Federal and Provincial Greens Join Forces To Call For Premier Houston To Support Environmental Racism Bill C-226 from Elizabeth May
HALIFAX – The Green Party of Nova Scotia and the Green Party of Canada joined forces today to call on Nova Scotia Premier, Tim Houston, to assist end environmental racism, not only here at home but across the country.
Ending environmental racism, the disproportionate location of polluting or hazardous sites near Indigenous, racialized or other marginalized communities, is at the guts of Bill-C-226 which was introduced by Green Party parliamentary leader Elizabeth May MP within the last session of Parliament.
This bill would develop a national technique to assess, prevent and address environmental racism. The Interim Leader of the GPC, Amita Kuttner, joined Green Party of Nova Scotia leader, Anthony Edmonds in Halifax today to assist draw attention to this issue that Nova Scotians know so well.
Bill C-226 carries on the legacy of the sooner, similar Bill C-230, which was recommend in 2020 by then Liberal MP Lenore Zann and enjoyed multi-partisan support but didn’t turn into law before the 2021 election. On June 22, Bill C-226 passed second reading and can need broad support within the House of Commons.
Interim Green Party leader Amita Kuttner says environmental racism is a problem that should be addressed urgently : “ For a lot of reasons, marginalised communities are the primary to feel the impacts of climate change and environmental destruction. Directly addressing environmental racism is greater than obligatory, each past and present and dealing diligently to forestall future instances. “
Green Party of Nova Scotia leader Anthony Edmonds calls this a problem that transcends politics: “Lenore Zann saw environmental racism as each a rural and concrete issue. Dr. Ingrid Waldron saw it as each a healthcare and environment issue. I see it as a problem that should be above politics. Clean air and water aren’t just fundamental to our health; they’re a birthright. By putting a stop to environmental racism, we’re defending our birthright, and this implies a greater future for all of us.”
The Green Party of Nova Scotia calls on Premier Tim Houston to talk out in support of Bill C-226, within the spirit of his own government’s Bill 57, the Environmental Goals and Climate Change Reduction Act. That act included an opposition amendment to determine a panel on environmental racism by the top of this yr. Working alongside the federal government to handle environmental racism could deliver higher results for Nova Scotians.
Environmental racism has affected quite a few communities in Nova Scotia, lots of which have been extensively catalogued by the ENRICH Project. Dr. Ingrid Waldron’s book, There’s Something In The Water, drew wide attention to a tragic a part of Nova Scotia’s record on this issue. Waldron’s book and the documentary film that it inspired, directed by Elliot Page and Ian Daniel, tell the stories of communities like Shelburne, where water may be unfit even for bathing.
“It’s time for all orders of presidency to place people and planet before politics and work together to finish environmental racism and create a livable future for everybody.”
Elizabeth May sees this support in light : “As Premier Houston seems to place the “progressive” into Progressive Conservative, I actually appreciate any support. Each Nova Scotia Conservative, the truth is every Conservative MP in parliament voted against C-226. Fighting for environmental justice must not be partisan. Because the abuser of environmental rights, Northern Pulp fights Nova Scotia in court, trying to say a whole lot of hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages, let’s take a stand. The toxic pollution of Pictou Landing First Nation must not be forgotten. We’d like C-226 and environmental justice. “
For added information or to rearrange an interview, contact:
Anthony Edmonds
GPNS Leader
anthony.edmonds@greenpartyns.ca
902-293-1568
—
Fabrice Lachance Nové
Press Secretary – Green party of Canada
fabrice.lachance@greenparty.ca
1-514-463-0021
