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N.S. government pushes for buy-in as some municipalities balk at resource development

N.S. government pushes for buy-in as some municipalities balk at resource development

CBCa day ago

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Nova Scotia's minister of finance and municipal affairs said municipalities need to get onside with the province's push for more resource development, but stopped short Friday of spelling out what consequences they'll face if they don't.
"We're just trying to explain the reality that we see the need to grow our resource economy, to have money to do all of these things," John Lohr said in an interview.
He made the comments following a luncheon hosted by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce where he was the featured speaker. In his remarks to the business crowd, Lohr spoke about the economic challenges the province is facing because of slowing population growth and uncertainty brought on by American tariffs.
"We need to be more productive," he said.
For months, Premier Tim Houston and his cabinet have been promoting more resource development to bring in additional revenue. Lohr noted on Friday that the results will not be immediate; rather, it's a "medium- to long-term" solution.
Some municipalities have been pushing back against the province's plans, raising concerns about the pace of change and lack of consultation.
When some municipalities recently asked the province to slow down its plans for uranium exploration, Houston responded with letters that suggested future provincial funding was on the line.
Houston was even more pointed in a subsequent statement to CBC News.
"If municipalities want more investment, they must allow for more economic development," the premier said earlier this week.
Asked whether that means the province will cut off municipalities that don't comply, Lohr said, "I think it's way too early to say that."
Liberal MLA Iain Rankin said the premier's message to municipalities is "entirely inappropriate."
"Where is the line? Is it going to go down the line of infrastructure or schools or any important funding that goes to communities across the province?" Rankin said in an interview.
"These are provincial taxpayers that live in these communities and they have every right to present their views to [municipal] council, and council has every right to vote on those issues."
At least five municipalities recently asked the province to pause its plans to issue exploration licences for uranium in three areas with known deposits. Those requests ended up being moot — for now, at least — as no companies responded to the call for bids.
The Municipality of the District of Lunenburg is looking to take things a step further.
A subcommittee of the municipal council voted earlier this week to ask the province to reinstate a moratorium on uranium exploration and development that the Houston government repealed earlier this year.

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