Opposition MLAs worry N.S. government is shelving environmental racism report

Opposition MLAs in Nova Scotia are raising concerns that the government may be burying a report on environmental racism, as senior Public Works officials admitted during a committee meeting that they have not seen the report or its recommendations a year after it was completed.

In March, Deputy Premier Barb Adams stated in question period that the report and its recommendations “are being used by all government departments” as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the issues identified by the panel. However, during a recent public accounts committee meeting focused on contaminated sites, Public Works deputy minister Paul LaFleche and other officials revealed that they have not been briefed on the report.

LaFleche assured reporters that his department would familiarize themselves with the report and take necessary actions if any recommendations pertain to their responsibilities for managing contaminated sites. Liberal MLA Iain Rankin expressed frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding the report, suggesting that the government may be hesitant to confront the findings.

NDP MLA Lisa Lachance echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the importance of making the report public and sharing it widely within the government. She referenced historical incidents like Boat Harbour, Africville, and Shelburne, where environmental injustices have disproportionately impacted Black communities in Nova Scotia.

The panel and its report were established following an NDP amendment to environmental legislation in 2022, with the report being submitted to the province in June 2024. Justice Minister Becky Druhan, who oversees the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, has declined to confirm whether she has reviewed the report, and her department has stated that the report was not intended for public release.

African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Twila Grosse has not been made available to address questions regarding the handling of the report. The lack of transparency and communication surrounding the report has raised concerns among opposition members about the government’s commitment to addressing environmental racism in the province.