Experts and citizens of Nova Scotia continue to mobilize to denounce the abandonment of the coastal protection law.
Nearly 300 people demonstrated on Wednesday in front of the Legislative Assembly building in downtown Halifax.
Five years ago, all parties supported the implementation of the Coastal Protection Act, but at the end of February the Minister of the Environment abandoned the idea.
All three political parties had passed this law. The government has no reason not to proclaim the law
denounces the Liberal MP for Clare, Ronnie Leblanc.
Having been a municipal councilor, I know that municipalities do not have the capacity and that will create divisions, it would require a uniform law across the province.
Protesters want clear and uniform rules
People who want the law to be proclaimed believe that it would offer more protection to coastal areas, dunes and marshes, in addition to limiting real estate development along the coast exposed to a significant risk of erosion, particularly with climatic changes.
The director of programs at the Ecological Action Center in Halifax believes many people in the province are really concerned about the scrapping of the coastal protection law.
Nearly 300 demonstrators voiced their discontent on Wednesday in Halifax. Photo: Courtesy: Peter Brass
We are in a climate crisis
recalls Marla Macleod. In a crisis, we need clear rules to protect ourselves and our ecosystems. There are 49 municipalities in Nova Scotia and there may be 49 differences in rule systems.
She believes the Progressive Conservative government simply has the wrong approach.
The government imagined this as an individual problem, but it is a collective problem
assures Marla Macleod. When someone does something near the coast, it has effects on all the neighbors.
The government defends itself
Rather than legislate, the Nova Scotia government has released an online mapping tool that shows the worst-case scenario for coastal properties in 2100, based on current sea level projections.
Like Nova Scotians, the government agrees that our coasts must be protected and is taking action to do so
assures Minister Tim Halman in an email response regarding citizen mobilization.
Work is progressing on the Coastal Protection Action Plan as part of a partnership between municipal officials and the province….]Nova Scotians can rest assured that we are taking action to better protect our coastal communities.
