Update February 25, 2025

by | Feb 25, 2025 | Uncategorized

 

Hello everyone and a warm (winter) welcome to our new subscribers.

Well, it’s been quite the few weeks in Nova Scotia and around the world.  We have been struggling to keep up with the news coming out of Province House since the Legislature resumed on February 14th. For all the super busy people among us, below is a quick summary of the changes in Legislation that Tim Houston’s PC Government is proposing. Since he was also handed a supermajority government, the amendments and Bills tabled by his Caucus will be passed, unless MLAs find the courage to withhold support.

  • Bill #1: Government Organization and Administration, An Act Respecting
    • The changes give the Premier power to remove (fire) the Audit General without cause provided 2/3 of the Legislature agree. Given the size of this government’s majority, that is not a problem during this present term. (Tim Houston has just reversed this amendment on February 24, 2025)
    • This Act removes Chapter 5 Sec 29A of the Elections Act so that there is no fixed lection date. ( a short-lived promise made and broken)
    • This Act will now restrict the public’s access to government information by changing the rules governing Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy and the submission of information requests (FOIPOP)
    • The changes diminishes the amount of time the opposition may use in the Legislature for debates and question period
  • Bill #24 Temporary Access to Land Act and Joint Regional Transportation Agency Act (amended)
    • This Act will change the Joint Regional Transportation Agency to Link Nova Scotia.
    • Gives the Minister of Public Works sole control over Link Nova Scotia
    • The Act allows the Minister and Deputy Minister to completely override municipal planning strategies as they pertain to transportation and transportation infrastructure, including the expropriation of private lands to comply with Link Nova Scotia plans.

 

In addition, Tim Houston has:

  • Disbanded Communications Nova Scotia, bringing all government communications under his office. This essentially destroys the arms length and relatively objective information exchange between the government, the media and the public, leaving news open to partisan propaganda.
  • Given a $3billion contract to a private developer to build and operate the new Infirmary expansion
  • Awarded Shannex $1billion to operate Hogan Court transitional care
  • Removed the annual report on ER closures that has existed since 2010, designed to keep the government accountable
  • Changed the rules so he can fire non-union civil servants, leaving government employees open to unjustified dismissal and introducing an environment of fear in the workplace.

Call to Action

Letter writing

Tim Houston’s recent decision (February 24, 2025) to remove references to the Auditor General from the proposed amendments to Bill #1 is a hopeful indication that this government is still influenced by public pressure. So please, write your MLA and Council, asking them to refrain from supporting the Bills mentioned here and distance themselves from the erosion of democracy. For more information, check out our “Call to Action” page.

Surveys

From the Healthy Bays Coalition:

The Provincial government has launched a survey for the “Aquaculture Coastal Classification System”

This system will shape where and how aquaculture—including open-net pen salmon feedlots—is allowed in our coastal waters. We must send a clear message: our bays are not feedlots.

It is extremely concerning that the provincial government might allow mass expansion of open net pen salmon feedlots without the input of coastal communities, especially at a time when they are being banned by our own federal government in B.C., and around the world.

Fill out the survey and say NO to open-net pens: https://novascotia.ca/coastal-classification-system-engagement/

End date: March 15, 2025

If you need more information on open pen feedlots, check out our pages here.

Petitions

There are three federal Parliamentary petitions available for signing. All three were initiated by Charlie Angus (NDP) MP for Timmons-James Bay.

  1. To have Musk’s Canadian citizenship revoked:

Story here: https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/elon-musk-citizenship-petition-1.7466278

Petition here: http://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-5353

  1. To have Twitter / X banned in Canada for election interference:

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-5359

  1. To name Donald J. Trump persona non grate in Canada and so deny him entry to Canada

https://www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-5345

 

Happy News

Nature Nova Scotia has the opportunity to double donations received by March 31, 2025. Every $20.00 donation made by new supporters will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $100,000 Please donate if you can. https://naturens.ca/

 

Save the Date

The Dirt Gang has partnered with Nature Nova Scotia to organise a fundraiser/ donor-drive that will be held at The Wooden Monkey Restaurant on Sunday, September 21. All proceeds will go to Nature Nova Scotia so that the educational programs and watchdog function, so important to conservation in Nova Scotia, can continue. The event will include food, great music, a silent auction and lots of opportunity to mingle. So, please Save the Date!!

 

We continue to attempt to stay on top of events as they unfold. It would help if folks tagged Sandy Martin on Facebook posts and news items. If anyone would like to volunteer to help us out, that would be wonderful! Just send an email to thedirtgang.ns@gmail.com

Take care everyone.

All the best

The Dirt Gang