Premier must release report, act on environmental racism recommendations: NDP

HALIFAX – Today, Suzy Hansen, the Official Opposition Critic for African Nova Scotian Affairs, is calling on Premier Tim Houston to release the long-awaited report on environmental racism in Nova Scotia and take action to meaningfully address this issue.

The Houston government has refused to release the report or recommendations from the Environmental Racism Panel that could create meaningful action for communities that have been harmed for decades.

“Environmental racism is not in the distant past. Communities like Africville, Shelburne, Lincolnville, and Boat Harbour are still living with its impacts – and Black and Indigenous people are the ones paying the price,” said Hansen. “People gave their time and stories to this process in good faith. They deserve to see what came out of it.”

The Houston government has contradicted themselves multiple times on this file. Despite the Deputy Premier saying in the legislature in March that the recommendations are being used across government departments, the Minister of Justice won’t confirm if she’s read them, and the Deputy Minister of Public Works recently said he hasn’t seen the report.

“We have yet to hear about any clear actions taken to address environmental racism, and the Houston government can’t even get their officials to agree on whether or not the panel’s recommendations have been seen, let alone implemented,” said Hansen. “Keeping the recommendations hidden sends the wrong message. People affected by environmental racism have waited long enough. We need action from the Premier now.”

Hansen wrote to Premier Houston today, calling for him to lead on this file and take action to address the concerns of Black and Indigenous Nova Scotians.

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