Whale Sanctuary Project in Nova Scotia renews bid to get two whales from France – Halifax [Video]

The group behind a project to build North America’s first coastal refuge for captive whales in Nova Scotia has renewed its bid to provide a seaside sanctuary for two killer whales living in a shuttered marine park in France.

But the U.S.-based Whale Sanctuary Project, which has been working on its plan for five years, has yet to receive federal or provincial government approvals and its $20-million plan remains on the drawing board because of a lack of consent from adjacent landowners in eastern Nova Scotia.

As well, a similar pitch last year was rejected by the French government in January, when officials said the proposed refuge near Wine Harbour, N.S., wouldn’t be ready in time, and they raised concerns about ocean temperatures.

Still, the non-profit group released a statement last week saying it was ready to work with the French government, after plans fell through to move the whales …