| 1. | What is the best way for government to support community efforts toward a healthy environment? |
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| The government needs to develop an action plan to select and designate more large blocks of public (Crown) land for protection under the Wilderness Protection Act. Many communities are seeking this protection but can make litte progress because the government is unresponsive to community needs compared to those of industry. ** community has been working for over eight years, through numerous large public meetings and letters, to persuade government to protect the large wilderness area west of Nile Mile River (west of the land fill site) just west of Halifax (about 27,000 acres of public land). Thus far little progress has been made, despite the efforts ** ** ** ** ** and polls showing overwhelming support for more protection of public land. The ideas in the green plan lack any specific action with timelines.
Besides the protection of public land, communities can be supported by allowing them to work with government in preventing problems before they occur. ** organization has had a frustrating time, for example, seeing what can be done to prevent damage to the Woodens River Watershed by the in-filling of Cranberry Lake by the twinning of Hwy 103. The government is willing to consider limited compensation for very specific damage required by federal law, but the concept of a community (with levels of professional expertise exceding those of government) working for free together with the Province to take steps to prevent long term negative impact has had little support.
In sum, the Province has failed to take seriously the efforts by communities to communicate with and work with the Province. The Green Plan is an example. ** organization was not approached for an opinion, despite the ** ** history of corerspondence with Ministers. How many residents in our watershed have even heard of it or know how to find it? Very few. I just learned about it myself. It is hard not to draw the conclusion that the Province wants it that way. |
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| Support and Enhance Community-based Initiatives to Address Invasive Species: Increasing the capacity for community groups to work on the issue of invasive species, increase awareness, and to monitor for invasive species should also be incorporated into government funding of projects such as the Nova Scotia Habitat Conservation Fund, Nova Scotia Conservation Corps, Adopt-A-Stream, the "Parks are for People" program.
The Nova Scotia government should also endorse self-funding recreational boater projects (which could be administered through community groups with the help of provincial staff) to educate boaters about the issue of invasive species and require boaters to clean their boats before transferring them from one water body to another. Such initiatives are already underway in New England states and Ontario (** ** ** ** **). Education on invasive species should be incorporated into school education programmes. |
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| ** ** ** we certainly agree that we need enviornment protection, but this workbook "sustainable enviornment" was not written in a language that could be understood by the average citizen and if I can use the quote from your consultation workbook, managing the enviornment is a shared responsibility involving all citizens of Nova Scotia. How can they share in a responsibility, if they are not aware of the goal? Was it the plan for them to share the responsibility by restricting recreational activity? |
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| ** ** ** converting the abandoned rail bed into a recreational trail,I appreciate the support offered through Sport and Recreation and other government programs (ACOA) toward this effort. Unfortunately, the corporate community has not been as forthcoming and this has not been the result of not asking.
** ** ** **, it would be nice to have some additional leverage from government. A letter of endorsement from the Minister would help and a special tax break
akin to a political contribution for donations over $1000 would be a real bonus. |
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| Stop government waste, use our tax money to
provide real benifits to society. Too much government money is simply used to employ too many people. Government need to do a better job at regulating industry and municipal governments, too much time is wasted on PERMITS, PERMITS DO LITTLE TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT. NSDOEL should put clear regulations in place that are easy to understand and easy to follow and easy for NSDOEL staff to see when they are not followed and charge those who don't follow the rules. NSDOEL staff need to get out of thier office and see what is going on. ** ** ** ** took many permits Through various departments and took a great deal of time. The design in compliance with all the rules "as best one could ever hope to understand the rules"
** ** a near by home had a sanitary sewer pipe discharging directly into the river. NSDOEL never seem to look at that or really care, Thier mandate seems to be "we work on permits only"
Would it not be better to allow applicants to submitt designs ect to NSDOEL as information only without needing permission to build. NSDOEL could then spend more time in the field finding the real problems.
