Iain Rankin says he’ll quit coal early, electrify transit if he becomes premier

The former cabinet minister released his environmental platform Monday

Taryn Grant 
CBC News
December 7, 2020

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Nova Scotia Liberal leadership hopeful Iain Rankin is making far-reaching promises that he says will help the province make a difference on climate change.

… Further to his conservation goals, Rankin said he would designate remaining sites in the province’s parks and protected areas plan, which at one point included Owls Head —  a 285-hectare area on the Eastern Shore.

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N.S. Supreme Court Grants Environmentalists More Time to Appeal Cabinet Decision

Battle is over Owls Head, a 285-hectare piece of Crown land on Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore

Blair Rhodes
CBC News
August 5, 2020

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In a decision released Wednesday, Nova Scotia Supreme Court Justice Kevin Coady granted Bancroft and the forest watch association more time to file their request for a judicial review.

“The Applicants have a reasonable excuse for the delay,” Justice Coady wrote.

Coady added that the applicants “will suffer prejudice if the extension is not granted” but the respondent “will suffer little prejudice” if it is.

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Supreme Court mulls whether to review controversial Owls Head decision

Taryn Grant 
CBC News
Jun 29, 2020 6:52 PM AT 

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Before the province’s lawyer, Jack Townsend, delivered his arguments to the court, Coady asked him why an extension should be fought, if the review was worthwhile.

“Don’t you think it’s always best to decide issues such as this on the merits, rather than on the procedural obstacles that can pop up because of people dragging their feet or inadvertence or complacency or something of that nature?” Coady said.

Province says a review ‘would be a waste of time’

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Aerial View of Owls Head - Vision Air

MICHAEL GORMAN: Report says best use of Owls Head land would be recreation, conservation

Michael Gorman 
CBC News 
Posted: May 15, 2020 2:49 PM

Developer wants to buy Crown land from the province to build up to 3 golf courses

A valuation report prepared for the company that wants to buy hundreds of hectares of Crown land in Little Harbour, N.S., to build up to three golf courses and other developments says the “highest and best use” for the land is “recreational or conservation purposes.”

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MICHAEL GORMAN: Owls Head land sale put on hold as potential buyers explore their options

Michael Gorman 
CBC News
February 19, 2020

Editor’s Note: At the time of this article (February 2020), the Gilberts have not withdrawn from the Letter of Offer. Furthermore, the provincial government has made no indication that they will be protecting this property. On the contrary, Iain Rankin has said, “At this juncture, [Owls Head] was removed from potential protected areas, and there’s no plans to change that.

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Couple says the decision comes ‘after reflecting on feedback from Nova Scotians’

The couple that wanted to buy Crown land in the Little Harbour, N.S., area for a proposed golf course development has hit pause on the plan.

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