February 6, 2026
Interim Liberal Leader Iain Rankin is calling on the Houston government to reaffirm Nova Scotia’s interim target of protecting 15 per cent of provincial land, warning that failure to meet the commitment next month could put critical federal funding at risk.
Under the Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement, the province committed to reaching 15 per cent land protection by the end of March 2026. As recently as October, the former Minister of Natural Resources said the government was still committed to that goal, but with just weeks to go, that goal is in question.
“This matters not just for our environment, but because federal funding is on the line,” said Rankin. “If Nova Scotia fails to meet its commitments, Ottawa can claw that money back. With a massive deficit and growing financial pressures, every single dollar counts.”
Just this week, New Brunswick reaffirmed its commitment to the same 15 per cent protection target. In order for Nova Scotia to meet the same deadline, the government would need to protect an area of land roughly the size of Kejimkujik National Park by the end of March.
“Provinces like New Brunswick recognize that land protection is about long-term stewardship and accountability,” said Rankin. “The government needs to recommit to this target and explain how it plans to protect that much land in the coming weeks, before federal funding is put at risk.”