BILL NO. 90

(as introduced)

1st Session, 64th General Assembly
Nova Scotia
70 Elizabeth II, 2021

 

Private member's Bill

 

Public Utilities Act
(amended)

 

The Honourable Iain Rankin
Timberlea–Prospect

First Reading:

(Explanatory Note)

Second Reading:

Third Reading:

Explanatory Note

This Bill

(a) sets out the principles of sustainable development;

(b) adds a mandate for the Utility and Review Board that includes sustainability; and

(c) adds an electricity policy that accords with Nova Scotia's environmental, sustainable development and sustainable prosperity goals and that the Board must consider.

An Act to Amend Chapter 380
of the Revised Statutes, 1989,
the Public Utilities Act,
Respecting Sustainable Development

Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:

1 Chapter 380 of the Revised Statutes, 1989, the Public Utilities Act, is amended by adding immediately after Section 2 the following Sections:

3 For the purpose of this Act, the principles of sustainable development include, but are not limited to,

(a) the principle of ecological value, ensuring the maintenance and restoration of essential ecological processes and the preservation and prevention of loss of biological diversity;

(b) the precautionary principle, so that where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, the lack of full scientific certainty is not used as a reason for postponing measures to prevent environmental degradations;

(c) the principle of pollution prevention and waste reduction as the foundation for long-term environment protection, including

(i) the conservation and efficient use of resources,

(ii) the promotion of the development and use of sustainable, scientific and technological innovations and management systems, and

(iii) the importance of reducing, reusing, recycling and recovering the products of our society;

(d) the principle of shared responsibility of all Nova Scotians to sustain the environment and the economy, both locally and globally, through individual and Government actions; and

(e) the stewardship principle, that recognizes the responsibility of a producer for a product from the point of manufacturing to the point of final disposal.

4 In exercising its functions the Board shall

(a) reconcile the public interest, consumer protection and the fair treatment of public utilities;

(b) promote the satisfaction of energy needs in a manner consistent with the Government's electricity policy and its environmental, sustainable development and sustainable prosperity goals; and

(c) consider the principles of sustainable development and individual and collective equity.

5 (1) It is declared to be the policy of the Government that electricity needs in Nova Scotia must be met in a manner that accords with

(a) the Province's environmental, sustainable development and sustainable prosperity goals; and

(b) the principles of sustainable development and individual and collective equity.

(2) The Board shall be guided by the policy set out in subsection (1).

 

---

This page and its contents published by the Office of the Legislative Counsel, Nova Scotia House of Assembly, and © 2021 Crown in right of Nova Scotia. Created November 5, 2021. Send comments to legc.office@novascotia.ca.