For Immediate Release – NSACCW and CEU Condemn Premier Houston’s Letter to Federal Environment Minister Guilbeault Blaming Energy Poverty on Climate Justice Inaction

For Immediate Release.

September 6th, 2022

KJIPUKTUK (HALIFAX, NS)- Today the Nova Scotia Action Coalition for Community Wellbeing (NSACCW) and the Climate Emergency Unit (CEU) is condemning Premier Houston’s Letter to Federal Environment Minister Guilbeault. “Using energy poverty as an excuse for climate justice inaction is beyond words. The Premier and his Atlantic counterparts are responsible for the presence and festering of energy poverty in the region,” states Alec Stratford Executive Director and Registrar with the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers and Chair of NSACCW.

“It is the provinces who hold the policy levers to end energy poverty, to cite this as an excuse is an abdication of their jurisdictional power and negates their obligations to the public interest,” states Stratford.

Provinces have jurisdiction over the minimum wage, providing a social safety net (including social assistance), natural resources, and energy policy.

“Both NSACCW and CEU provided the policy tools to end energy poverty, fight climate change and build greater equality countless times. The Premier, the Legislative Amendments committee as well as the Minister of  Environment and Climate Change have all been presented with what is required to do so. To blame their own inaction on climate justice, is not only disingenuous, it is also an insult to the 40% of Atlantic Canadians who experience energy poverty,” states Stratford

Emma Norton, the Atlantic Director of the Climate Emergency Unit and NSACCW member agrees. “Climate change affects people differently depending on their position in society. Those that experience poverty are far more likely to bear the brunt of climate disaster. We need to look no further than MacDonald Trailer Park in Antigonish which was devastated by torrential downpour of rain, an impact of climate change, in November of 2021. The impact of poverty on top of climate change made recovery far, far worse for people there. Pitting poverty against climate change makes both problems worse.” states Norton.

The NSACCW and the CEU continue to call on Premier Houston to adopt a climate justice approach and create a substantial social safety net to tackle the climate crisis and transition to a post carbon economy. To meet our greenhouse gas reduction goals, focusing on inequality must be a part of the solution. This includes ending homelessness, a commitment to living wages, and an introduction of the next generation of social programs, all which are within the jurisdiction of the Premier. To build the social solidarity required to transition to a climate safe future, we must ensure that burden does not fall onto Nova Scotians.

If the Premiers are serious about tackling energy poverty, they need not ask the federal government. They have the authority, policy tools, and moral obligation to do so immediately. Do they have the will?

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For more information or to arrange interviews, contact Alec Stratford at 902-410-2420 or at Alec.Stratford@NSCSW.org