Nova Scotia Government U.S.-Style Authoritarianism in Favour of Fracking

Apr 2, 2025

In this engaging discussion, Ken Summers, a passionate anti-fracking activist from Nova Scotia, joins Gretchen Fitzgerald, Executive Director of Sierra Club Canada Foundation, to unpack the alarming tactics of the provincial government. They delve into how recent measures resemble U.S. authoritarianism, including limiting media access and bypassing public consultation on fracking. They highlight a rally for democracy in Halifax, showcasing community resilience against these policies. Their conversation emphasizes the urgent need for transparency, renewable energy advocacy, and grassroots solidarity.

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INSIGHT

Exploiting Uncertainty

The Nova Scotia government is using the current global instability to push through unpopular, undemocratic measures.
These measures include lifting bans on fracking and uranium mining, despite previous public consultations and research supporting the bans.

INSIGHT

Divisive Tactics

Premier Houston's campaign to "take the no out of Nova Scotia" is a divisive tactic.
It demonizes environmental advocates and frames them as obstacles to progress rather than community protectors.

ANECDOTE

Fracking's Impact on Rural Landscape

Ken Summers describes encountering fracking in his rural Nova Scotia community.
He was surprised by the scale and intensity of the operations, comparing it to a refinery spread across the landscape.

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NS, under Premier Tim Houston, is trying to enact measures such as: - Limiting media access to elected leaders. - Giving the government the power to fire civil servants without cause.

- Making it harder to find out what the government is up to via access to information requests.

- Making it impossible to propose amendments at a government committee formerly called Law Amendments.

- Lifting bans on fracking and uranium mining (without consulting the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs), protections adopted after consultation and engagement with Nova Scotians and backed by health and economic research.

- Giving the government the power to appoint 50% of the Board of Governors of Nova Scotia universities and requiring universities to align their funding priorities with that of the government: a threat to the independence of academic institutions in the province.

The interview also comes after moves to enable the government to fire the Auditor General without cause and to hide the Auditor’s findings from the public were yanked recently.

It’s the same approach we are seeing in the U.S. itself to centralizing power and is reminiscent of the approach of the Government in Alberta as well.

But resistance to this approach by the provincial government is strong. Over 500 people subsequently joined a rally for democracy, organized by various groups from labour organizations and unions to environmental groups including Sierra Club Canada, that was held in Halifax to push back.

Conor talks with Ken Summers & Gretchen Fitzgerald.

There is also still time to tell the Nova Scotia Provincial Government to keep the bans on fracking & uranium. You can send your short letter with what you want (i.e. Drop Bill 6 - keep the bans on fracking and uranium) and why to: legc.office@novascotia.ca

Be sure to send us your questions at info@sierraclub.ca and sign up for email updates from us here: https://www.sierraclub.ca/subscribe-for-updates/

And don't forget to take action!

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Find out more and take action at sierraclub.ca/take-action/