Small Departments with Big Responsibilities Get Cut, Again
By Jennifer West
K’JIPUKTUK (HALIFAX), Nova Scotia (April 10, 2015) – The environment was a particular loser in Nova Scotia’s 2015/16 budget. Not only was there an absence of environmental initiatives, such as carbon pricing or support for the green economy, but the already-tiny departments of Environment, Energy and Natural Resources were three of five departments to get their budgets cut. Together, these three small departments are responsible for most of Nova Scotia government’s environmental stewardship. Their budgets combined make up less than one percent of the total provincial budget.
“At a time when environmental issues are gaining in importance and the federal government is downloading environmental responsibilities to provinces, cutting the already-puny budget of Nova Scotia Environment is baffling,” says Mark Butler, Ecology Action Centre’s Policy Director. “We were prepared for the government to hold the line, but not to cut.”
The budget eliminates the Environmental Home Assessment Program, which helped Nova Scotians use water more efficiently, and the Flood Risk Assessment Program, which helped municipalities plan for increased floods due to climate change. Cuts were made to Protected Areas programming, as well. The Department of Environment budget has been cut three out of the four last years.
“We should be increasing funding and support for flood risk management and mitigation, not cutting it,” says Robin Tress, Coastal Coordinator. “Municipalities have all identified flooding as one of their biggest and most expensive concerns, and federal funding for disaster relief has been seriously reduced.”
At the Department of Energy, renewable and sustainable energy programming received budget cuts along with the sustainable transportation program. Non-electric efficiency programming was eliminated for non-low income participants. At the same time, government increased funding to the Petroleum Resources side of the Department.
“Cutting green energy programs and allocating more to oil and gas is a step backward for Nova Scotia,” says Catherine Abreu, Energy Coordinator. “Renewable energy, sustainable transportation and efficiency are some of the fastest growing industries in the global economy. Sustainability is the economic driver of the future; fossil fuels have already been outpaced.”
While there are few details available, the government is planning to move all enforcement staff from Natural Resources, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Agriculture and possibly other departments to Environment. The implications are unclear at present. Environmental groups have been critical of NSE’s track record on enforcement in the past.
The budgets of Agriculture and Fisheries and Aquaculture rose slightly.
For more info contact:
| Robin Tress, Coastal Adaptation Coordinator (902) 442-5046 |
Mark Butler, Policy Director (902) 266-5401 (cell) |
Jennifer West, Geoscience Coordinator
2705 Fern Lane, Halifax, NS, B3K 4L3
tel. 902.538.0520
ecologyaction.ca