The permiting approach is one that says guilty untill proven inocent, applicants must prove to NSDOEL beyond a shadow of doubt that what they will be doing complies with the complex rules, this is a complete waste of time. IN the ** years I have been suffering through the permit process VERY LITTLE if any changes have been required that benifit the environment. NSDOEL needs to put more effort into enforcement and much less in permits "PERMITS DO NOT PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT" |
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| Funding for community based projects is the best way for the government to support community efforts toward a healthy environment. There are a myriad of such projects ongoing around the province. The goal of these projects is to help create/maintain healthy environments. Much of these projects involve education and outreach which is of course crucial to inolving the community in these efforts. The community must be educated on the facets of a healthy environment. The average person does not usually gain this knowledge through their formal education. This is why there are so many invaluable projects that help educate the public. These projects struggle annually for funding. ** ** ** ** **. An exceptional aspect of this project involves community talks ** ** **. ** ** ** he educates people about the interconnectedness of the land and oceans and how some human activities damage the health of our oceans. Also, many of the projects ** ** ** not only provide valuable scientific data, but include communities in the active monitoring of their local biodiversity (** ** ** **).
Another way for government to support community efforts toward a healthy environment is to implement infrastructure that promotes environmental health. Examples include building sewage treatment plants, creating bicycle paths, enhancing public transit. |
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| develop continuing partnerships
treat the public as stakeholders in policy development and planning
provide sustaining grants for activist groups and community intervention on issues
extension work, for instance in agriculture and forestry, which would help people adopt
more sustainable practices.
provide groups with clear information and good research on industry and environment in
this province
tighten up environmental assessment regulations. ** ** ** ** **
have these and other regulations reflect community concerns and provide monitoring and enforcement
seriously promote renewable energy such as wind and solar power
adopt the recommendations of the Voluntary Planning ORV Task Force
promote fuel conservation
promote organic agriculture
assist local marketing of local produce
control or eliminate the use of coal to manufacture electricity
encourage sustainable forestry through tax incentives
demand high levels of certification for forest industries
designate more wilderness areas and nature reserves
stop seismic testing and drilling off Cape Breton
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| Provide funding to community groups to do environmental initiatives. Support groups ** ** ** in their efforts to protect, preserve and educate about our environment. |
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| Listen to and act on the recommendations of existing environmental protection groups, ** **, ** **, ** **, ** **. These organizations are in place in our communities, knowledgeable and aware of the "big picture". Community consultation, often causes fracturing of effort in building a sustainable environment and contributes to pressure from interest groups who are focused on short term goals, either for personal recreational pleasure or economic rewards. What we need is brave and strong government leadership with a mindset to truly take the "big picture" to ensure that some wilderness areas still exist in our province. Our natural and wilderness areas are in grave danger of completely disappearing. I truly believe that the government must choose to take a position which may be, in some instances, politically unpopular, but ethically and morally necessary if we are to save our environment for future generations. |
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| I think that a healthy environment is one that is left in it's most natural state. To me in is not the ideas that are good or bad but the way in which any idea is carried out that is important.The least invasive or the least destructive approach should be taken.Again ,I think clear air and clean water is important.Do we really need to see every tree disappear ** ** ** area because someone wants to develope land for more houses? The days of thinking "I must conquer something because it is there,"are gone in my opinion.Government should not allow destruction of the environment in favour of developementjust for developements sake. |
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| Groups could organize in local communities to encourage the people of those communities to concentrate on environment issues, (** ** ** **).
All they would need is a voice at the Provincial government level. Financial support would be little if at all. |
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| Comments on “Towards a sustainable environment”
On the surface, this seems to be a nice framework for planning Nova Scotia’s future. However, there is little of substance to comment on. There are lots of statements of what will be done, but none about ensuring that they will be done, or about how they will be done.
The most important omission in the document, and one where it is essential to begin dialogue, is on what size of human population the province can sustain. Unless economic development is FIRMLY constrained by stabilizing and even reducing Nova Scotia’s population, or of forcing everyone to use fewer resources, there can be no progress towards sustainability. There is abundant evidence that current population size damages the environment; there is no escaping the logic that larger population sizes portend greater damage. Any plan for a sustainable environment has to confront this problem.
What constitutes a “reliable supply of water to drink”? The number of boil-water-orders that occur continues to increase.
With respect to the 3% of Canada’s total emissions, how does this relate to the proportion of Canada’s industry and population?
What is meant by “sustainable community indicators”?
I welcome an initiative to an Aquaculture Environmental Monitoring Program. I have thus far seen no evidence of any teeth in such monitoring; an operation ** ** ** ** had already received permits before I heard of it. This major eyesore around Acadia’s ecological reserve was painful to behold. It got worse when the operation went bankrupt, and the cages began washing up on the Island’s shore. A full 9 months later, the mess was still not cleaned up.
