**** CNS Media Release
Amendments to Electricity Act, Public Utilities Act
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The Province is bringing forward promised legislative changes that will protect solar homeowners and small businesses in the solar industry. Other amendments will push Nova Scotia Power to ensure that ratepayers have reliable, cleaner power and further hold the utility accountable for how it delivers electricity.
The measures are in amendments introduced today, April 7, to the Electricity Act and the Public Utilities Act. They are designed to improve Nova Scotia Power’s net-metering program, support the solar energy industry in Nova Scotia and improve the Community Solar and Green Choice programs.
“The amendments we’re introducing today support Nova Scotia ratepayers by empowering them to join our fight against climate change and adopt renewable sources of energy, and holding Nova Scotia Power to a higher standard of performance,” said Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables. “Making changes in support of a thriving solar industry will help us in our goal of generating 80 per cent of our electricity through renewables by 2030.”
Amendments to the Electricity Act will ensure Nova Scotians can generate their own renewable power, such as with solar panels, and gain more control of their energy use:
— ratepayers will be guaranteed the full right to net meter without fear of new special charges, fees or rates – Nova Scotia Power will be prohibited from adding such charges
— ratepayers will be guaranteed the right to bring the energy portion of their electricity bill to $0 annually if they are able to generate enough power from renewable sources like solar panels
— the Province’s Green Choice Program will be simplified and offer more opportunities for large-scale consumers to use renewable energy
– the Community Solar Program (formerly the Shared Solar Program) will be simplified and Nova Scotia Power’s role in it will be limited
— within 12 months, Nova Scotia Power will be required to fully implement the Green Button standard, which enables customers to securely download their household or business electricity usage data and connect their data to online apps to help cut their bills.
Amendments to the Public Utilities Act will strengthen performance standards that Nova Scotia Power must meet, including:
— adding more performance standards for things like reliability and outage response times
— enabling stakeholders and advocates to be a part of the oversight and accountability of Nova Scotia Power by creating a new partnership and performance table to provide advice to the Nova Scotia Utility and Review Board on performance standards and penalties.
The bill also allows farmers markets to pay the domestic electricity rate to help lower their power bills.
Quick Facts:
— the Green Choice Program will offer a new, simplified process for large-scale energy customers to procure renewable electricity and is set to launch later this year
— net metering provides ratepayers the ability to offset their electricity usage by generating and using energy from small-scale renewable energy projects, such as solar panels
Additional Resources:
Bills tabled in the legislature this spring are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
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Legislation Enshrines Mi’kmaw as Nova Scotia’s First Language
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NOTE: The Mi’kmaw translation of the news release follows
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Legislation introduced today, April 7, recognizes Mi’kmaw as Nova Scotia’s first language and will support efforts to preserve and promote it now and for future generations.
The Mi’kmaw Language Act commits the Province to working closely with Mi’kmaw communities and organizations such as Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey to develop a language revitalization strategy.
“This legislation was created in partnership with the Mi’kmaq and further commits government to helping protect and revitalize the Mi’kmaw language,” said Karla MacFarlane, Minister of L’nu Affairs. “The work we will continue to do together in the coming months will create a plan to move forward. Our government sees this is a critical step on the path toward reconciliation.”
The bill establishes a joint committee that will develop a multi-year strategy that identifies priorities and includes steps to reclaim and revitalize the Mi’kmaw language.
The legislation will be proclaimed on a mutually agreeable date with Mi’kmaw leadership, and it will take effect on October 1, Treaty Day.
Quotes:
“I am very excited about this legislation today. It is a big first step but there is still a lot of work to be done. I am eagerly looking forward to working with our elders, knowledge keepers, language warriors, and the Province in the joint implementation of this legislation. It is my hope that the model we create can be used nationally.”
– Chief Leroy Denny, Eskasoni First Nation, Chair, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey
“We are seeing language loss in our communities but most importantly we are seeing a language resurgence in communities where youth and community people are actively in pursuit of restoring their language and culture. This legislation will help strengthen that.”
– Blaire Gould, Executive Director, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey
“Without our language, we cannot pass along what our Elders are really teaching us.”
– Elder Albert Marshall, Eskasoni First Nation
Quick Facts:
— the legislation reinforces the importance of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for governments to preserve, promote, revitalize and protect Aboriginal languages through legislation and education
— the Mi’kmaw Language Act aligns with Nova Scotia’s collaborative work with the Mi’kmaq to respond to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Calls for Justice, to ensure meaningful access to language, culture, and identity as a foundation for resilience and safety
— in 2019, a Mi’kmaw Language Task Team, represented by the Province and Mi’kmaq, engaged all Mi’kmaw communities and the Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre to create the Mi’kmaw Language Initiative – Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq Community Engagement Sessions Report 2019
— that report recommends that the protection of language be facilitated by legislation
— by 2027, if current trends continue, children aged four and younger will not be able to speak Mi’kmaq; the number of children under age four learning Mi’kmaq decreased from 44 per cent in 1999 to just 20 per cent in 2013
Additional Resources:
Bills tabled in the legislature are available at: https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
Mi’kmaw Language app: https://www.kinu.ca/mobile-apps
Translated news release:
Kisi-tplutasik kiskuk, Penatmuiku’s 7, keknuite’tasik Mi’kmaw No’pa Sko’sia-ewey amskwesewey tli’suti aqq apoqnmattaq anko’tasin aqq mlkuktasin nike’ aqq elmi’knik.
