N.S. premier clarifies his government stands by Georges Bank moratorium
Tim Houston blames special interest groups for promoting 'falsehoods'
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says his government will respect the oil and gas development moratorium for Georges Bank and he's blaming unnamed special interest groups looking to "promote falsehoods" for a misunderstanding of his position on the matter.
The premier made the comments in a letter he sent fishing industry representatives several days after saying his government would be open to revisiting the decades-old development moratorium around the valuable and productive fishing grounds.
"This narrative grew because special interests aligned to promote falsehoods," Houston wrote in the letter.
"If you ever want to know what I'm thinking, just ask," he went on to write. "You will get a more accurate answer than you will ever read in the media."
What the premier said last week
In fact, reporters asked Houston last week specifically about the moratorium and whether it was one of the development bans he wanted to revisit as he announced his government's intention to pursue more local natural resources development in an effort to bolster and secure the provincial economy.
"I will look at everything. What can be done safely — that's the lens," Houston said last week.
"Just think about this: right now, if somebody mentions Georges Bank and we're nervous to have a discussion — we have to have a discussion."
That prompted concerns from members of the fishing industry and their representatives, who fought for years to get and maintain the moratorium in the area straddling the Canada-U.S. maritime border, for which the provincial and federal governments have joint jurisdiction.
In his letter, Houston said he made his position clear to industry representatives during a meeting on Jan. 23. The language is more decisive and differs from what he told reporters last week.
"Georges Bank best serves our fisheries sector and, despite what the special interests say, I have no interest in changing that. I have zero interest in putting our fisheries sector and the livelihoods of those who depend on it at risk," he wrote in the letter.
Industry pleased to receive clarity
He goes on to say that his focus for increased resource development is on "new-to-Nova Scotia" industries, such as hydrogen, wind and critical minerals "that can be done safely."
Kris Vascotto, executive director of the Nova Scotia Seafood Alliance, told CBC's Information Morning Nova Scotia on Monday that Houston's comments last week seemed to be "another log on the fire" of uncertainty the industry is facing, as it contends with the impacts of climate change and the threat of tariffs from the U.S. government.
Vascotto said he and members of the fishing sector were calling on Houston for clarity around the Georges Bank moratorium and they were glad to get the letter.
"It was very well received," he said.
PCs 'casting around for a new villain,' says Opposition leader
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said the premier was forced to clarify his position because of his own comments last week and the financial significance the fishing sector plays in the provincial economy.
Chender said the Tories seem to be "casting around for a new villain" following an election late last year where they made the federal Liberal government and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a ballot box issue. Trudeau has subsequently announced he'll step down after his party selects a new leader.
"The premier wants to push through this new agenda, which he did not bring to Nova Scotians [during the election] and he doesn't want opposition," said Chender. "So far, it's not going so well."
Interim Liberal Leader Derek Mombourquette said he was glad the premier clarified his government's stance on the moratorium, but he noted the confusion was driven by Houston's own response to direct questioning about the ban.
"When he uses [the term] 'special interest groups,' the concern for me is that if you disagree with the premier, everyone will become a special interest group," he said.
In response to a question about what special interest groups made false comments about the premier's intentions, Houston's office provided a statement drawing attention to comments an Ecology Action Centre representative made to CBC News in a story last week about mining. That story contained no comments about Georges Bank.
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