New Justice Minister must commit to releasing Environmental Racism Report

HALIFAX – Today, Suzy Hansen, the Official Opposition’s new Justice Critic, wrote to the recently appointed Minister of Justice to demand action and accountability on Environmental Racism.

The Houston government has been sitting on the Environmental Racism Report – which could provide a path forward in addressing environmental racism in Black and Indigenous communities – for more than a year. Despite months of questioning from the public, reporters, and the Opposition, the Houston government refuses to release the report or even discuss its contents.

“By hiding this report from the public, the Houston government is failing to take the very first step in addressing environmental racism. This sends a message to Indigenous and Black Nova Scotians that their input, their voices, their experiences, don’t matter,” said Hansen. “The communities living with generational health issues because of governments putting dumps and industrial sites in their backyards deserve to know what it says and they have to be able to trust that things will be done differently in the future.”

Scott Armstrong was recently appointed as the new Minister of Justice. New Democrats are calling on him, as his first act as Minister, to take leadership of this file and finally release the report.

“After more than a year of this government shirking responsibility, passing the issue around departments like a political hot potato, and hiding the report, Nova Scotians are left to wonder what’s in the report that the Houston government doesn’t want us to see,” said Hansen. “It’s time for the Houston government to respect Black and Indigenous communities and the hard work that went into the report and let Nova Scotians see it for themselves.”

In addition to Hansen being named the Official Opposition’s new Justice Critic, the NSNDP is also announcing its new shadow cabinet:

• Claudia Chender: Critic for Housing, Internal Affairs, L’Nu Affairs
• Susan Leblanc: Critic for Energy, Status of Women, Communities, Culture, Tourism and Heritage, Service Nova Scotia
• Lisa Lachance: Critic for Environment, Finance, Acadian and Francophone Affairs, 2SLGBTQIA+ Affairs, Mental Health and Addictions
• Suzy Hansen: Critic for Justice, African Nova Scotian Affairs, Equity and Anti-Racism, Human Rights Commission
• Kendra Coombes: Critic for Public Works, Natural Resources, Municipal Affairs, Emergency Management
• Paul Wozney: Critic for Ethics and Accountability, Education, Advanced Education, Labour, Public Service Commission
• Lina Hamid: Critic for Opportunities and Social Development, Cybersecurity and Digital Solutions, Immigration, Youth
• Krista Gallagher: Critic for Agriculture, Growth and Opportunities, Fisheries, Gaelic Affairs
• Rod Wilson: Critic for Health, Seniors, Office of Service Efficiency

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