Green Party of Nova Scotia

Building a Sustainable Future Together

Opinion: Let’s Shift Our Focus to the Future

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We debut a new feature on our website, Green Voices. We will share opinion articles from our members in this space. We begin with Karin DeVries, who is the Executive Representative for the Minas Basin Region.

Chronicle Herald 5th of July 2018

N.S. cabinet shuffle shifts focus to mining, forestry and environment

http://thechronicleherald.ca/novascotia/1582192-n.s.-cabinet-shuffle-shifts-focus-to-mining-forestry-and-the-environment

Premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet on the 5th of July 2018, saying he wants his Liberal government to focus more of its attention on the province’s mining and forestry industries.

By: Karin DeVries

On the 5th of July 2018, Premier Stephen McNeil shuffled his cabinet, saying he wants his Liberal government to focus more of its attention on the province’s mining and forestry industries. Since then, we have seen more media coverage about mining and specifically about uranium and gold mining.

I believe there are more economically beneficial and environmentally sustainable industries to focus on for our future. Apart from sustainable forestry, the mining and forestry industries damage our health and environment. In addition, these are not sustainable without subsidies and that means taxpayers’ money. It is true that these industries will generate revenue and will create some short-term jobs. After the mines are no longer economically sustainable, all our good quality wood has been consumed, and the remainder of the wood left prone to the diseases and insects that characterize monoculture, then what?

How do I see the future in our province related to industry? In the future, stricter international environmental regulations and emission controls will become effective and I am advocating for more environmental, “health friendly” and sustainable technology. Many companies already acknowledge that this will be the new status quo.

Transforming municipal solid wastes and industrial waste into high value fuels and recyclable materials at lower costs than landfilling is not new but needs to be developed and implemented in Nova Scotia. I believe that this one industry that Nova Scotia should focus on, recycling waste. I do see this as a good start and not the end goal. Reducing waste is the goal. I also realize that certain recycling technologies are not environmental and health friendly, so each technology needs to be assessed before being implemented in Nova Scotia. But there are some really good technologies available that have already proven themselves for many years.

“In the future, stricter international environmental regulations and emission controls will become effective... Many companies already acknowledge that this will be the new status quo.”

Another beneficial area of focus on is power generation using solar, wind and hydro. I do not consider the mega hydro projects where a tremendous amount of nature, wildlife and human habitat are being destroyed as a proper solution for power generation.

When the renewable power generation is in place, the extra generated power can be stored and used to create biofuels from waste. This to be used when there is not enough generated renewable energy available and there is a need for fuel for engines, gas turbines, or boilers. Also, the extra generated power can be used to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen and use hydrogen as fuel.

I believe that Nova Scotia should invest in the above-mentioned sustainable and renewable technologies and developments. Nova Scotia has focused already too long on the “dirty” industries and with the result of wasting money on waste disposal clean-up, on forestry study after forestry study and paying for health issues caused by environmental pollution.

Attaining 100% sustainable power generation in Nova Scotia, Scotia will take considerable time and resources, but it is better to start working on it now and change our focus to the future and future technologies rather than continuing to invest in the old (dirty) technology that will only offer short-term economic benefits.

The above is all very feasible, it only requires a change of focus and determination to make a change.

I joined the Green Party because I believe in what I have written above and the Green Party most closely aligns with my beliefs.

Green Party Responds to Lahey’s Review of Forestry Practices

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August 22, 2018

Find the Independent Review of Forestry in Nova Scotia here.

“Trees are more than standing biomass. Forests have value to tourism, in fighting climate change, in supporting agriculture and preventing erosion. Mr. Lahey’s call for a strong reduction in clearcutting is a good start, but this province has a way to go before we can really say we are protecting our natural capital,” says Green Party of Nova Scotia leader Dr. Thomas Trappenberg.

“What assurance do we have that this set of recommendations won’t join the 2011 report  on a dusty shelf in the Minister’s office, along with all the pulp mill reports and hundreds of other environmental recommendations?”

The Green Party released their reaction to William Lahey’s Independent Review of Forestry Practices today.

The good: Lofty Goals

The Green Party applauds the review’s calls for less clearcutting on public land. We support Dr. Lahey’s calls for environmental assessments of forestry operations on public land. Further, we endorse his recommendation for independent oversight of the report’s implementation

The bad: Compromise

As Mr. Lahey indicates, reduced supply of trees from public land will shift harvesting to private lots, and there is no concrete plan to combat clearcutting on private woodlots.

“The Review team estimates that these measures could, in combination, reduce the wood taken from Crown land by between 10 and 20 per cent, although further analysis is needed to confirm that estimate… My recommendations for Crown land, if implemented, are likely to increase demand for wood from private land, including woodlot owners… A shift in harvesting to private land will also, at least in the short term, likely mean more clearcutting overall, since roughly 90 per cent of the harvesting that happens on private land is by clearcutting. My conclusion is that this is better than the status quo, where not enough  ecological forestry is happening on Crown or private land”

The Green Party urges the minister to consider the long term potential for this natural resource within the framework Mr. Lahey has envisioned. A robust forestry strategy would provide tools and offer incentives to private woodlot owners who choose sustainable harvesting methods, and ultimately support a stronger high-value end product market in Nova Scotia.  

The ugly: Herbicide

To concentrate monoculture production into a smaller proportion of public land, one of the recommendations is to allow herbicide use on public land: “high‐production forestry entails not only planting but early competition and density control measures, including the use of herbicides.”

The rationale is that limited use of herbicide will sufficiently increase yields on a portion of land to allow much less overall land to be used for intensive production. This really hinges on the rest of the recommendations of the report being adopted, so it leaves the door open for continued and accelerated herbicide use.

