Building a Sustainable Future Together
The Green Party of Nova Scotia is devastated to learn of the sudden passing of former executive member, regional representative, and federal candidate Barry Randle this morning at the age of 51. Our hearts go out to his wife, Camille Davidson, who is also known to many of us.
“A government that rejects legitimate, critical public input, by using bureaucratic technicalities is abusing its authority.
The decision to extend leases to Cooke Aquaculture under these circumstances, against overwhelming public objection, is at best arrogant, at worst anti-democratic.”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 27
The Green Party of Nova Scotia strongly supports the statements made by the Protect Liverpool Bay Association in a recent “open letter” to premier Stephen McNeil, in which the citizens group admonished the Liberal government for its blatant disregard of widespread community opposition to the proliferation of large, industrial open net pen salmon farms in the province. “There is direct evidence that open pen aquaculture poisons ocean waters. Fish waste, disease, and contamination from medicines destroys traditional fisheries, on which South Shore families depend.” says Thomas Trappenberg, leader of the Green Party of Nova Scotia. “Worst of all, Cooke Aquaculture has cost Nova Scotia taxpayers tens of millions dollars, threatening jobs and livelihoods of traditional fishers.”
As the first federal political candidate calling for a national ban on this dangerous and economically unsustainable practice, Trappenberg stood side-by-side with the Protect Liverpool Bay Association as they pushed hard to stop massive salmon feedlots that were being forced on Nova Scotians by Cooke Aquaculture, the Dexter NDP and later Liberal governments, mobilizing a massive outcry from residents of St. Margarets Bay and other South Shore communities. In coordination with citizen groups like Twin Bays Coalition, they sent Cooke and farmed salmon giant Cermaq a message: “The community has spoken: no open pen fish farms here.”
Cooke eagerly sought a $25 million loan package from the Dexter NDP government, then failed to make debt payments, and produced only a small percentage of the jobs promised. The company was charged with poisoning lobsters withy illegal pesticide dumping in New Brunswick in 2013, seriously affecting traditional fisheries in the Bay of Fundy. With the recent sudden extension of leases by the McNeil Liberals despite strong public opposition, it is clear that South Shore residents will have to sacrifice even more.
South Shore communities have been strong in their opposition to open-pen aquaculture in Nova Scotia waters. Thomas Trappenberg joined Nova Scotians who made their feelings clear on this issue in many public consultations in 2019 and this year to push back against foreign-owned aquaculture giant Cermaq. “The community has spoken: no open pen fish farms here.” After a meeting at the Tantallon public library filled beyond capacity, where hundreds of members of the community told Cermaq no one wanted them here, the corporation withdrew their bid.
The Green Party of Nova Scotia supports the fisheries and expanding job opportunities in the province, but not at any expense. The recent government approval of unprecedented 20-year leases to Cooke Aquaculture, and the obscure manner in which the process took place is something Trappenberg finds disturbing. “The government rejected an unacceptable number of public submissions against the proposal on trivial, bureaucratic grounds, including from local harbour authorities. A government that rejects legitimate, critical public input, by using bureaucratic technicalities is abusing its authority.”
In addition to authoring the open letter to premier McNeil, Protect Liverpool Bay Association chair Brian Muldoon announced the formation of the Healthy Bay Network this week, designed to network resources and events by all of the citizen-led groups that have organized opposition to open-pen aquaculture. The Network includes: The St. Mary’s Bay Protectors, Protect Liverpool Bay, the Twin Bays Coalition representing Mahone and St. Margaret’s Bays, the Association for the Preservation of the Eastern Shore, with support from the Ecology Action Centre, the Atlantic Salmon Federation, and the Nova Scotia Salmon Association.
“The Green Party stands in complete solidarity with Healthy Bays Network. We will continue to support them to ensure that citizens are heard, and to keep the government accountable for its handling of this industry,” concluded Trappenberg. “The future of Nova Scotia can be bright if we use common sense and expand aquaculture on land, inside contained systems. We can be world leaders in this industry, create jobs and not destroy our oceans.”
Green Party of Nova Scotia principles include:
++ Sustainability
Move all open-net pen finfish aquaculture facilities into closed containment systems on land. As with land farmers transitioning from conventional production, provide financial and extension support will be ensure to fish farm workers to make this transition.
