Achi news desk-
HALIFAX –
Nova Scotia’s opposition parties are dismissing a government survey that they say fails to address the fundamental question of whether coastal property owners want a law that protects the province’s coastline.
The survey was carried out by Group ATN Consulting between September 29 and November 8 last year, but a summary of the results was only posted on the government’s website on Friday.
In February, the Progressive Conservative government said it would shift responsibility for coastal protection to municipalities and property owners instead of issuing a Coastal Protection Act.
In an interview, Liberal Leader Zach Churchill said the newly released summary does not explain the Tories’ rationale for abandoning the act, which was adopted by the former Liberal government with all-party support in 2019.
“It certainly doesn’t explain why they didn’t move forward with the Coastal Protection Act,” said Churchill. “I think this is worrying, because it is a matter of protecting people and property in the long term.”
The survey report summarizes the results of eight questions asked of coastal land owners. A total of 1,072 coastal property owners took part in the consultation – a response rate of just 2.7 per cent. Environment Minister Tim Halman had previously said that 40,000 questionnaires had been distributed.
On the key question of whether new rules were needed to protect new buildings or new renovations from coastal erosion, flooding and rising sea levels, 629 respondents said rules were needed while 236 opposed such rules and said 198 that they are uncertain.
When asked who should decide on new rules, 686 respondents said it should be provincial and municipal governments, while 418 said property owners should decide and 280 suggested a collaborative approach involving governments, insurance companies and property owners.
Like Churchill, the Leader of the National Development Plan, Claudia Chender, was of the opinion that it was strange that the survey did not directly address the Coastal Protection Act, although there was a reference to it on a question about land zoning.
“I think the way these consultations were presented was not about whether the government should publish the act but it was about the content of the regulations,” said Chender. “We have a real bait and switch.”
Marla MacLeod, director of programs at the Ecology Action Center in Halifax, pointed out that the survey was part of the third round of consultations by the government and that it did not cause any surprise with a majority of people in favor of new regulations.
“It was completely unnecessary, and then they (the government) completely disregarded the results, so what were they looking for?” MacLeod asked.
Halman defended his government’s approach and said the results of the consultation helped inform the decision.
“I believe we are implementing a balanced, very comprehensive plan that will support the municipalities and the local decision-making process,” he said after a cabinet meeting last Thursday.
The government’s plan includes 15 actions, including one that offers homeowners and municipalities access to an online hazard map showing the worst-case scenario for sea level rise along the coast in the year 2100.
Earlier this month, the government also announced $476,345 over three years to fund a new coastal protection coordinator position for the Federation of Nova Scotia Municipalities to help under-resourced municipalities deal with coastal development issues.
This report was first published by The Canadian Press on April 24, 2024.
