HALIFAX 鈥� A large crowd gathered in front of the Nova Scotia legislature Wednesday, calling on the provincial government to revive abandoned legislation to protect the province's 13,000 kilometres of shoreline.
Holding signs reading "save our shores," protesters denounced the Progressive Conservative government's decision in February against putting into force the Coastal Protection Act, which was passed in 2019 by the former Liberal government with support from all parties in the legislature. The act would have offered more protection to coastal areas, dunes and salt marshes, and restricted development along parts of the coastline at risk of heavy erosion.
Organizers said more than 150 people attended the protest, which included representatives from several environmental organizations, as well as coastal land owners and politicians, including Liberal Leader Zach Churchill and NDP Leader Claudia Chender.
Maggy Burns, executive director of the Halifax-based Ecology Action Centre, told the crowd the government has provided no 鈥渃redible rationale鈥� for its decision to abandon the act and instead shift much of the responsibility for coastal protection to property owners and municipalities.
鈥淒uring (post-tropical storm) Fiona we lost huge sections of our shoreline on the northern coast of Nova Scotia and in Cape Breton,鈥� Burns said about the 2022 storm. 鈥淭he Coastal Protection Act is designed to protect homes, protect taxpayers and protect the critical ecosystems that we depend on.鈥�
The government鈥檚 new policy has simply left municipalities 鈥渉olding the bag鈥� while Nova Scotians face an 鈥渋ncomprehensible patchwork of rules," she said.
鈥淧ick up a lawn sign, keep calling your MLAs, visit their offices and let them know that this is an election issue for you,鈥� Burns urged the crowd. 鈥淟et鈥檚 say to the government loud and clear: keep your promises, listen to Nova Scotians and show us the leadership that鈥檚 so clearly needed.鈥�
The government's alternative to the Coastal Protection Act has 15 measures, including one offering homeowners and municipalities access to an online hazard map that shows the worst-case scenario for sea level rise along the coast in the year 2100.聽
The province will also fund a new coastal protection co-ordinator for the Nova Scotia Federation of Municipalities, who will help local governments that lack the resources to deal with coastal development issues.
But Robert Parker, Warden of the Municipality of Pictou County, said in an interview he鈥檚 skeptical the approach will work in the rural communities he represents.
鈥淩ight now the premier has said we鈥檒l give you the information and you guys decide on your own,鈥� Parker said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 no more the right thing to do than saying here鈥檚 the information for driving on the highway 鈥� you pick the speed you think you should go at.鈥�
Parker said a uniform set of rules is needed across the province in order to let people know where and how they can build on the coast.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 have a patchwork system, which is what鈥檚 going to happen if we go municipally,鈥� he said.
Victoria Byrne, who has owned a coastal home for nearly 60 years on Shag Bay outside Halifax, said she鈥檚 experienced what can happen when there are no clear development rules for builders and homeowners.
鈥淥ver the last 50 years people have developed on one side of me, which has changed the way the sand moves and the waves move and they impact the actual land itself,鈥� Byrne said. 鈥淪o I鈥檓 not only losing beach, but I鈥檓 losing my shoreline as well.鈥�
More than one metre has been eroded from the shore near her home, Byrne said, adding that it has become 鈥渁 much different place.鈥� Byrne said she believes the province needs to take responsibility.
鈥淭here needs to be a uniform set of rules and education as well,鈥� she said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 8, 2024.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
