New Democrats hold Houston accountable for abandoning the Coastal Protection Act

HALIFAX – Today, New Democrats will re-introduce legislation that would require the Houston government to enact the Coastal Protection Act, which was abandoned in February with no justification.

“Nova Scotians want their coastlines protected. When the Houston government scrapped the Coastal Protection Act, they went against the wishes of Nova Scotians across the province who wanted to preserve the future of our coastlines for generations to come,” said NSNDP Leader Claudia Chender. “We have yet to hear a good reason as to why this important legislation was abandoned. The Houston government shows us again and again that they will not be transparent and serve the best interests of Nova Scotians, or our province’s environment.”

More than 2,300 Nova Scotians signed a petition calling for the Coastal Protection Act to be enacted. New Democrats will table the petition at the legislature today.

Meanwhile, the Houston government’s own public consultations on the Coastal Protection Act shows Nova Scotians overwhelmingly want the act enacted.

“Our changing climate isn’t some far-off threat. We see it each year in the increase of severe weather events, wildfires, and floods,” said NSNDP Environment and Climate Change Spokesperson Lisa Lachance. “We need to protect our coastlines from the impacts of climate change. Nova Scotians know this. Why doesn’t the Houston government?”

The Coastal Protection Act passed in the legislature with all-party support in 2019. The NSNDP legislation would require the act to be made into law by Jan. 1, 2025.

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