N.S. moves forward with plan to force municipalities to protect coastlines

The Nova Scotia government is taking a new approach to coastal protection by putting the onus on municipalities to draft their own bylaws. With 13,000 kilometres of coastline to safeguard, Environment Minister Tim Halman announced a blueprint to help municipalities prevent coastal erosion.

This decision comes as a controversial move, as the Progressive Conservatives have opted not to enforce a 2019 law passed by the previous Liberal government that would have tasked the provincial government with managing coastal protection. Instead, they are empowering municipalities to take the lead in defining where coastal regulations should apply, establishing minimum building elevations, and creating buffer zones to shield infrastructure from erosion.

In support of this shift, Halman unveiled a new website featuring examples of bylaws and regulations that municipalities can utilize in their coastal protection efforts. Additionally, over $1.3 million has been allocated to the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities to hire a climate change policy analyst. This funding will assist the federation’s 49 members in developing their own bylaws tailored to their unique coastal challenges.

The Progressive Conservatives had pledged to provide municipalities with guidance on drafting bylaws when they introduced their coastal protection strategy in February 2024. They have also confirmed their decision not to enact the Liberals’ 2019 Coastal Protection Act.

By empowering municipalities to take charge of coastal protection, Nova Scotia is paving the way for localized solutions that address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of each coastal community. This shift in approach reflects a commitment to collaborative, community-driven solutions in safeguarding the province’s valuable coastline.