Latest news with #JohnLohr
CBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CBC
N.S. government pushes for buy-in as some municipalities balk at resource development
Social Sharing 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.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Groups begin lobbying N.S. government over potential booze sale changes
With the provincial government launching consultation on whether to expand sales points for alcohol in Nova Scotia, interested parties are not waiting for a phone call. Organizations on both sides of the issue have started issuing news releases and open letters to Finance Minister John Lohr, whose department is overseeing the process. Lohr announced last week that Infuse Public Relations and Crestview Strategy will collectively manage the public opinion polling of 1,500 random people and stakeholder engagement with 194 groups. The contract for the work is worth $300,000. A news release this week from the Atlantic division of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said 77 per cent of small businesses in Nova Scotia support allowing convenience stores and grocery stores to sell alcohol. "This moment is the government's chance to support local retailers at a time when over six in 10 are experiencing lower demand, and provide much-needed shelf space to local producers," Duncan Robertson, the federation's director of legislative affairs, said in the release. The CFIB's recommendations include allowing the sale of beverages that do not exceed alcohol by volume of 7.1 per cent in convenience and grocery stores — similar to steps taken in Ontario — and opening those rules to all small businesses, not just large retailers. Nova Scotia already permits alcohol to be sold in some private wine and specialty stores, in on-site stores at breweries and wineries, and farmers' markets. Lohr also received an open letter this week from a group of 14 doctors who specialize in addiction medicine, urging the government not to expand alcohol sales because it would increase consumption and "worsen individual and societal harms." "Every day we care for patients and families suffering from alcohol use disorder and medical complications of alcohol use," the letter said. "Alcohol causes more than 500 deaths, 5,000 hospital admissions, and 35,000 emergency department visits in Nova Scotia each year, and creates more health care and social costs to our province than any other substance." The doctors went on to say that revenue earned through taxation on alcohol sales does not compensate for society-wide costs of health harms, violence and driving accidents attributable to alcohol. They wrote that alcohol is already widely available in Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation retail and agency stores. "It is crucial that the government keeps control of alcohol distribution to minimize further public costs and health harms," they said. Finance Department officials said 194 groups are included in stakeholder engagement so far. That includes 126 craft breweries, wineries and distillers, along with another 11 groups or agencies also in favour of opening things up, such as the Retail Council of Canada. Jim Cormier, the group's Atlantic director of government relations, said members have been looking at this issue particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. "They've been looking at any way to try and get more people to get away from online shopping, using their smartphones to shop, and get them to come out to go into bricks-and-mortar stores," he said in an interview. Cormier said there can be extended benefits for the local economy by getting people into retail stores where it's possible to cross-promote Nova Scotia craft beer, wine and spirits with other products, such as cheese, berries and glassware. "Obviously it would be more than just Nova Scotia products, but that's the pitch we're making," he said. Council members are looking for things to be as open as possible so there are no winners or losers, said Cormier. "If you're in a rural community and there happens to be a hardware store and they think that they could make a case that they could sell beer and do so in a responsible manner and meet all the rules and regulations, why shouldn't they be allowed to at least apply to do that?" Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatric emergency physician and a trauma team leader at the IWK Health Centre, said it is vital that the government not make any changes without first speaking to the people responsible for caring for those most impacted by alcohol. During her 10 years working in Nova Scotia since moving from Ontario where she also practised medicine, Weerdenburg said she's seen an increase in the number of young people presenting to the emergency department with intoxication. Data needs to be reviewed under the current regulatory regime to understand what's happening before access is expanded, she said. "I do start to get more concerned nowadays, if kids have more access, what their futures will look like." Weerdenburg is also a member of the Nova Scotia Alcohol Policy Coalition, which recently wrote to the government outlining its concerns. The group is one of several dozen representing interests related to health care, intimate partner violence prevention, addictions and marginalized communities slated to be consulted. Although the stakeholder list does not include Nova Scotia Health, the IWK Health Centre or Public Health, a Finance Department spokesperson said the three agencies would be consulted as part of an internal engagement process for government departments. MORE TOP STORIES
CBC
06-06-2025
- Health
- CBC
Groups begin lobbying N.S. government over potential booze sale changes
