Democracy definition: A system of government in which power is vested in the people, who rule either directly or through freely elected representatives. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau supported this definition. "Times have changed, my friends," Trudeau told the Calgary Petroleum Club last year. "Social licence is more important than ever. Government may be able to…
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Shelburne Oil: Environmental Risk Understated
In June, 2015, Shell got the "go ahead" to start exploratory drilling for oil off the coast of Shelburne, Nova Scotia. It's about 200 kilometers offshore. There were a number of risk assessments done including Leona Aglukkaq's, Canada's environment minister, and the Canada-Nova Scotia Offshore Petroleum Board. It's possible that two out of the proposed…
Read moreNOFRAC Brings Bluedot to your Municipality
There's a growing movement afoot! Let's encourage Nova Scotia's municipal councils to pass declarations recognizing people's right to live in a healthy environment. Yarmouth has already done this, and work is under way in several other communities. This Blue Dot movement is a nation-wide initiative of the David Suzuki Foundation. Across the country, more than…
Read moreAlton Gas Will Violate Universal Human Rights
Alton, Nova Scotia is at risk of Methane gas leaks which is proposed to be stored in salt caverns being built. Despite assurances it will be absolutely safe, there aren't any guarantees. There have been some very serious leaks causing explosions and fires and although these represent extreme failures, constant leaking occurs. In an EPA…
Read moreDonkin coal and the Nova Scotia media
In an article on this site, there is mention of the "reopening of the Donkin Coal mine in Cape Breton" -- written by Robert Devet, who is featured in this article with a follow up to it. While Canada and Nova Scotia slashes budgets for research, education and social programs and environment protection, it was…
Read moreFracking lurks in Nova Scotia
Hydraulic fracturing started in 1949 in the United States, although other history sources can be traced back to 1862. It didn't really become commercialized until the 1960s. In Canada, the technology was adopted over the last decade and media reports show "In B.C. alone, 7,300 wells have been fractured since 2005, and between 500 and…
Read moreStop Alton Gas, Nova Scotia
In Alton, Nova Scotia, AltaGas has been building salt caverns for the storage of compressed natural gas. It received all environmental approvals and construction started in 2008. Besides the three caverns it includes two pipelines twelve kilometers long that transport the brine used to flush out the caverns to storage ponds beside the Shubenacadie River…
Read moreNova Scotia talks fracking
On Monday, June 17th, there was a meeting at Kings College in Halifax. Dr. John Cherry spoke about whether or not Nova Scotia should experiment with fracking. Cherry was focused on the many scientific uncertainties that still exist around fracking, and the need for substantial research to be done before any province embarks on development…
Read moreDismantling Democracy
In Dismantling Democracy: Stifling debate and dissent in Canada, we document the abuse of parliamentary rules, the intimidation of public servants, and the defunding and intimidation of organizations that hold views at odds with the government. The report documents where the federal government has gutted the capacity of its own departments and independent agencies to…
Read moreNews Brief — the sleeper law, Bill S-2
Bill S-2, is an Act respecting family homes situated on First Nation reserves and matrimonial interests or rights in or to structures and lands situated on those reserves. However, according to Blacklock's Reporter, they will use it to "enact what one MP dubbed a “sleeper” law allowing cabinet to enact new regulations without public scrutiny.…
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