HALIFAX 鈥� More than one year after a wildfire ravaged a Halifax suburb, Nova Scotia Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton is appealing for the public鈥檚 help with an investigation he says has stalled.
Rushton made the appeal following a cabinet meeting Thursday, adding that while his department is seeking to lay possible charges in connection with the wildfire that ignited on May 28, 2023, its investigation has 鈥渆xhausted its efforts.鈥�
鈥淲e are at a point that in order to move forward we need more evidence,鈥� Rushton told reporters. 鈥淚f the public feels they have evidence or information that hasn鈥檛 been shared we encourage them to please call in.鈥�
The wildfire in Upper Tantallon forced the evacuation of 16,400 people. By the time it was brought under control six days later, it had burned 969 hectares and destroyed 151 homes.
Rushton said investigators with his department need more evidence before they can lay any charges that can stand up in court. He called the lack of progress 鈥渄isappointing.鈥�
鈥淭hey (investigators) certainly have (fire) origins and ideas,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e done an extensive job 鈥� but it鈥檚 been very difficult to fill in the blanks.鈥�
Under the provincial Forests Act, the minister said his department has 24 months to lay charges following an offence. Charges under the act are not criminal and anyone convicted could face a fine of up to $50,000 and up to six months in jail. Last December, an RCMP investigation determined no criminality in the cause of the wildfire.
Rushton wasn鈥檛 specific about what kind of evidence investigators are looking for, but he urged people to come forward if they feel they have information that hasn鈥檛 yet been shared.
鈥淚f there is something laying under a rock that we need to find out then we need that information,鈥� he said.
Liberal Leader Zach Churchill questioned why it took so long to ask the public for help, saying an appeal likely should have gone out months earlier.
鈥淭his is one of the worst wildfire tragedies that we鈥檝e seen,鈥� Churchill said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 right that people want justice and want it more swiftly than they鈥檝e gotten it.鈥�
NDP Leader Claudia Chender said that people affected by the wildfire have a right to be upset that there鈥檚 no resolution 14 months later.
鈥淭he (public) plea is probably a good one, but likely should have come earlier,鈥� Chender said.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 8, 2024.
Keith Doucette, The Canadian Press
