N.S. gov't signals possible shift on keeping environmental racism report private

Amid ongoing public pressure, the Progressive Conservative government is signalling that details about a report on environmental racism in Nova Scotia could be shared.

The panel that produced the report delivered it to the government a year ago, but its contents have remained unknown. Public calls from Mi'kmaw chiefs and opposition MLAs for its release had gone unheeded, until Thursday afternoon.

A statement from Becky Druhan, the minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, said a public report was not part of the panel's mandate, but it is understandable that people would be interested and the government wants to be transparent.

"Out of respect for the panel, we want to meet with members before sharing any further details publicly. As minister, I have directed staff to reach out and arrange this meeting. I look forward to that discussion."

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Druhan's statement followed several of her cabinet colleagues earlier in the day saying they've not read the report and others standing behind the decision not to make it public.

Public Works Minister Fred Tilley said he's not seen the report or asked to see it. Health Minister Michelle Thompson told reporters that she has access to the report but has not had a chance to read it.

Environment Minister Tim Halman said he's been briefed on the report "at a high level," and that he anticipated being involved in a meeting with panel members when it's scheduled.

African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Twila Grosse told reporters she has reviewed the report, but said she would not share her views on its contents because the report sits with the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism and not her department.

"We want to ensure that we collaborate and we move forward together with this," she said.

Earlier this week, Membertou First Nation Chief Terry Paul said he and the rest of the Mi'kmaw chiefs in the province agree that the report needs to be shared publicly as a matter of accountability. Paul said none of the chiefs have seen the report.

Speaking to reporters prior to Druhan's statement, Liberal MLA Iain Rankin questioned how much of a priority the document and its recommendations are for the government.

The Office of Equity and Anti-Racism was created by Rankin during his brief tenure as premier and he said he did that to put the issue "at the centre of government."

Rankin said elected officials must push ahead on such issues because there can be resistance within the bureaucracy. When he was environment minister, Rankin said he went against advice from public servants when he used the term "environmental racism" to describe certain situations.

"We need to tackle institutional racism and, honestly, this is a reflection of institutional racism within government itself," he said.

Report informing government policy

NDP MLA Susan LeBlanc renewed her party's call for the report to be made public. It was an amendment to Progressive Conservative environmental legislation in 2022 by LeBlanc's caucus colleague, Suzy Hansen, that led to the creation of the panel.

On Wednesday, Premier Tim Houston said he hasn't seen the report, but he's been briefed on it.

The premier told reporters that government officials are working on some of the recommendations while others are still being reviewed. The document is being used to develop government policy, he said.

"I think it served the purpose. We had a bunch of good people, they did some work and they made some recommendations and government is taking it seriously."