Article content“In general what I see in this report is a real lack of courage on the part of the government to fulfill their commitments,” MacLeod said.Article content“I’m seeing a lack of transparency,” she said. “The report is lengthy, but there are at least three strategy reports, feasibility studies, that are not out.”Article contentMacLeod said the provincial Active Transportation Strategy has not been made public, along with the Regional Transportation Report by the Joint Regional Transportation Agency, which is now called Link Nova Scotia, the environmental racism report, and panel recommendations and a referenced electric school bus feasibility study.Article contentThe legislated goal of government supporting the well-being of Nova Scotians through active transportation by establishing a provincial active transportation strategy by 2023 is a glaring example of government’s lack of transparency, said MacLeod.Article contentArticle content Marla MacLeod, program director at the Ecology Action Centre, says the Environment Department’s lengthy annual progress update on its goals shows that it has not hit several targets. – ContributedArticle content“There’s a provincial active transportation strategy that’s been done for at least a year that nobody has seen,” MacLeod said.Article content“There are a lot of community groups out there and (government likes) to highlight the work of community groups . . . but unless we have good information, we feel like we’re shut out of the conversation. This is going to take a ‘whole of society’ approach and I feel community organizations, other environmental groups, other levels of government are trying to do the right thing but unless we are all on the same page, we’re just spinning our wheels.Article content“This government seems to lack the courage to have mature conversations with people who might not agree with them. It’s OK to not agree but it isn’t OK to withhold data.”Article contentMacLeod said the government doesn’t admit that it hasn’t done something several times throughout the report.Article contentArticle content“The one about phasing out oil-fired heating equipment in new buildings by 2025, it’s now 2025 and they haven’t done it,” she said.Article content“They cite affordability as a reason that they are not doing it but heating oil is notoriously expensive so that doesn’t make sense.Article content“The other thing that they are not on track to do is reach their protected areas target. The report cites they are at 13.75 per cent, the goal is 20 per cent by 2030, they protected zero per cent in the last 18 months and we haven’t finished (protecting) the places that were identified in the 2013 protected areas plan, and they haven’t started on protecting the new areas.Article content“They are just not on track to meet that goal.”Article contentThe department report ran out its recently announced plan to issue leases for five gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, with a first call for bids by 2025, in its response to the legislated goal of providing 80 per cent of electricity needs with renewable energy by 2030.
Nova Scotia government trumpets record on environmental goals, EAC critic not convinced