Another thing that troubled me about this document is the presentation. First, dozens of studies show that serif fonts facilitate reading AND retention. Second, half of the document prints from the pdf in a barely legible grey; is everyone supposed to have a colour printer? Third, a document devoted to things ecological should not contain so much blank, wasted space. Suggest that less be invested in making the document look nice and more in substance.
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| Give $$ to established groups ** ** ** **. |
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| - ** ** ** ** **
- provide funds to set aside and maintain as much crown land and public beach as possible as protected areas
- provide funds in form of a grant competition as research support for scientists to study the ecology and geology of sensitive areas of the province |
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| Avoid land sterilzation !!!
I fully support a healthy environment and economic opportunities . I don't believe ecotourism is the future for many Nova Scotians. Rural areas of the province need decent paying jobs that are year round and tourism which covers maybe 5 months a year doesn't cut it. Land must be kept open for mineral exploration - mineral deposits cannot be moved . Look at the gold mines in Waverley slowly dissappearing to housing developments . Mining in the modern era only affects a small area of land and there are environmental requiremnets which protect the environment .Companies now have to be responsible - ** ** ** the great job they have done with remediation. People need to be better educated on the positives of mining , forestry and farming . Some people have the belief that it's OK. to mine as long as it isn't in "my backyard".
The positive spin offs of mining and mineral exploration are abundant for the
economy. Mining is currently entering a growth phase don't exclude Nova Scotia !!! |
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| Keep the back country accessible to everyone.
Keep the natural resources available for environmentally responsible development.
Make the knowledge available to people about how to manage property and make it sustainable.
Develop technologies that allow for small sized loggin and mining operations that would do less environmental damage.
Protect our province by not entering into international aggreements from which we gain little.
Increased rural prosperity will increase the willingness to follow environmentally sound princicples.
Support small high schools (** ** **). Education is a major factor to making/keeping environmentally friendly, sustainable communities. |
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| Government needs to provide financial and organizational support to local environmental groups, to assist these groups in communicating with each other and co-ordinating their efforts, and to be open and receptive to entering into management and protective agreements for specific local areas. As an example, ** ** ** ** **, is engaged in a process of co-operating with citizens and community groups ** ** **, and negotiating with DNR, DEL, and HRM, to protect the public land on the peninsula, and to develop educational, scientific, and recreational opportunities consistent with that protection. Whole-hearted co-operation by the government, and between government departments with differing mandates and organizational cultures, will be essential to this project. |
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| i been trying to find a questionair on the new purposed TOBEATIC SANCTUARY but can not find it,so i am giving you my thoughs on your new proposal. i do not think it is good news. i am against it ** ** **. i been going to this area for ** ** years. we,my friends and i do not liyyer,misuse the land. we do not through any garbage away,we bring everything out with us and put it in the garbage. department lands and forest does not have enougth people or money now to look after things. i get very upset ** ** ** ** **. ** ** ** ** **. ** ** ** ** **. i am just very concerned with what you are trying to do to the people. i always thought that the people had a say in what went on on crown land, but it is clear we do not have any say in anything no more. what a COUNTRY we live in. RUSSIA don't look so bad. |
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| 1. Stricter enforcement of environmental laws.
2. Aid groups ** ** ** ** ** to procure land ** ** ** ** so that it would be preserved in its pristine state.
3. To force industry and farmers to stop using chemical defoliants and pesticides and to increase the buffer zones between them and water courses.
4. Change the make-up/layout of "suburbs" such that they are more self-contained and the long distance drive for work, groceries, etc. is not an issue.
5. Put more effort into preventing environmental problems than cleaning them up when it is too late.
6. Aiding groups ** ** ** ** to teach its memebers about the issues and their prevention. |
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| develop continuing partnerships
treat the public as stakeholders in policy development and planning
provide sustaining grants for activist groups and community intervention on issues
extension work, for instance in agriculture and forestry, which would help people adopt
more sustainable practices.
provide groups with clear information and good research on industry and environment in this province
tighten up environmental assessment regulations. ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
have these and other regulations reflect community concerns and provide monitoring and enforcement
seriously promote renewable energy such as wind and solar power
adopt the recommendations of the Voluntary Planning ORV Task Force
promote fuel conservation
promote organic agriculture
assist local marketing of local produce
control or eliminate the use of coal to manufacture electricity
encourage sustainable forestry through tax incentives
demand high levels of certification for forest industries
designate more wilderness areas and nature reserves
stop seismic testing and drilling off Cape Breton |
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| By providing an atmosphere where (responsible) business is allowed to operate within the boundaries of broad but enforceable laws set out by government.
