Overview

• Claudia Chender renewed calls for the Progressive Conservative government to publish an environmental racism panel report, accusing it of a pattern of secrecy.
• The advisory panel, formed through an amendment by MLA Suzy Hansen and led by Augy Jones, was mandated to propose measures on racism, community healing and potential compensation by December 2023.
• Justice Minister Becky Druhan said the panel’s findings will steer future policy and highlighted efforts to modernize the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission but declined to set a publication timeline.
• Nova Scotia’s history of environmental racism includes dump sites near Shelburne and Lincolnville and pollution at Pictou Landing First Nation, underscoring concerns about repeating past harms.
• Observers note the government has also withheld the terms of a $170 million federal housing and infrastructure agreement and previously kept other consultation results from public view.