Hundreds rally against increased mining, logging protest fines 

Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Province House in Halifax earlier this month to denounce the Houston government’s policies on mining and logging.

The crowd was there, under clear skies and cold winds, on March 3 to draw attention to the government’s easing of restrictions on mining and tougher penalties for those who block logging roads.

Chants calling for Premier Tim Houston to resign were followed by roaring boos and cheers as speakers stepped to the microphone. 

“I am here to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves,” Save Our Old Forests president Nina Newington said to the crowd. “They’re removing the protections for nature that have been worked on so hard to be put in place.” 

Save Our Old Forests is an advocacy group that aims to protect Nova Scotia forests, and helped organize the event. 

In an online interview before the rally with The Signal, Newington spoke about the provincial government’s shortcomings regarding its pledge to protect 20 per cent of provincial forests. 

“They took a bunch of money from the federal government back in 2023,” said Newington. “The feds gave it to them to say this is for getting on with protecting land and water … they haven’t made really any progress, maybe a half a per cent in five years.” 

The money — given to Nova Scotia through the Canada–Nova Scotia Nature Agreement — amounted to $28.5 million intended to help preserve 82,500 hectares of Nova Scotia woodland. 

“The government committed to protecting 20 per cent of lands and water in Nova Scotia,” said Newington. “We thought we’d better encourage them in case they didn’t get around to it.” 

The makeup of attendees was diverse, with signs protesting uranium mining, a proposed spaceport near Canso, and operations of a waste dump in Arlington Heights, Annapolis County. 

Standing in the crowd, Paula Pictou, of Wagmatcook First Nation in Cape Breton, chanted along with the speakers. Adding to the mosaic of signs in the crowd, her poster stated, “It’s giving short-term thinking,” in response to logging in Cape Breton. 

“It’s short-term thinking, they’re not thinking seven generations, that’s 250 years,” said Pictou in an interview at the rally. “What are we gonna be in 250 years?” 

She said she had to make her voice heard.

“Just have to come stand, I’m not one to sit back, can’t let them win,” said Pictou. “I have a grandson, I need to make sure he has a safe place to live.” 

The provincial government wants to bring more economic opportunity to Nova Scotia by increasing investment in sectors such as uranium and mineral mining, wind power and logging.  

The event follows a previous rally in November 2025 in response to amendments in the Crown Lands Act making the blocking of logging operations illegal, and increasing fines to $50,000.