Not every community is the same so what works in one area may not be applicable to a different area. City folks do not know what makes for a good situation in rural areas.
Private land owners should be encouraged and assisted with proper utilization of land. ATVs are a TOY in the hands of city folk, but to a private landowner they are a TOOL.
** ** ** I would endorse legislation to licence as toys OR tools so that when a person tears up a property they have no legal right to be on, they are prosecuted.
ATV users that take advantage of tools are responsible.
No land sanitization as a biosphere - even a tourist could not walk there as they would kill bugs - smallest of living things.
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| The best way for the province to support community efforts would be to work with and expand funding ** ** ** ** **. If the network could serve as a clearinghouse for funding community environmental projects, or a one-stop-shopping spot for provincial environmental funding, it would be much easier for groups to access money.
There is a huge barrier to getting projects funded in Nova Scotia, as each department hands out funds on a year-by-year basis, and the environmental sector is continually wallowing in an uncertain funding climate. If one organization, an arms-length organization, were to serve as the single place groups could go to for funding, and if that organization had stable funding, then this would greatly simplify how communities get provincial support for environmental projects.
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| Healthy environment and economic opportunities- YES
Land Sterilization- NO
Education - Back country must be kept open for people to enjoy, and also for mineral exploration. The current concern about ATV use is valid, for the IRRESPONSIBLE users. Most ATV'ers respect and enjoy the great outdoors, that's why we're out there. Most of us hunt and fish too. ATV's are the 'lazy' persons way to get around-WRONG! Try driving one for a day and you will realize it is a full upper body workout. Designated trails could be the answer. I personally use my ATV both recreationally, and professionally ** ** ** **. I would like to see a 'Professional ATV Licence' that would allow me to continue my activities. Lands must be kept open for mineral exploration. Mineral deposits cannot be moved, they occur only in certain places. The footprint of a modern mine is quite small, and with all the existing environmental requirements, these deposits can be removed safely and the area reclaimed. Sydney Tar Ponds is a relic of days gone by, and would not be allowed today.
It upsets me to think that government is prepared to give away the rights of Nova Scotians to the United Nations (do you realize that official designation of a Biosphere Reserve would legally require the province to "financial support for the fulfillment of the objectives of conservation" (you didn't? You better check the fine print). How are you going to pay for this when we Nova Scotians are all working in the service industry, earning minimum wage catering to the tourists (for only five months a year, presumably the rest of the year we'll be on pogy or welfare) because there are no decent paying jobs in rural areas? The mineral exploration industry has been in a depressed state for many years, but is currently entering a growth phase. Please read the Winter 2004 issue of Nova Scotia 'Minerals Update' put out by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Mineral Resources Branch to get an idea of what is going on. These exploration projects are income for Nova Scotians, and if a viable deposit is found, lots more jobs. I find it very frustrating talking to the average 'townie', or academic suitably ensconsed in his or her own 'little world'. There seems to be an 'Urban/Rural Disconnect'. Most urban dwellers readily agree that all the remaining country side should be protected. They seem to think that hamburger comes from the grocery store, not a cow, lumber comes from Home Depot, not a tree, and steel for the car or bicycle they drive comes from the factory, not out of a mine. IF IT CAN'T BE GROWN, IT HAS TO BE MINED. Don't give away the farm, or the mine. |
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| There are a number of methods and ways in which the Province can support communities with sustainable development. The process taht is currently in service is lacking in a large number of ways, and void of true consensus building within communities.
1. Allowing for public input and taking communities' decision s into account beofre issuing an approval can lead to a much better managed system.
2. The protection of all water courses and resources are a major concern ofr communities. Strengthening policies regarding riparian zones, wetland protection and funoff to water ciourses have to strengthen within the system as it is currently operating.
3. There is a need for financial assistance for new septic systems, needed to replae old malfunctioning systems.
4. There must also be a determined effort to retain ways, means and methods to deal with our waste. This would also apply to farm wastes. Land application of sludge is and has become a great issue throughout the world and there are much better wastys to deal with waste.
5. Economic indicators have to be seen in terms as eco-tourism, and green growth as well asl traditional economic indicators. This would further promote green space and responsible communities as it would be a self interest exercise.
