Nova Scotia chiefs say province needs to improve consultation on natural resources – Halifax [Video]

The Nova Scotia Assembly of Mi’kmaw Chiefs says the provincial government needs to do a better job of consultation as it pushes to develop the province’s natural resources.

Chief Tamara Young, of Pictou Landing First Nation, told the legislature’s natural resources committee Tuesday that the chiefs have “serious concerns” over how recent decisions have been made without advance notice.

“We should not hear about important developments that Nova Scotia is making from the evening news,” said Young. “This includes when policy or legislative changes are being proposed in the mining sector.”

In March, the Progressive Conservative government of Premier Tim Houston passed legislation that lifted a long-standing ban on uranium exploration and mining and a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. Houston has said the legislative changes were needed to boost the province’s economy as it deals with the challenges posed by U.S. tariffs.

However, the chiefs responded by …