Bill 228: Environmental Racism Act

Businesses most likely to feel this bill's effects are those in resource extraction, industrial manufacturing, waste management, and land development operating in or near Indigenous and African Nova Scotian communities in Nova Scotia. Companies seeking industrial approvals or participating in environmental assessments will face new requirements once an 'environmental racism and equity lens' is formally incorporated into those processes — meaning proposed projects will be evaluated for their disproportionate impact on racialized communities before approval is granted. Municipal planning strategies will also be required to incorporate this lens, so developers and contractors working on land-use or infrastructure projects in Nova Scotia municipalities will need to account for these considerations in their planning stages. The impact will be felt most by businesses of any size that require provincial environmental or industrial approvals, rather than solo operators in low-impact trades.