6. Disposal of household hazardous waste is a concern within communities. The cost of proper disposal methods many times outweighs the concept of personal disposal methods.
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| Grants for the working poor to upgrade septic systems in rural areas would be a step in the right direction.
Also extentions of municipal swer services into rural areas where possible. |
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| · More funding for community initiatives – e.g. establishment of a community environment fund that communities can apply to. Can be used to leverage other funding sources. The pot for these funds needs to grow not decline as has been the trend over the last years. More support from the Department of the Environment to facilitate community activities.
Comprehensive environmental education included in the provincial curriculum. Only by instilling environmental values from an early age can we expect to see significant changes in the long run.
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| After reading pages 8-11 of the "Green Plan", I am impressed bt the initiatives the government has takend to date with communities. I do think it is essential that the government do two things if communities are truly to be supported in their environmental initiatives:
1. EMPOWERMENT - particularly at the political level. Communities must feel that they are being listened to by their counsellors and that citizens' views are TRULY ACTED UPON, and not simply filed away and forgotten.
2. VALORIZATION of the natural and cultural heritage of communities: too often, the rich heritage of communities is steam rolled by the development of strip malls, new housing and the moving in of multinational conglomerates that have no ties to the community whatsoever. We are losing our unique landscapes and heritage and communities must be empowered and encouraged bt the government to value and protect these treasures. |
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| SCI sounds like a step in the right direction. Too often community efforts are not respected or given credit if they don't fit into a present agenda or initiative by a government agency.
Local communities need to have access to information prior to any approval of proposed development in their area. We currently have the distinction of beitng the most secretive government in the country. Changes are desperately needed to our Freedome of Information ACt. It's difficult for community memebers to believe taht the provincial government wants to work more effectively with communities when they are beting denied what they conider pertinent information regarding environmental issues and concerns.
We have a number of environmental groups inour areas, and our communities know what they need. It would be great if goverenment personnel really listened, and supported them. |
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| To really go ahead and act upon sensible recommendations put forth by citizen groups and government task forces regarding environmental protection and wilderness preservation. Act and don't pass the buck because of the selfish interests of a vocal minority who oppose the good of the majority public. |
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| To financially aid in proper sewage and water treatment plants - to imporve waste management and recycling.
The word here that bothers me is "endorse". Every sitation is unique, and "endorse" to me is rigid. |
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| · Stop subsidizing the industrial forestry sector. If large companies had to pay for the full cost of their raw materials, including the cost of lost ecological services, then other, more sustainable forms of forest production would have a better chance of competing. (What is the cost of replacing an old growth or mature forest, including all of the various ecological and social benefits that are lost when it gets deforested?). Furthermore, if forest management was focussed more on producing durable, value-added forest products instead of low-value raw log exports or pulp and paper, more jobs could be created in smaller rural communities, with a lower impact on the province’s forests.
Allow communities more involvement in deciding what types of economic activities make sense for them. The case of the Digby Neck quarry that is being forced on a rural community that does not want it, and who will receive limited benefits, is an example of how NOT to support communities in developing a healthy environment and economy.
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| I would suggest establishing a "local currency" which could be paid to volunteers who are interested in environmental protection, stewardship, and/or clean-up endeavors. Some would szay that by paying these people they would no longer be volunteers, but I would respond that if one considers that the voluntary sector is in decline - because of agin, time stress, and poverty - then it is obvious that this important sector can and must be resurrected by providing an incentive to those who are interested. The Joint Action Group in Sydney is a good example of how government money - when just thrown at a problem - accomplishes little more than setting up an in-fighting talk-shop. my suggestion is more nuanced and targeted for effectiveness.
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| The Nova Scotian government should lead by example, recognize conservation efforts of others, and work collaboratively with grass-roots organizations. |
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| Government should recognize business and individuals publicly who contribute to cleaning up or protecting the environment. I do not believe that government should be "sterilizing" any additional large parcels of land in Nova Scotia which can and WILL discourage economic development inthis province. Forestry, mining and recreation are all important things for the citizens of Nova Scotia. Tourism will not ever generate the tax dollars that industry will so why spend a fortune developing and maintaining large plots of land as "biosphere area" which will stop the possible economic development which is desperately needed in this province. Enforce what is on the books now but create no more red tape! |
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| Obviously a helathy environment is not a top priority for the government. It had promised a Green Plan as part of its Blue Book commitments, but just produced this document prior to the end of its first mandate. Government could support community efforst toward a healthy environment by reconstituting the Roundtable on the Environmnet consultations. These are a very good mechanism for seeing what somments need/want with this regard. The whole "feedback on line" or respond to it if you can find on nauture of the consultation for this document is indicatitve of how much support government is giving toward achieving a helathy environment.
