Sharing Highlights as We Step into June
As the days get sunnier and gardens burst into bloom, East Coast Environmental Law staff are feeling energized and eager to dig into summer projects. Here are some highlights from our work in April and May along with some things to look forward to in the month to come.
Last year, East Coast Environmental Law received a grant from the Small Change Fund that enabled us to hire lobbying consultants to support our work with the Offshore Alliance. One of our campaign objectives was to secure an extension of the moratorium on oil and gas drilling on Georges Bank, and, in late April, a ten-year extension was announced! East Coast Environmental Law is proud to be part of a strong alliance working hard to protect Nova Scotia's offshore from unsustainable resource extraction activities.
In May, East Coast Environmental Law welcomed four summer students who will be working with us on a number of summer projects, including legal research on issues like Aboriginal and Indigenous laws in environmental contexts, aquaculture regulation, and stewardship of coastal areas and wetlands.
Funding by the Schulich Academic Excellence Fund for Internships and the Canada Summer Jobs program made these positions possible.
East Coast Environmental Law continues to support the community of Harrietsfield as its residents navigate the ramifications of groundwater contamination in their community. In May, East Coast Environmental Law staff attended a community town hall in which residents gathered to see presentations by NS Lands and consultant AECOM on the remediation of the contaminated site. A copy of NS Lands' presentation is available on the NS Lands website.
The Government of Nova Scotia has officially launched a regulatory review of Nova Scotia's aquaculture regulations. East Coast Environmental Law staff have collaborated with partners to prepare for the review, and we look forward to participating and providing support to others. This review presents an opportunity for all Nova Scotians who are interested in aquaculture regulation to weigh in and make their voices heard, so keep an eye on the Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture's website for more updates!
Earlier this year, East Coast Environmental Law published a report assessing the Government of Prince Edward Island's compliance with its species at risk legislation and calling for more effective legislation and implementation on the Island.
Next week, staff lawyer Tina Northrup will be presenting virtually to the Prince Edward Island Legislative Assembly's Standing Committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability to discuss the report and our recommendations. We understand that the presentation and question-and-answer period will be live-streamed, so tune in if you're interested!
Date: Thursday, June 9
Time: 10:00-11:00 AM
Website: https://www.assembly.pe.ca/watch-live
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