Address Emergency Alert Delays - QP

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : This Summer, Nova Scotians saw first-hand the danger and chaos that can result from the failure of our Emergency Alert System. During the Tantallon fires, an alert wasn't sent until over an hour after the evacuations began. During the West Hants flooding, alerts weren't sent for over two hours after being urgently requested by first responders on the scene.

The government has promised to address these delays, but nothing has changed, and the results of these delays have had real impacts on the outcome of rescue and evacuation efforts. Another major storm could arrive tomorrow. Speaker, can the Premier tell Nova Scotians how they can trust that they'll receive an alert in time next time?

THE PREMIER « » : This is a very serious issue, of course. The Mass Casualty Commission raised this very issue. We're working with municipalities, first responders to talk about the best way to do this. I will say that I believe that those closest to the incident should have the authority to issue those emergency alerts.

I will tell the member that from discussions with various groups of first responders, they're not always in agreement. Some might say to shelter in place; the person beside him might say, I think we should all get out of here. Well, who makes those - these are difficult discussions that require some training and thoughtful consideration with the first responders. We're working with our first responder community and our municipalities to find the best way forward. We want to keep all Nova Scotians safe. Public safety is the number one concern here, for sure.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : We hope to see action on that soon. Much of our coast also remains vulnerable to this government's stunning inaction. Four years ago, all three parties in this Chamber voted in favour of a bill that would regulate construction in coastal and flood-prone areas, and protect coastlines from the impact of climate change, which we all see.

Proclamation of the Coastal Protection Act has been continuously stalled by this government, creating a dangerous rush to build in vulnerable areas in its absence, leaving people and coastlines at risk. I want to ask the Premier why he's more concerned with allowing reckless coastal development than protecting Nova Scotians - I'll rephrase. I'll rephrase. I'll rephrase. Why isn't the Premier acting to protect our coastlines?

THE SPEAKER « » : We'll have to rule that question out of order due to - it's a different topic and? I'd ask that you be a little more specific. We could indicate that being this broad could be everything about government, but if we could just be a little more specific. We will have to rule that question out of order, and we will move on to your final supplementary, please.

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Hopefully the Premier will have the opportunity to answer a question about coastal protection soon. We're talking about the ways in which this government is responding to our changing climate and protecting Nova Scotians in the process. Nova Scotians' homes and properties have been devasted by the storms of the past year. The July flooding alone has been estimated to have caused over $170 million in insured damages, and certainly much more that was uninsured.

Last year, Hurricane Fiona caused over $385 million in damage, just in Nova Scotia. What used to be a once in a lifetime storm simply isn't any more. There is some relief after a disaster happens, but communities and families are stuck with the cost of preparing for the next storm with virtually no help - no environmental protection, a weak emergency alert system, and not enough support. Why is the Premier leaving people vulnerable by refusing to prepare for the next big disaster?

THE PREMIER « » : Obviously this past year has been a difficult one. We had flooding, and then we had Hurricane Fiona, and then we had the fires, and then we had the July flooding. All of these had a financial cost for sure, but my memory from all of those is the incredible loss of life from the July flooding and the pain that Nova Scotians felt from that. When these things come, our climate is changing. There's no question about that. As we run through these natural disasters, we have tried to be responsive, come out with innovative programs in the aftermath, tried to help people be prepared. There's no question, Speaker, that this is unprecedented times for our province. Certainly the government recognizes that and will do what it can.