Lohr dodges questions on state of consultations with Mi’kmaw group over Lake Pisiquid

John Lohr, Nova Scotia’s minister responsible for emergency management, sidestepped questions from reporters on Thursday asking if the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs was consulted about the decision to continue to refill Lake Pisiquid, near Windsor, N.S..

The man-made lake was drained following a Department of Fisheries and Oceans order in 2021 requiring the gates of an aboiteau — a type of water channel — at the end of the lake to remain open for 10 minutes each day at the changing of the tides to allow fish to pass through.

The lake refilled following a provincial emergency order in June 2023. The order has been renewed every two weeks since then.

Chief Sidney Peters, the co-chair of the assembly, said in a Feb. 13 news release that with the province currently recovering from record snowfall amounts, it was clear the order was no longer about wildfire suppression or water availability.

With spring approaching, the release said, Mi’kmaq were concerned that the closed gates will affect fish migration.

Speaking after Thursday’s cabinet meeting, Lohr said the lake was “absolutely crucial” for fire suppression in the town.

“I don’t take any pleasure out of being at odds with the chiefs,” Lohr said. 

Pressed on what communication had taken place with the assembly, Lohr said he and his staff had spoken to some of the chiefs about the issue.

When asked when he last spoke to them, Lohr declined to answer the question.

Opposition leaders weigh in

Liberal leader Zach Churchill criticized Premier Tim Houston’s handling of the issue and said a permanent solution was needed, rather than renewing a provincial emergency order.

“I have to point out here they’re willing to call a state of emergency in in West Hants over this issue, when there’s not a present emergency,” Churchill said.

“And he made fun of the CBRM for calling a state of emergency when there actually was a state of emergency.”

NDP leader Claudia Chender said if the provincial government wants to keep the lake filled, they should do it legitimately and not through an emergency order.

Chender said the government needs to engage in meaningful conversations with the assembly.

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