Additionally -- what happened to the Minister's Forest Advisory Committee (I believe that was what it was called). I think it was soon disbanded. Why? Likely because Rushton felt no need to listen to "advice" from anyone other than his circle of cronies.
The term "natural resources" is an interesting one. Everything in nature is considered a resource -- something that is available to be used for people's benefit, especially to be monetized.
It is absolutely appalling that the proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area is being surreptitiously sidetracked by this government. The underhanded, sneaky, untransparent way in which this is happening is infuriating. As with other Proposed Protected Areas, (Goldsmith, Chain Lakes, Sandy Lake, Beal's Brook, etc.,) this government's blatant collusion with developers and the industrial forestry industry in NS to allow High Production Forestry in some of our few remaining forested areas with such high ecological value is proof of the utter disregard and irresponsible negligence this government has demonstrated regarding crucial goals to protect our environment.
Clearly, Premier Houston is drunk with power after receiving a super-majority government with only 27% support of registered voters. This kind of autocratic, undemocratic decision-making without consultation (or even forewarning!) clearly indicates this government has abdicated its responsibility to properly manage the environment and resources of Nova Scotians. His anti-environmental policies and decisions fly in the face of his campaign promises and 2021 Legislation to Protect 20% of NS lands and waters by 2030 -- of which he has only managed to add 0.65% after 4 years.
It is also unsurprising that Premier Houston has shown zero regard and zero respect in terms of consulting and including the participation of the Mi'kmaw People on their Unceded Territory in Mi'kma'ki. Poisoning, developing, clear cutting, or otherwise destroying the Traditional Ancestral Lands of the Mi'kmaq shows his utter disregard and disrespect for the Peace and Friendship Treaty we are all obligated to respect and honour. Absolutely shameful.
The change in parties in the government was probably the death knell for public input into forestry and conservation. As most of us have noted, since the Houston government acquired power, communication has pretty much ceased. The public is given little to no chance to provide input on just about any matter. Letters to government departments go unanswered for many weeks to months. Meetings are never arranged although we hear that the forest industry and the hunting lobby seem to have an open door to meet with ministers. Communities and our municipal councils - at least here in the Annapolis Valley - have no better luck at communicating with the government, as is the case with large citizen groups such as Nature Nova Scotia. We are now the much hated and disparaged "Special Interest Groups" that Houston et all seek to ignore. The public is treated rudely -- just heard from someone who was spoken to rudely when they called DNR to ask a question about using the HPMV. All letters to government receive the same boilerplate reply -- the standard "We here at the Dept of So-and-so, take this matter very seriously and blah-blah-blah." Obviously, all of their communications staff studied the same Communication 101 "standard reply to fluff off the public" lessons at some community college. The state of things here in Nova Scotia is appalling -- the behaviour at DNR is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as transparency and public accountability is concerned. It could almost not be worse -- except maybe if we were in the U.S. under Trump right now -- but that's probably coming based on this new Bill 127 and the powers it promises to enact to "control" public protests against forest destruction.
Additionally -- what happened to the Minister's Forest Advisory Committee (I believe that was what it was called). I think it was soon disbanded. Why? Likely because Rushton felt no need to listen to "advice" from anyone other than his circle of cronies.
The term "natural resources" is an interesting one. Everything in nature is considered a resource -- something that is available to be used for people's benefit, especially to be monetized.
I've always hated the term.
It is absolutely appalling that the proposed Ingram River Wilderness Area is being surreptitiously sidetracked by this government. The underhanded, sneaky, untransparent way in which this is happening is infuriating. As with other Proposed Protected Areas, (Goldsmith, Chain Lakes, Sandy Lake, Beal's Brook, etc.,) this government's blatant collusion with developers and the industrial forestry industry in NS to allow High Production Forestry in some of our few remaining forested areas with such high ecological value is proof of the utter disregard and irresponsible negligence this government has demonstrated regarding crucial goals to protect our environment.
Clearly, Premier Houston is drunk with power after receiving a super-majority government with only 27% support of registered voters. This kind of autocratic, undemocratic decision-making without consultation (or even forewarning!) clearly indicates this government has abdicated its responsibility to properly manage the environment and resources of Nova Scotians. His anti-environmental policies and decisions fly in the face of his campaign promises and 2021 Legislation to Protect 20% of NS lands and waters by 2030 -- of which he has only managed to add 0.65% after 4 years.
It is also unsurprising that Premier Houston has shown zero regard and zero respect in terms of consulting and including the participation of the Mi'kmaw People on their Unceded Territory in Mi'kma'ki. Poisoning, developing, clear cutting, or otherwise destroying the Traditional Ancestral Lands of the Mi'kmaq shows his utter disregard and disrespect for the Peace and Friendship Treaty we are all obligated to respect and honour. Absolutely shameful.
The change in parties in the government was probably the death knell for public input into forestry and conservation. As most of us have noted, since the Houston government acquired power, communication has pretty much ceased. The public is given little to no chance to provide input on just about any matter. Letters to government departments go unanswered for many weeks to months. Meetings are never arranged although we hear that the forest industry and the hunting lobby seem to have an open door to meet with ministers. Communities and our municipal councils - at least here in the Annapolis Valley - have no better luck at communicating with the government, as is the case with large citizen groups such as Nature Nova Scotia. We are now the much hated and disparaged "Special Interest Groups" that Houston et all seek to ignore. The public is treated rudely -- just heard from someone who was spoken to rudely when they called DNR to ask a question about using the HPMV. All letters to government receive the same boilerplate reply -- the standard "We here at the Dept of So-and-so, take this matter very seriously and blah-blah-blah." Obviously, all of their communications staff studied the same Communication 101 "standard reply to fluff off the public" lessons at some community college. The state of things here in Nova Scotia is appalling -- the behaviour at DNR is scraping the bottom of the barrel as far as transparency and public accountability is concerned. It could almost not be worse -- except maybe if we were in the U.S. under Trump right now -- but that's probably coming based on this new Bill 127 and the powers it promises to enact to "control" public protests against forest destruction.