News 1. Pulp Culture We’ve published Linda Pannozzo’s detailed review of how through the decades the province has oriented forest policies — and purposefully subverted science — to favour the pulp industry over the lumber industry. As a result, overcutting has resulted in smaller trees that provide less lumber, and now the sawmills are […]
The Lahey Review of Forest Practices is published; what does it mean?
Bill Lahey’s prescription was sweeping: “We need a new paradigm to manage our forests.” That’s what the University of King’s College president told journalists after handing the McNeil government the results of a year-long review of forestry practices in Nova Scotia. McNeil appointed Lahey last August after choosing not to implement key recommendations of the […]
Fool’s Gold
Nova Scotia's Myopic Pursuit of Metals & Minerals (Part 4)
A Halifax Examiner / Cape Breton Spectator investigation. This is the fourth and final instalment in a series of articles on the push for mines and quarries in Nova Scotia. You can find Part I here. How the mining lobby is working to undermine environmental protection in Nova Scotia On a cold day in late November […]
Fool’s Gold
Nova Scotia's Myopic Pursuit of Metals & Minerals
A Halifax Examiner / Cape Breton Spectator investigation. Part 1: Welcome to the Gold Rush There’s a 21st century gold rush starting in Nova Scotia, just as industrial gold mining is increasingly coming into disrepute around the world. It has been described as an “environmental disaster” which often leads to contamination of water sources on […]
Birds of prey and the meaning of life, Shearwater edition
Morning File, Friday, April 20, 2018
1. St. Margaret’s Bay development Last week, Philip Moscovitch reviewed the largest residential development ever proposed for St. Margaret’s Bay — and the divisions in the community it has caused. Moscovitch now follows that up with a report on a meeting held Wednesday night to take public input on the proposal. Click here to read “Talking […]
Labi Kousoulis doesn’t understand his own party’s clearcutting policy: Morning File, Tuesday, May 23, 2017
News 1. Rebecca Taylor aims to dethrone Karen Casey There’s an interesting electoral battle playing out in Colchester North, where Karen Casey, the PC wannabe leader turned union-busting Liberal Education minister, faces a stiff challenge from Rebecca Taylor, the Girl Guide leader turned soap-maker. Thomas is positioning herself as the anti-incumbant, reports Jennifer Henderson: She says […]
McNeil promises independent review of clearcutting; critics say it’s not necessary
"We've already had a massive, exhaustive independent public review of forestry practices," says Raymond Plourde of the Ecology Action Centre. "In fact, we've had two or three in recent years."
Yesterday, Stephen McNeil made four campaign promises that he said are aimed at “preserving and enhancing the environment.” Critics say they are aimed at preserving the status quo. A re-elected Liberal government would continue the ban on onshore fracking. It would introduce a Coastal Protection Act after public consultation on issues concerning the fishery and offshore drilling....
Forest Tragedy
How the forest industry and compliant bureaucrats hijacked the public will
They were heady days. It was spring of 2008 and citizens started gathering in droves in community halls to talk about why the natural world mattered to them. A few months earlier Conservative Natural Resources Minister David Morse announced that Voluntary Planning would lead a year of independent public consultations on the province’s minerals, forests, […]