Tom Ayers · CBC News · Original Article
They say proposed amendments to provincial Crown Lands Act would create ‘aggressive enforcement action’
Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaw chiefs say they are not happy with a number of proposed legislative amendments from the provincial government and some of the changes are making matters worse at a protest site in Cape Breton.
The province says amendments under the omnibus Protecting Nova Scotians Act are intended in part to make people safe around logging operations, but the Mi’kmaq say they’re tired of being shut out of discussions on forestry management.
“Despite repeated assurances, the provincial government continues to make significant legislative and policy announcements on natural resource development, without advance notice to, or discussion with, the Mi’kmaq,” the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs said in a written statement Friday.
“Several of the recent legislative amendments seem to target protest activity on Crown lands, at a time when there are active community concerns about what is happening on Hunter’s Mountain.
“This should be a time for greater trust-building with the Mi’kmaq, not escalating tensions and aggressive enforcement action.”
For two weeks, a group of Mi’kmaw protesters has been stopping traffic in and out of Hunter’s Mountain at the entrance to the Cape Breton Highlands.
They are worried about the moose population and are asking for a say in resource development.
Last week, the Progressive Conservative government introduced the Protecting Nova Scotians Act, an omnibus bill that would amend the Crown Lands Act to make it illegal to block forestry operations, among changes to other legislation.
It would allow enforcement officers to remove anything from Crown lands deemed a safety hazard or an impediment to economic activity.
On Friday, Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton told reporters he had not seen the chiefs’ statement, but he said the changes are not targeted at the protesters.
“This is about ensuring that there’s a safe environment on our Crown lands for the people that are visiting, but also using them for economic ability,” he said.
Rushton said the government consulted different groups ahead of time, but he wasn’t sure the Mi’kmaq were specifically asked for input.
Minister cites ‘ongoing conversation’
“I know this has been an ongoing conversation at different times within my department, but I can’t say definitively yes or no on that one.”
Rushton said without seeing the chiefs’ statement, he could not say what action, if any, he would take on their concerns.
The chiefs also said the government’s omnibus Making Business Easier Act, intended in part to speed up mining project approvals, is also problematic.
“The amendments geared towards cutting red tape for mineral development caters to industry and appears to ignore our concerns and recommendations made to the legislative standing committee in May,” the assembly said.
“These measures only risk eroding consultation and shorten time frames available for discussions to take place in good faith with the Mi’kmaq.”