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Election campaign yields new commitments for Protected Areas - All parties promise forward movement on conservation program

August 03, 2003

The election campaign in Nova Scotia this summer has produced some welcome news for the future of our wilderness in the province, say members of the Ecology Action Centre and the Nova Scotia Public Lands Coalition who seek to see more of our publicly-owned Crown lands protected in Nova Scotia. "All three major parties have now made specific commitments in their election platforms to move forward on the overdue Protected Areas Network program" says spokesman Raymond Plourde. Here are the highlights and specific election commitments from each of the three main political parties:

Conservatives - Promise two new Wilderness Areas, 5 new nature reserves and a general commitment to continue to move forward on the Protected Areas Program.

"Designate two new candidate Wilderness Areas within the Crown land blocks at Gully Lake (Colchester/Pictou Counties) and Eigg Mountain/James River (Antigonish/Pictou Counties)"

and

"Designate new Nature Reserves at Spinneys Heath, Great Barren and Quinan Lakes, and Quinns Meadow in Yarmouth County; Duncans Cove in Halifax County; and MacFarlane Woods in Inverness County"

and

"Continue to work towards a comprehensive system of protected areas"

From NS Government's Green Plan "Towards a Sustainable Environment - June 2003"

also

"Implement Nova Scotia's Green Plan, following public consultation, and introduce amendments to the Environment Act to update, clarify and strengthen the law."

and

"Acquire more coastal lands and wilderness areas for protection from development, where financial resources allow and in partnerships with such organizations as the Nature Conservancy of Canada."

From NS PC Party Election Platform "John Hamm's Blueprint for building a better Nova Scotia" - July 2003

Liberals - Promise to move forward "aggressively" toward designating more Protected Areas "throughout" the province and a general commitment to improve environmental decision making by Cabinet.

"We will work aggressively towards the goal of designating more protected areas throughout the province. We owe it to future generations."

also

"We will ensure all cabinet decisions include consideration of environmental issues. When ministers bring issues to cabinet for discussion, the background documents will include a section devoted to consideration of the environmental impact of decisions when relevant. The environment will not just be a priority for the Minister of the Environment or ministers of resource-based portfolios. The environment will be a key priority for the entire government."

From NS Liberal Party Election Platform - "Believe in Better" - July 2003

NDP - Promise to finishing the job. Commits the party to reach the minimum international conservation goal of 12% (of landmass) as committed to by Canada the Rio Earth Summit. Also promise to defend environmentally sensitive areas from industrial development including the Tobeatic and Digby Neck and to reduce the amount of clearcutting in Nova Scotia forests.

"The NDP will complete the steps to protect 12 per cent of Nova Scotia's land representing the various natural environments in our province, and will better protect Crown lands from harmful exploitation."

and

"Will continue to fight for the protection of the Tobeatic Wilderness Area."

and

"Continue our efforts to stop a mega-quarry from moving into Digby Neck."

and

"Preserve public access to Nova Scotia's coasts."

and

"Ban unjustified clear-cutting and help woodlot owners increase silviculture."

From NS NDP Election Issues Fact Sheet - "Your Issues - Environment" - July 2003

"It is refreshing to see all three parties in some form of agreement on this important issue," says Raymond Plourde, Wilderness Coordinator for the Ecology Action Centre. "Its been five long years since we've seen any substantive progress on the Protected Areas program - and its long overdue. Now Nova Scotians can expect to see some real progress since all three parties have each clearly made a strong "go forward" commitment." The Province originally promised in 1992 to complete a comprehensive network of Protected Areas representing our 80 Natural Landscapes by the year 2000. Nova Scotia has yet to reach the half-way mark and progress was reduced to a snails-pace over the last five years. "Nova Scotian's will expect to see these commitments honored regardless of who wins. And they will expect to see more of our publicly owned land protected quickly and with the full support of all three political parties," says Plourde.