N.S. government refuses to release recommendations of environmental racism report

Opposition leaders say it's disgraceful that the Nova Scotia government is refusing to release the recommendations of a report it received on environmental racism.

Justice Minister Becky Druhan is also refusing to say if she's even read those recommendations.

"Obviously, they're not releasing it for a reason. We have major concerns over that," interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette told reporters in Halifax.

"It's disgraceful what I heard today."

The minister has "the absolute obligation" to release the report so communities can see what's in it, he said.

"These conversations are important. These are healing opportunities for families, families were impacted by environmental racism across the province."

The creation of the panel and its subsequent report was the product of an amendment proposed by NDP MLA Suzy Hansen to the Progressive Conservative government's Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act in 2022.

AllNovaScotia.com reported on Wednesday that the province has received the report but is withholding its recommendations.

Minister provides no explanation

Speaking to reporters following a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Druhan would not provide any explanation for that decision.

"That work happened at [the Office of Equity and Anti-racism] prior to my tenure here. We are moving forward with those recommendations in mind."

The minister said she is "personally committed to transparency and to the sharing of information."

Druhan refused to answer repeated questions about why the government is not making the recommendations public, whether the panel recommended reparations and whether she's even read the recommendations.

"It predated my time at the office," she said.

'They don't want to be held accountable'

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the government's decision to withhold the recommendations is "disheartening" for the people who worked on the panel and the communities that have experienced environmental racism.

"The only conclusion I can draw is that they don't want to be held accountable to [the report's] recommendations," she told reporters.

"The reason that they did this panel was to understand the legacy — the harmful legacy of environmental racism in this province — and understand how not to repeat it. So let's see what those recommendations were and let's all work together to make sure that we don't repeat that legacy, that we don't perpetuate it."

Druhan said a "key insight" to come from the report is the need for "systemic and foundational change" to the way the province handles and addresses discrimination and racism.

• Communities hope new panel will help shed light on historical environmental racism

One step toward doing that is a previously announced plan to modernize and improve the province's Human Rights Commission, she said.

"We're really excited about that work, which will support addressing racism, addressing discrimination in all its forms across Nova Scotia — including issues around land use and environmental racism."

The minister noted that municipalities are also developing equity and anti-racism plans following a provincial directive.