Article contentLohr added that the changes do not apply to complaints and investigations already in progress.Article contentDrought conditions have ‘become predictable’Article contentKim Masland, the minister of emergency management, said the province has treated this year’s severe drought conditions as an emergency but Nova Scotians need to understand that the issue has become predictable.Article contentShe said the province has given out about $700,000 worth of bottled water vouchers to municipalities.Article content“If someone does not have water, they can buy the water themselves at their local store and take the receipt to the municipality and the municipality sends it to us for reimbursement.Article content“This a one-off program to meet the needs this year,” said Masland.Article content“It will not become a departmental program. We need to understand that these drought conditions are no longer one-offs and have become predictable. We have to make sure we have the policies and programs in place for homeowners in communities for this. That will come from the Department of Environment and Climate Change.”Article contentArticle contentParts of Nova Scotia have experienced a once-in-every-50-years event, according to the Canadian Drought Monitor. September data from the monitor, which uses federal, provincial and regional data sources, shows most of the province has seen less than 40 per cent of normal rainfall.Article contentMasland said the province has not declared the drought a state of emergency but support would be in place if a municipality called one.Article contentThe province is monitoring the severely dry weather conditions, said Lohr.Article content“We stood up the Department of Emergency Measures on account of the experience of the first term of our government in terms of water resources and drought,” said Lohr. “That is a concern of every Nova Scotian and our concern as well. We are constantly reassessing that.”Article contentLohr said municipal programs exist to help residents across the province drill wells.Article content“There is existing legislation which allows municipalities to create programs to help their residents with drilling wells,” he said.Article content“They can put the cost of that, depending how they structure that through a program, on their municipal taxes. We know there are several municipalities that have done that and we know there are more considering doing that.”Article content
Nova Scotia minister Lohr says ‘pause on the ability for the public to put complaints in’ not undemocratic
