What is the Plan for the Coastal Protection Act, Meeting Climate Targets, and Getting off Coal? - QP
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I want to ask about this government's failure to act on climate change. Last week, we were shocked to hear the Minister of Environment and Climate Change walk back a timeline to proclaim the Coastal Protection Act. He doubled down last night in Estimates - a piece of legislation which has seen ongoing consultation since it was passed in 2019 with all-party support from this House.
The minister revealed recently that this was prompted by questions and correspondence from coastal landowners. In response, the minister has decided to pause the rollout until he receives that buy-in. While the minister waits for buy-in, landowners are taking advantage of this delay to advance dangerous developments on our coast.
Why is the Premier allowing developers to dictate when we protect our coastline?
THE PREMIER « » : The work that the Minister of Environment and Climate Change is doing is leading the country. The legislation that we tabled with the goals - that leads the country. We are committed to preserving this planet.
This province is surrounded by 13,000 kilometres of coastline. We love our shorelines, our beaches, our incredible hiking trails. Nova Scotians hold our coastline very, very dear, as do we. We understand the climate is changing. We understand that the severity of the storms is intensifying. We know that there's work to be done. The minister is doing that work, and I support him in every aspect.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Let's be clear: Our 13,000 kilometres of coastline are not protected - even though there's an Act that protects them - because this government is dragging its feet.
Nova Scotians know that it is necessary to meet our climate targets to prevent climate catastrophe. Despite these strong goals and targets, and the numerous actions laid out in the climate plan, our path from here to 2030 is very unclear. What needs to happen by 2024? 2025? This week, we heard from the Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables that the government's plan to meet these targets is to double down on biomass and natural gas. More carbon, more fossil fuels.
This government can say all the right things, but their actions tell a different story. How can the Premier say he's tackling the climate crisis without any credible path to 2030?
THE PREMIER « » : Mr. Speaker, there's certainly a transition before us. There's no question about that. Our grid in 2030 will look different than it does today. We have to understand that it will be different, and there will be multiple parts to our grid.
We'll have a discussion about how much solar. We need batteries. Legislation just passed through this House. How much wind? How much hydro? Wouldn't be nice if Muskrat Falls finally delivered for Nova Scotian ratepayers? There's a lot to discuss on that. It sits right at the feet of the NDP government when the Muskrat Falls debacle really began.
We know the grid will change. There will be some biomass on the grid. There will be - might even be nuclear. We're open to all these things, because we know its important that we get it right.
CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : So no plan. Forty-three per cent of our province's total greenhouse gas emissions come from electricity generation alone. I'll table that.
We must stop burning coal in order to meet our climate goals, and the Premier has the duty to find a credible path to do this. However, the Premier said yesterday, of the only researched and costed plan to do this, "I would say I'm not optimistic about the Atlantic Loop."
The Premier must put forward a path to getting this province off coal. If it's not the Atlantic Loop, I'd like him to tell us what it is.
THE PREMIER « » : There's some pretty serious paraphrasing happening right now, first on the minister's behalf there, and certainly on mine.
I'm not optimistic about the Atlantic Loop. I'm not shy about that. I'll be optimistic when the federal government comes forward and says that they will pay Nova Scotia ratepayers the same respect that they pay to Newfoundland and Labrador ratepayers. The federal government has a role in this.
The NDP has a role in this too. They started that Muskrat Falls situation, and a lot of this rests at their feet.
But we're looking forward. We know that transition is difficult. We know there's going to be some highs and low on that path, but we are committed to getting there. That's what matters to Nova Scotians.