NS needs to take stronger action with regard to many problems affecting human health. GPI Atlantic has given us many valuable indicators that putting environment last after economy is causing a tremendous disadvatage to our economy and envionemtn in the short and long term. A recent ecample is the effect of NSPI on air quality in the province. why do we accept living with one of the top ten polluters in Canada? There needs to be a more comprehensive environmental education curriculum for both school-based and public-based education. |
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| The best way for government to support community efforts is to be involved with active groups. the government should also provide funding and funding that has a long life, ie. not year to year, but 5-10 years. This way communitites will be able to plan more long-term projects.
The provincial government should encourage municipalitites to sek input from their communities. It is the municipalitiies that should be lead government reps (with prov. and fed. funds) in community efforts. |
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| Stop downloading all enforcement activities to the local level.
Consult with municipal officials on regulation changes.
Increase government funding for departments responsible for monitoring and enforcing environmental regulations, to do just that. |
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| First of all, the government must listen to the communities. And I do mean LISTEN to what the communities have to say.
Make freedom of information live up to its name! Reduce the fees and provide COMPLETE information when asked. |
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| 1. Provide tax incentrives for renewal energy projects.
2. Provide tax incentives for organic agriculture.
3. Make sure all forestry is done on a selective basis - rahter than clearcutting. Maintain "FORESTS", not "plantations". |
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| Listen to those concerned and have the backbone to act. It just might mean that the US interests will not be allowed to desecrate areas such as Digby Neck or that construction waste sites will need closer monitoring. |
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| Talk to the people in the communities.
Listen to them.
An office worker in Halifax is not aware of the needs of the people in rural Nova Scotia. |
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| - Lead by example
- Decentralize government - it creates jobs outside cities
- Grants for sustainable projects of municipalities, eg. life-long education for workers to ensure an efficient workforce, active and creative recreation that's affordable for all, community gardens, workplaces for people with special needs, establishing new housing coops and training for the members, creation of greenbelts, nature trails, bicycle paths, etc.
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| Education regarding the destructive force human populations are playing on planet Earth in general and Nova Scotia in particular. |
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| - Funding!
- The environmental fund should be put into place. Communities and environmental organizations know what needs to be done but they need the funding support to do it. |
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| Among other things, provide a mechanism for community consultation regarding proposed industrial developments in and around communities PRIOR to approvals of such projects to ensure that communities do not ahve projects they do not want forced upon them. Examples: the basalt quarry at Digby Neck, the fish farm at Southwest Cove, and the strip mine at Stellarton. Communities must be given a role in decision making which empowers them to say yes or no to developments which affect their environment and the quality of their lives. |
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| Our government representative should be involved "hands on" with his/her community efforts. (It's rather hypocritical not to live in the area - West Hants).
If invited to a public meeting, MLA's should attend, especially concerning very reall and serious environmental threats.
Apparently our tax dollars pay for salaries and bonuses of those in office, whether voted for or not. As a resident of this province who did not receive "the big tax cut cheque", does that mean I won't have to pay the tax increases?
If we all have to pay, then do the job, the promised job, without covering up why low-income Nova Scotians continue to be gouged every time we need fuel or power! Shouldn't these taxes be put into practice for safer, greener solutions than continues burning and consumption of harmful fossil fuels? |
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| NS Government should:
- Strengthen environmental regulations (eg. riparian zone regulations)
- properly enforce regulations
- provide core funding for activist groups
- give community groups a seat at the policy making table, along with other "stakeholders"
- stop accepting financial support from big companies (ie. we should have campaign finance laws similar to those recently introduced at the federal level) |
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| Listen to local groups who have their community's best interest at heart. Provide support for local groups so hat they may educate their communities of safer and more effective ways to protect our environment |
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| 1. Public Input (like this document)
2. Listen to Public Input:
- When a community tells you they do not want a development in their area listen to them (eg. Digby Quarry, Cape Breton seismic) |
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| Financial support of clean-up, energy saving, and pollution reduction efforts, e.g. support of sewage treatment, improved public transport etc. There have to be financial incentives to improve environmental 'behaviour' in local communities |
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| 1. Educate, empower and support (with financial and other resources) the local community leaders in local governments and environmental non-government organizations.