Teplutaqn wjit Mi’kmawey Tli’suti elui’tmasultijik Saqmawewa’ki toqi-lukutinew Mi’kmawe’l wutann aqq mtmo’taqne’l nkutey Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey aqq l’tasin kisite’taqn ta’n tli-apaja’tten tli’suti.
“Ula kisi-tplutasik na kisitasikip maw-lutitimkik Mi’kmaq aqq siaw-elwi’tmasultijik kaplno’l klo’tminew aqq apaja’tunew Mi’kmawi’suti,” teluep Karla MacFarlane, Minister wjit L’nu Affairs. “Lukwaqn tan siaw-maw-lukwattesnen wejku’aql tepknusetewe’l na l’tuten kisite’taqn ta’n tl-siawita’ten. Ula kaplno’l na tel-nmitu’tij nuta’q ta’n tl-siawa’sitew koqoey ilkwija’taqniktuk.”
Ula ketu’-piskwa’tumk tplutaqn mawitutaq mawio’mi ta’n l’tutaq pikwelipunqekewey kisutasik kisite’taqn ta’n kisaptitaq koqoey maw-nuta’q aqq wiaqa’ttaq ta’n nuta’q apajite’tmumk aqq apaja’tumk Mi’kmawi’suti.
Ula kisi-tplutasik me’sua’tasitew ta’n tujiw kisa’matultijik kaplno’l aqq Mi’kmawe’k nikansutaqatijik me’sua’tunew, aqq na tliatew Wikewiku’s 1, Ankukamkewey Na’kwek.
Telua’tijik:
“Welta’si kiskuk wjit ula kisi-tplutasik. Ula na amkwesewey atleka’timk ikaik katu me’ pikwelk lukwaqn nuta’q. Nenaqite’tm toqi-lukutinen kisiku’k, kejitaqatijik, melkuktmi’tij L’nui’suti, aqq saqmawewa’ki mawuktmnew ula kisi-tplutasik. Ni’n ajipjutm ta’n koqoey kisa’tuek we’wasitew ta’n telki’k Kanata.
-Saqmaw Leroy Denny, Eskisoqnikewey L’nue’kati, Nujo’tk Mawaknutmamk Tel-pmiaq, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey.
“Nemituek pemi-ksikaq l’nui’suti nwutanminal katu elt nemituek tli’suti apaja’sik wutann ta’n nutqo’ltijik aqq skwijinu’k melkuktmi’tij apaja’tunew wtli’sutimuwow aqq telo’timkeweymuwow. Ula kisi-tplutasik mlkiknewa’tew nekmowey.”
-Blaire Gould, Nikanus, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey
“Mu wsko’tmuek tli’sutiminen, ma’ kis-siawa’tuek ta’n koqoey Kisiku’k ketloqo kekina’muksiek.”
– Kisiku Albert Marshall, Eskisoqnikewey L’nue’kati
Wisqiw Ekinua’tekemkl:
– ula kisi-tplutasik apoqnmatk keknuite’tasin Ketlewo’qney aqq Apiksiktatimkewey Mawio’mi Kwilutmi’tipn ta’n Tla’taqatinen wjit kaplno’laq klo’tmnew, apoqnmatmnew, aqq apaja’tunew aqq anko’tmnew L’nui’suti’l ewe’wmi’titl kisi-tplutasikl aqq kina’masuti
– Teplutaqn wjit Mi’kmawey Tli’suti wije’ti’tij No’pa Sko’sia’ewey mawlukutimkik Mi’kmaq maliaptmnew Panuijkaqn wjit Keska’tijik aqq Ne’po’jik Lnu’skaq aqq L’nu’skwe’jk Kwilutasikl Koqqwaja’taqnn, kulaman ku’kntaq kisi-msnimnew tli’suti, telo’ltimk, aqq tel-nmi’simk wjit tel-mlknamk aqq teli-westawimk
– 2019-ek, Mi’kmawey Tli’sutiey Mawio’mi, ta’n kaqamik wjit Saqmawewa’ki aqq Mi’kmaq, wejita’pnik msit L’nue’kati’l aq Mi’kmaq Native Friendship Centre na kisa’tu’tip Mi’kmawi’sutiey Tel-lukutimk – No’pa Sko’sia Lnue’kati’l Mawaknutmamkl Wejiaq Wi’katikn 2019ek
– ula wi’katikn teluek amujpa ta’n teli-anko’tasik tli’suti wejiaq tplutaqn-iktuk
– mi’soqo ika’q 2027, siaw-tla’sik na koqoey, mijua’ji’jk newipuna’tijik aqq me’ aji-nutqoltijik ma’ nta’-L’nui’sulti’k; ta’n te’sijik mijua’ji’jk aji-nutqo’ltijik aqq ne’w nisa’sik 44% weja’tekemkek 1999-ek mi’soqo 20% 2013-ek
Anku’kinua’tekemkewe’l:
Ketu’-piskwa’tumkl tplutaqnn etekl:
https://nslegislature.ca/legislative-business/bills-statutes/bills/assembly-64-session-1
Mi’kmaw Language app: https://www.kinu.ca/mobile-apps
