are slated for private lands in Salt Springs and Marshdale, Pictou County. The Marshdale plant is proposed on a 140-acre property belonging to Elmer MacKay, a former federal Progressive Conservative minister and father of Peter MacKay, who also held key ministerial portfolios in Stephen Harper’s Conservative government.”
– Abacus Nova Scotia Poll: Houston’s PCs Starting Winter Session at 48%
Kelly Bennett & David Coletto for abucusdata.ca Detailed breakdown and analysis of the stats.
Feb 13, 2026:
– NDP blames closed-door government spending for Nova Scotia’s billion-dollar deficit
Lyndsay Armstrong · The Canadian Press on CBC. “Nova Scotia’s Opposition leader is taking aim at the government’s $1.4-billion deficit that she says has been driven in part by spending that is not authorized by the legislature. Claudia Chender said Friday the Progressive Conservative took power with a surplus, “and now, for the first time in 30 years, the PC government has driven us to an historic deficit which has resulted in the first credit rating downgrade since 1993.”…The party leader said it’s irresponsible that the Progressive Conservative government has been spending about a billion dollars a year that isn’t included in annual budgets. The province’s auditor general has said that Premier Tim Houston’s government has spent $6.7 billion outside the budget process since the 2020-21 fiscal year, including $1.6 billion in 2024-25. “We have seen a number of untendered contracts and a number of (financial) decisions made seemingly behind closed doors, with less and less transparency when it comes to how spending is done,” Chender said.”
– Thousands of Nova Scotia’s unionized provincial workers being ordered back into the office
By Ally Bowes in the Chronicle Herald “The Nova Scotia Government and General Employees Union (NSGEU) is pushing back against the provincial government’s decision to end flexible remote work for thousands of civil servants…NSGEU president Sandra Mullen said in the release that “rather than looking at alternate workplaces as a cost-savings measure, Premier (Tim) Houston has decided to pass the buck onto these workers, while forcing more commuters onto our crowded roads.”
Feb 12, 2026:
Opinion: Nova Scotia should think before getting on ‘treadmill of production’ for resources
By Olaoluwatofunmi Mosesm, op-ed on Chroncle Herald. “…Although the promise of economic growth is tempting, I must urge Atlantic Canadians to look closer at the social and environmental costs of taking the “no” out of resource development. When industry advocates with significant financial stakes in recent developments try to foster optimism in the community, I notice they overlook a fundamental problem: speeding up the extraction of high-risk resources to solve relatively short-term economic challenges often leads to long-term environmental destruction that no amount of royalty revenue can repair…We have seen the devastating results of unchecked resource extraction before. Before we rush to restart this treadmill, we need to ask if we are prioritizing the needs of the world economy over the long-term health and safety of Atlantic Canadians.”
Jan 28, 2026:
Life after tolls: What really happened to Halifax bridge traffic?
By Jen Taplin for Chronicle Herald. Traffic has increased since tolls were removed, the article looks at why, issues such as “Has commuter behaviour changed? “…Coun. Laura White (Halifax South Downtown) said she hears a lot from residents about congestion in her district. “There’s more cars crossing the bridge. So that’s what’s called induced demand. You’ve made it easier to drive so more trips are being taken, so that is the opposite of what I’d like to see for HRM.” Tolls can be an effective way of easing traffic if they’re done right, according to Halifax infrastructure investment analyst Deny Sullivan.’ He wrote in a piece for The Chronicle Herald that it has been repeatedly proven in studies around the world that tolls can be used effectively in reducing congestion. Removing tolls does the opposite.“Premier Houston said tolls are ‘nothing more than a tax.’ Wrong. They’re an acknowledgement that in a city of half a million, most of us drivers, we cannot all use the roads at the same time,” Sullivan wrote.” COMMENT An unfortunate example of our current Premier/His Gov. taking a “Father Knows Best” approach without looking critically at stats, evidence.
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