With the provincial government launching consultation on whether to expand sales points for alcohol in Nova Scotia, interested parties are not waiting for a phone call. Organizations on both sides of the issue have started issuing news releases and open letters to Finance Minister John Lohr, whose department is overseeing the process. Lohr announced last week that Infuse Public Relations and Crestview Strategy will collectively manage the public opinion polling of 1,500 random people and stakeholder engagement with 194 groups. The contract for the work is worth $300,000. A news release this week from the Atlantic division of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business said 77 per cent of small businesses in Nova Scotia support allowing convenience stores and grocery stores to sell alcohol. "This moment is the government's chance to support local retailers at a time when over six in 10 are experiencing lower demand, and provide much-needed shelf space to local producers," Duncan Robertson, the federation's director of legislative affairs, said in the release. Small businesses supportive, doctors concerned The CFIB's recommendations include allowing the sale of beverages that do not exceed alcohol by volume of 7.1 per cent in convenience and grocery stores — similar to steps taken in Ontario — and opening those rules to all small businesses, not just large retailers. Nova Scotia already permits alcohol to be sold in some private wine and specialty stores, in on-site stores at breweries and wineries, and farmers' markets. Lohr also received an open letter this week from a group of 14 doctors who specialize in addiction medicine, urging the government not to expand alcohol sales because it would increase consumption and "worsen individual and societal harms." "Every day we care for patients and families suffering from alcohol use disorder and medical complications of alcohol use," the letter said. "Alcohol causes more than 500 deaths, 5,000 hospital admissions, and 35,000 emergency department visits in Nova Scotia each year, and creates more health care and social costs to our province than any other substance." The doctors went on to say that revenue earned through taxation on alcohol sales does not compensate for society-wide costs of health harms, violence and driving accidents attributable to alcohol. They wrote that alcohol is already widely available in Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation retail and agency stores. "It is crucial that the government keeps control of alcohol distribution to minimize further public costs and health harms," they said. Finance Department officials said 194 groups are included in stakeholder engagement so far. That includes 126 craft breweries, wineries and distillers, along with another 11 groups or agencies also in favour of opening things up, such as the Retail Council of Canada. Jim Cormier, the group's Atlantic director of government relations, said members have been looking at this issue particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. "They've been looking at any way to try and get more people to get away from online shopping, using their smartphones to shop, and get them to come out to go into bricks-and-mortar stores," he said in an interview. No winners or losers Cormier said there can be extended benefits for the local economy by getting people into retail stores where it's possible to cross-promote Nova Scotia craft beer, wine and spirits with other products, such as cheese, berries and glassware. "Obviously it would be more than just Nova Scotia products, but that's the pitch we're making," he said. Potential expansion of alcohol sales concerns N.S. doctors 2 days ago Duration 4:59 Council members are looking for things to be as open as possible so there are no winners or losers, said Cormier. "If you're in a rural community and there happens to be a hardware store and they think that they could make a case that they could sell beer and do so in a responsible manner and meet all the rules and regulations, why shouldn't they be allowed to at least apply to do that?" Dr. Kirstin Weerdenburg, a pediatric emergency physician and a trauma team leader at the IWK Health Centre, said it is vital that the government not make any changes without first speaking to the people responsible for caring for those most impacted by alcohol. Talk to caregivers During her 10 years working in Nova Scotia since moving from Ontario where she also practised medicine, Weerdenburg said she's seen an increase in the number of young people presenting to the emergency department with intoxication. Data needs to be reviewed under the current regulatory regime to understand what's happening before access is expanded, she said. "I do start to get more concerned nowadays, if kids have more access, what their futures will look like." Weerdenburg is also a member of the Nova Scotia Alcohol Policy Coalition, which recently wrote to the government outlining its concerns. The group is one of several dozen representing interests related to health care, intimate partner violence prevention, addictions and marginalized communities slated to be consulted. Although the stakeholder list does not include Nova Scotia Health, the IWK Health Centre or Public Health, a Finance Department spokesperson said the three agencies would be consulted as part of an internal engagement process for government departments.
CBC
29-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Nova Scotia to survey public on expanding retail sale of alcohol
Nova Scotia has announced a month-long public survey as it considers expanding alcohol sales to various retail outlets like corner stores. Finance Minister John Lohr says examining how alcohol is sold and consumed makes sense as the province moves to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. The province will survey 1,500 Nova Scotians over the age of 19 starting this week. It will also gather feedback on the types of stores where alcohol can be sold, locations where people can drink alcohol and health considerations related to any changes. Alcohol is currently served at over 300 retail locations in the province. They include Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation stores, private wine and specialty stores and on-site stores at breweries, wineries and farmers markets.
Global News
29-05-2025
- Business
- Global News
Nova Scotia to survey public on expanding retail sale of alcohol
See more sharing options Send this page to someone via email Share this item on Twitter Share this item via WhatsApp Share this item on Facebook Nova Scotia has announced a month-long public survey as it considers expanding alcohol sales to various retail outlets like corner stores. Finance Minister John Lohr says examining how alcohol is sold and consumed makes sense as the province moves to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The province will survey 1,500 Nova Scotians over the age of 19 starting this week. It will also gather feedback on the types of stores where alcohol can be sold, locations where people can drink alcohol and health considerations related to any changes. Alcohol is currently served at over 300 retail locations in the province. They include Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation stores, private wine and specialty stores, on site stores at breweries and wineries and farmers markets. Story continues below advertisement This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 29, 2025.
