April 28, 2010
The Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Agriculture’s Provincial Oceans Network has announced a schedule for public consultations to seek Nova Scotia’s’ vision for the future of their coasts.
The complete schedule for the PON’s public consultations is as follows:
- Tuesday, May 4th at the Bridgewater Curling Club, 90 Dominion Street, between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, May 5th in Yarmouth at the Rodd Grand Hotel, 415 Main Street, between 4:00 pm and 8:00 pm.
- May 11 - Digby
- May 12 - Wolfville
- May 18 - Truro
- May 19 - Antigonish
- May 20 - Sydney
- May 26 - HRM (Dartmouth)
Venues and times are available on the Department's website. In addition to these public consultations, the PON plans targeted private meetings with special interests, and the public is invited to give input via the Department’s website, or via written submission.
The Coastal Coalition of Nova Scotia has recommended a clear focus on the following:
- a Coastal Act by 2012 - binding legislation and regulations to protect our natural shoreline, its features and processes
- a Coastal Policy - a road map to enable ecological, social, and economic sustainability for our coastal communities;
- A “land use bottom line” - minimum land use planning standards for zoning and setbacks in the coastal zone to which all players must adhere – municipalities, businesses, developers, community groups, private landowners;
- Coastal Governance Reform - Clarify who does what within provincial and municipal jurisdictions to achieve a coordinated cost-effective coastal governance structure with clear roles and responsibilities for all levels of government, aboriginal people, non-governmental organizations, citizens, and communities.
The full text of our press release is available here [pdf]