++ Ecological Wisdom
Stop to the proliferation of damaging business practices that demand public money to survive, and only invest in businesses that can operate sustainably without degrading Nova Scotia’s natural resources.
FOR MORE DETAILS ON THE GREEN PARTY of NOVA SCOTIA or THOMAS TRAPPENBERG
Contact :
Communications Director
Michael Uhlarik
Leader, GPNS
Thomas Trappenberg
telephone : 902 414 3960
Dear Green Friends,
While reflecting on the last year and preparing for the new year, there is an issue on my mind that I would like to mention before the year comes to a draw. It is wonderful to see the increasing number of thoughtful members in our party, and I know that many want to get more active to fight for a future for our kids. I am now often asked how we prepare for the next election. Therefore, here are a few notes on my current thoughts.
We built over the last three years a strong internal organization, which I like to think is collaborative and inclusive. Many of us thought this necessary before jumping into more of a spotlight. Now I feel strongly that it is time to burst onto the scene.
While reflecting with some members on our general approach, it became increasingly apparent to us that we must be able to explain and demonstrate how we are a different party. This starts with our internal culture, which must reflect an honest respect for each other and time for community building. Furthermore, I think that a strong emphasis on a collaborative approach is important. This covers internal working groups, the strong appreciation of input from special interest groups and specialists, and an open mind to other parties with whom we want to find solutions. Lastly, we need to articulate and visualize better our vision for a green Nova Scotia with a strong green economy in which we all share the wealth of our `have province’.
In more pragmatic terms, we now need to get a team and its support in place for the next election. This starts, of course, with finding candidates for every riding. As grassroots party, this is primarily in the hands of each regional district. In principle, this should come from each electoral district, but given that our membership can still be thin in each electoral district, we created regional structures so that you can share resources. Thus, it is now important that the regions become active in identifying candidates and ideas for the local campaigns. If you are a member who wants to get more active, please contact your regional convenors now. You can find the contacts on our web page or just drop me a line.
Of course, the central party will try to support local campaigns. I view the role of the central party as a general support organization and to help with the overall messaging and highlighting our principles. We provide campaign training and templates for material such as signs and brochures. We are working on a platform that shows our values and our vision. We are also always grateful for suggestions and feedback.
I will try to lead with more communications. At this time, I have been conscious not to flood your emails or Facebook with my rants, but I hope I find a way to communicate regularly, at least to let you know what is going on. For now, I will continue to use the facebook page `Thomas Trappenberg: Leader for the Green Party of Nova Scotia’ for these communications until we find a better form of communication. I hope you will reach out with other ideas.
I would like to wish everyone a happy holiday with your families.
In solidarity and with much hope for the future, Thomas
December 20, 2019
The Green Party of Nova Scotia congratulates Premier McNeil on making this historical move after 50+ years of ineffective measures and wishful thinking on the part of past governments. “The government is now following their own law”, says Thomas Trappenberg.
Green Party Leader Thomas Trappenberg points out that, “The real failure of this issue was the lack of vision for a change to a modern industry. This is why we need a more visionary government. While changes in the forestry industry will likely create hardships in the short term, I am confident that the forestry industry will emerge even stronger in the long run.”
Premier Stephen McNeil’s recent announcement, of not extending the deadline for the Northern Pulp mill effluent in Pictou and that $50 million will be put towards the transition fund to help forestry sector workers affected by the mill closure, is met with great relief by the Green Party of Nova Scotia.
“Closing the mill is the right thing to do and the only course of action that leads to justice for the Pictou Landing First Nation.” says Deputy Leader Jessica Alexander, “Nova Scotia forests should be purposed for higher-value products than kraft pulp. Taxpayer money is better spent investing in local human capital than on subsidizing international companies.”
“It is very important that we kept our word to Pictou Landing First Nation”, leader Thomas Trappenberg explained, “They have suffered for so many years.” He adds, “Nobody wants people to lose their jobs and we recognize that there are challenges for workers and the forestry industry. Help for their transition is therefore also the right thing to do.”
The Green Party is looking forward to seeing more details of what the transition will look like and hopes that protecting the mill workers’ pensions is part of the plan.
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Media Contact: Dr. Thomas Trappenberg
Leader, Green Party of Nova Scotia
leader@greenpartyns.ca
902-414-3960
Jessica Alexander
Leader, Green Party of Nova Scotia
deputy.leader@greenpartyns.ca
902-225-9130