Where has the discussion about classroom conditions gone?

February 22, 2018 By gpnsadmin Leave a Comment

Green Party Condemns McNeil Government for Losing Perspective on Education Reform

(HALIFAX) – The Green Party of Nova Scotia has long held that an education strategy should be developed through broad and transparent consultation, not the opaque and top-down approach favoured by the current Nova Scotia government.

“The McNeil government is irresponsibly picking and choosing reforms from their own report,” says Green Party leader Thomas Trappenberg, “They claim this will put more money in the classroom, but they can’t tell us how much money, or even where it will go.”

The immediate proposed changes from the report – eliminating school boards, creating a College of Teachers and removing administrators from the union – are primarily aimed at the administration and governance side of public education. However, teachers and parents have been vocal that the issues they see are in the classroom. There is not a clear connection between the government’s actions and the desired outcome of better education.

“Where has the discussion about classroom conditions gone?” says Trappenberg.

“The government must address cross-departmental issues that affect children in classrooms, things teachers are doing now single-handedly. They must commit to looking at different models of classroom composition, cap individual program plans per class. They must increase student services staff. They already have all the evidence they need for this,” notes Trappenberg.

“Education is the key to a prosperous and sustainable future. It should not be used as a battleground for pushing a particular labour relations agenda,” adds the Green Party Leader. “With Bill 75 still standing, the Liberals continue to treat education like the wild west.”

The Green Party of Nova Scotia supports the collective bargaining rights of all workers in the province, both private sector and public.

Green Party Leader Says “No Fracking Way!”

January 12, 2018 By gpnsadmin Leave a Comment

Green Party leader Thomas Trappenberg commends the government’s ongoing commitment to the moratorium on fracking.

Trappenberg adds that he will fight any future decision to allow fracking in the province: “I have three words for anyone who would gamble Nova Scotia’s groundwater on such a pipeline dream: no fracking way.”

With fracking put to bed, Trappenberg would like to see the province focus on building alternative industries to boost the number of green jobs. “Our carbon economy is dying. It is time to move forward. Nova Scotia should not be left behind.”

Two Big Misses in Cannabis Announcement, Says Green Leader

December 12, 2017 By gpnsadmin Leave a Comment

For Immediate Release – December 11, 2017

“There were two big misses in the provincial government’s announcement of cannabis regulations last week,” says Green Party of Nova Scotia Leader Thomas Trappenberg.

Firstly, “Nova Scotians we have heard from are frustrated that a monopoly was given, and to a government corporation. This was an ideal opportunity to support entrepreneurship, and they blew it.”

Social media reaction on Thursday and Friday indicated there are already many local entrepreneurs who have been developing business models based on the coming legalisation. BC, PEI, and other jurisdictions are working to provide opportunities for private retail sellers of recreational cannabis. Nova Scotia has a robust entrepreneurial spirit, and this was a prime opportunity for grassroots job creation.

The second error is one of omission.

Neither the federal government nor any provincial government have indicated a willingness to address the racial injustices committed during the so-called war on drugs. An overwhelming number of those targeted and incarcerated for possession-related infractions have been First Nations or Black Canadians. Many families have been torn apart and many lives have been ruined by incarceration for marijuana possessions charges.

“At the very least pardons could be offered to Nova Scotians charged with cannabis possession offences since medicinal marijuana was approved,” notes Trappenberg. “We have a lot of work to do to ensure a fair and equitable treatment of minority groups in our province. This could be a huge step.”

Opportunities to build local agriculture also seem to be slipping away as large, centralized companies purchase smaller ones. Toronto brokerage Catalyst Cultivator Corps recently announced their purchase of Antigonish’s THC Dispensaries Inc.

“Regulating legal cannabis sales is a great way to build a stronger economy and improve social justice while weakening organized criminal groups. It’s too bad the government chose to create their regulations without really listening to Nova Scotians.”

NS Green Party Leader Calls for a Halt to Street Checks

November 16, 2017 By gpnsadmin Leave a Comment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 15, 2017

“Can’t we be leaders for once?”

(Halifax) The Leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia has joined the call for a moratorium on street checks.

“Within the Police Act, the Minister of Justice has the ability to regulate this practice. It’s time to stop it,” said Thomas Trappenberg. “Ontario has already done it. Can’t we in Nova Scotia be leaders for once?”

The practice has been demonstrated in Halifax Regional Municipality to unfairly target and penalize members of the African Nova Scotian community.

“The police chief in Halifax claims to see benefit from this practice,” said Trappenberg. “I suggest the benefits do not outweigh the harm.” Social justice is one of the key principles of the Green Party.

A former police officer, Robyn Ivy Atwell, recently circulated a letter calling for a moratorium on street checks. In it, she noted:

“There’s a resonance in the arguments of those who see the current practice of street checks as a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which call for the freedom of association and equality. Yet as a group, the African Nova Scotian community suffers a more sinister breach of our Charter Rights. Section 12 says, “Everyone has the right not to be subjected to any cruel and unusual treatment or punishment”. Racialized street checks function as a form of unusual punishment for the charge of being Black.”

The Green Party of Nova Scotia calls on Stephen MacNeil’s government to act now to stop this unfair process.

Green Party Condemns McNeil Government for Ignoring Evidence and Jeopardizing Ocean Health

June 28, 2017 By gpnsadmin Leave a Comment

For Immediate Release – June 28, 2017

(HALIFAX) – The Green Party of Nova Scotia rejects the position taken by the McNeil government on marine protected areas and calls for the government to support expanding ocean protection in marine waters surrounding Nova Scotia.

“The McNeil government is ignoring scientific evidence and jeopardizing the health of our oceans,” says Green Party Marine Affairs expert Martin Willison. In 1995, Willison co-edited Marine Protected Areas and Sustainable Fisheries: Proceedings of the Symposium on Marine Protected Areas.

“Even in 1995, the science was clear. Establishing marine protected areas is a necessary component of an overall ocean health strategy. Furthermore, scientific studies have repeatedly shown that setting aside marine areas does not diminish fisheries but enhances them by increasing fish stocks.”

Although the province has no jurisdiction in this regard, the federal government’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans is influenced by calls from provincial governments. Written statements opposing the expansion of marine protected areas in marine waters have been issued by three provincial ministers in Nova Scotia’s Liberal government: Energy ministers Samson in 2016 and MacLellan in 2017, and Fisheries minister Colwell in 2017.

Canada has committed to protecting 5% of Canadian marine waters by the end of 2017, with a goal of reaching 10% by 2020. Currently about 2.5% of Nova Scotian marine waters are recognized as protected.

Dr. WIllison says, “Protecting only 2.5% is woefully inadequate. The government cannot claim to take an evidence-based approach to environmental management while ignoring evidence.”

Willison notes that while marine protected areas may exclude petroleum exploration and development, this has not been the case in practice. Nevertheless, he says, sensitive marine areas (such as those rich in corals or whales) should not be put at risk by industrial development.

The Green Party of Nova Scotia supports the efforts of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to expand ocean protection in marine waters around Nova Scotia and supports the goal of doubling the total area protected under legislation by end of 2017.

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