A provincial report looking at how racism affects a community’s natural environment will not be made public.
The government recruited a panel of people to make the report in 2022 and received it about a year ago.
African Nova Scotian Affairs Minister Twila Grosse would not say whether she’s comfortable with the government’s decision.
“I have nothing to do with the releasing of the report. So again, that’s under the office of Anti-Racism and Equity,” said Grosse.
Some government cabinet ministers, including Grosse, will meet with members of the panel to discuss their report.
Grosse says it’s important for her to be on the panel because, as an African Nova Scotian, she is “quite aware with regards to environmental racism.”
“I have lived experience,” she said.
Premier Tim Houston told reporters Wednesday that the report will be used internally for policy making.
In an emailed statement from Thursday afternoon, the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism says they did not plan to publish the report when they created the panel.
The statement, attributed to Justice Minister Becky Druhan, reads: “It is understandable that this work is of interest to Nova Scotians and we want to be transparent. Out of respect for the panel, we want to meet with members before sharing any further details publicly.”
Minister of Public Works Fred Tilley told reporters Thursday that he had no read the report. Minister of Health Michelle Thompson said she had access to the report but that she had not yet read it.
“I trust my colleagues in [the Department of Environment] to support and work with public health, but I haven’t had an opportunity to read it yet,” said Thompson.
