The Nova Scotia Liberals are calling on the province to work with all parties when the legislature reconvenes on Friday.
Premier Tim Houston has said he would consider removing the ban on fracking and uranium mining to boost the province’s economy and independence in response to to tariff threats from Donald Trump.
When asked if they support removing the ban on fracking and mining uranium, Ian Rankin, MLA for Timberlea-Prospect, said he would have to look at a specific bill in the legislature before he could approve or disapprove.
But he said he supports natural resource development in general.
“I think it’s important with significant policy changes that we try to bring people along and make sure that we’re working collaboratively with First Nations, but with all people that have important questions on whether it’s their air quality or water regulations can be looked at, said Rankin.
Houston ‘villainizing’ Nova Scotians
However, Rankin said he doesn’t support “villainizing Nova Scotians.”
He was referencing the premier’s recent paid advertisement on the front page of the Chronicle Herald newspaper, where Houston said “vocal special interests” have lead to bans on resource extraction across the province. Houston doesn’t say who those people may be or if they are environmental advocates.
He simply says their influence on policy “will end.”
Rankin said they want the government to respect that people would have questions about resource extraction.
Liberals want to leverage experience
Derek Mombourquette, the party leader, said he and Rankin have a lot of experience working as ministers in the resource sector. Rankin served as premier and the head of several departments, including Minister of Environment and Minister of Lands and Forestry. Mombourquette also previously held the role of Minister of Lands and Forestry, as well as Minister of Energy and Mines.
“We come with a lot of history and a lot of the conversations around resource development across the province, and we hope that the premier will see that and be collaborative, and we plan on putting forward policy and bills that will help support the economy.
They added that, even if the province lifts the restrictions on excavating certain natural resources, it would still take some time to get those businesses going.
In the meantime, the province should offer financial supplements to certain businesses, they said.
NDP wants collaboration, but differs on natural resources
On Wednesday, the NDP also called for the government to collaborate with the opposition parties on how to deal with the potential tariffs from the U.S.
However, they said they would focus on supporting traditional industries, and agriculture, fishing, forestry, and mining will always have a future for Nova Scotia’s economy.
She said Houston’s desire for fracking and uranium would get “widespread public questioning and disapproval,” and lifting those bans would need a lot of scientific research and input from communities.
Despite calls for all parties to work together, the Premier and the Progressive Conservatives won a super majority during the fall election, which means they can change the procedural rules of the legislature without approval from the opposition.
They’ve already leveraged this power last week to reduce the amount of time the opposition parties can ask questions during legislative committees.