This is based on the idea of maintaining the monoculture, primarily for pulp mill use, a strategy we find based on very short term thinking and a rapacious use of our natural capital.The Green Party of Nova Scotia calls on the government to implement the recommendations of the Lahey report, taking immediate action to limit clearcutting on Crown lands to 20% and setting up an independent arms-length Forest Practices board to implement this review.

Nova Scotia Greens Cheer Schreiner

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Ontario Greens Leader Mike Schreiner wins in Guelph. Photo: The Star

(K’jipuktuk) The Green Party of Nova Scotia says that Ontario’s election of the first Green MPP is a significant achievement.

“Mike Schreiner is our green light – his win shows that a fourth party has a place, even in our first-past-the-post system,” said Green Party of Nova Scotia leader Thomas Trappenberg. “This matters for us in Nova Scotia.”

The newly-elected Guelph, Ontario MPP joins other Green representatives from New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and British Columbia, bringing the total number of elected provincial Green officials in Canada to seven.

“If there was proportional representation in place, there would be more Green MLAs across the country,” notes Trappenberg. “Possibly even here in Nova Scotia.”

Trappenberg admits that Schreiner will have a challenging job. “With a majority government, it can be tough to get your own agenda across. But Greens are consensus builders,” he said.

“I have confidence Mike will put forward a strong voice for the environment, social justice, diversity and our other Green principles, and will work with other MPPs in a collegial manner to help all Ontarians.”

Meanwhile, here at home, Trappenberg has a message for Nova Scotians.

“A Green voice in the legislature will affect the quality and substance of debate. The people of Cumberland South have an opportunity on June 19 to help build the Green Wave by voting for Bruce McCulloch, to balance the government agenda with priorities of health and sustainability.”

Green Party of Nova Scotia Holds Earth Day Weekend Convention in Wolfville

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For Immediate Release – 23 April 2018

(HALIFAX) –  Thirty members, guests, and observers of the Green Party of Nova Scotia gathered this weekend at the L’Arche Hall in Wolfville. The weekend marks the second Annual General Meeting since the Party’s near-dissolution in 2016.

In the last year, leadership reported that the membership has more than doubled. The 2017 election saw the Green Party run a slate of 32 candidates, and attain a record vote share of over 5%.

“We have really spent the last eight months building a solid foundation for growth,” noted Thomas Trappenberg, Party leader. “Ensuring that our regional grassroots members are supported had to be done before anything else. The election hit us so fast during our party’s recovery, we were in high gear. It was important to step back and make sure that our base was solid.”

Building Connections with Mi’kmaq Communities

In the last year, Deputy Leader Jessica Alexander reported making a special effort to build the Party’s connection with Mi’kmaq communities.  “We approached the Sipekne’katik Water Protectors with an offer to stand with them. We tried to be humble and respectful. We learned a lot about how to be supportive allies, and we know we have a great deal more to learn. We feel it is incredibly important to open spaces for indigenous voices.”

The Party invited Trevor Sanipass to open the conference with an education session on Mi’kmaq spirituality and culture. Sanipass, who ran for the NDP in the last election, is the great-great-grandson of the last hereditary Grand Chief, John Denny Jr.  Donning his ribbon shirt, Sanipass shared the Honour Song and tips for working respectfully and effectively with Mi’kmaq allies and offered a smudging to open the day.

A by-law amendment passed by consensus changed the party’s approach to including indigenous voices, allowing any members of indigenous origins to develop a suitable process and approach on their own terms.

(Political) Climate Change

Green Party of Canada Deputy Leader Jo-Ann Roberts delivered a morning keynote address, noting the success of the Greens in New Brunswick, PEI and British Columbia as a sign that the political climate is shifting in favour of the party. Later in the day, Thomas Trappenberg echoed this sentiment, noting that times have changed and the time has come to shut down the Northern Pulp mill in Pictou.

The day closed with a panel of cannabis experts—Myrna Gillis, entrepreneur and lawyer; Kenny Lord, consultant; and Andrew Laughlin, retailer—who discussed the state of the cannabis industry in a wide-ranging presentation. The party noted policy opportunities related to health, justice, business and agriculture.

 

-Photos to follow-

Green Party Supports Friends of Northumberland Strait: #nopipe

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Federal and provincial Green Party leaders joined the Friends of Northumberland Strait in Pictou on Saturday, April 14, at an event to show their support for the #nopipe movement.

“It’s obvious to any Nova Scotian who visits the site that Boat Harbour is an ecological disaster.  No pipe! It’s time to think about what can be, without the miasma of pollution hanging over Pictou,” said provincial party leader Thomas Trappenberg.  “How many businesses and industries have not succeeded or not been pursued because of the mill?”

“The risk to fisheries waters is unacceptable,” added Green Party of Canada deputy leader Jo-Ann Roberts, who has recently returned to live in Nova Scotia. “We’re talking about an impact that will extend to other provinces, as our PEI neighbors have pointed out.”  

Trappenberg and Roberts were joined by Green Party of Nova Scotia deputy leader Jessica Alexander, David Hachey, who ran in the Pictou riding for the Green Party of Canada, as well as Green Party of Nova Scotia executive members June Trenholm and Charlene Boyce.

The #nopipe event featured a reading from The Mill by author Joan Baxter, along with a chowder tasting and lobster crafts for the kids, to underline the importance to local fishers of protecting the strait.

At a post-rally gathering at the Stone Soup Cafe, the group was joined by local Green Party members, No Pipe activists and Pictou West MLA Karla MacFarlane, who is the interim leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Nova Scotia. A cordial and lively conversation followed.

The Green Party of Nova Scotia aims to bring a similar event to Halifax in June, to keep extending the conversation on how to successfully transition from the kind of industry the mill currently represents to our greener future.