2. Facilitate the integration of land use planning, water resources management, and wildlife habitat conservation through stronger environmental legislation, regulation and enforcement and development standards, and restrictions.
3. Support more decentralized, but clustered community-based development, so that people can live and work in the same community and in areas other than Halifax; this will also serve to reduce communiting and to invigorate rural communities (bioregional living. |
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| listen and act.
insure that environmental and ngo voices are balanced in all discussions. industry and other special interest or for profit groups have dedicated resources for telling their story, ngo's are generally volunteer based but their policies most generally reflect the bigger community picture.
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| This is an important question. Government tends not to support community efforts. This is often due to the underlying vision that efforts to create a healthy environment are in conflict with efforts to promote economic growth. This conflict is, however, mostly a product of false economic accounting. GPI-Atlantic has done some excellent work to examine this, and it would be useful for the Nova Scotia government to place credence in their work. Ecological economists are currently making great strides in explaining the continuing decline in quality of life despite apparent gains in GDP. Government can best support community efforts by placing greater faith in communities. Many communities need help, however, because they don't have the relevant knowledge and skills to improve the health of their local environments. They want to do it, but don't know how. Real-world education (not in the classroom but in the outdoors and in the communities) is therefore fundamental to this objective. The government can help by: (a) facilitating linkages among communities, educational institutions, and government experts, (b) focusing more on actions than on words, and (c) placing the accounting foundation on a more realistic set of criteria. |
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| The government needs to be more proactive and aggressively promote a healthy environment. Currently, community efforts have a limited lifespan unless visible progress is achieved. The residents of the province need to see both the value of preserving the environment and that the province will punish those who do harm, regardless of status.
Government should insure that where an organization exists or is being formed, those public employees with a background in the area of interest should be encouraged to join. A significant problem with many organizations can be the lack of technical / scientific background among the participants, thus organizations may try to take on projects which are either too big or complex. The province also needs to provide project based funding within its budgeting process, to support good ideas that should be developed.
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| Elected Government and public servants need to me fully transparent to communities. Too often the above are beholden to private and corporate interests at the expense of community effort. Town hall meetings on issues that communities raise would be a good venue for open discussion. A good example of lack of transparency is in the way this Gov has dealt with the people living close to the Tar Ponds in Sydney CB.
Citizens have no confidence in the word of public servants or our elected officials. The above must gain the genuine public confidence through dialogue and real transparaeny to communities. |
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| Reward good practices!
Give public recognition on a regular basis to effective community efforts eg. establish a weekly news slot to profile an example of success/ good practice or improvment. Try accentuating the positive as a motivator instead of giving all the publicity to disasters and catastrophes - there ARE people/businesses out there doing good things or at least trying to.
Make it easier to get into more wind and solar power - both for individuals and businesses. |
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| To ensure well respected ENGOs are on government advisory boards.
Provide adequate time and publicity for the community to know their are these opportunities to participate.
Reduce the amount of pressure industry actually has on public policy |
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| I'll keep it brief: NS is way behind on designating protected areas, despite the many self-congratulatory pats on the back in the Green Plan, claiming credit for advances that in fact were hard won against stiff resistance and/or inertia from the government.
Set some clear, prompt deadlines for designating the candidate protected areas in NS. Let's get on with it. Don't make them collateral damage in ill-advised attempts to be an economic lion to compete with the likes of, say the northeastern US. We'll never beat them on that field. But our natural heritage, if we protect it, will always beat 'em hands down. |
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| First, provide the means the citizens to become better informed. Every issue is represented by divergent viewpoints, and providing for the most independent, objective resource people would go a long way to giving citizens the knowledge base they need to ask the right questions or make a reasoned decision. As resource, I would recommend university-based individuals first, as their reputation for objectivity is the least tarnished of any expects one might call on. The closer an individual is to industry or provincial government, the less likely the public will trust their opinion, even though it might be honestly provided. On the more contentious issues, of course, the various views need to be presented. What this would require, in the end, is some sort of financial commitment.
Second, there is nothing worse than spending long hours (or days or months)thrashing through an issue to some eventual consensus, only to find that the recommendations of the body die of neglect with the bodies which have the power to implement them, but don't. So there needs to be a commitment on the part of government, if the government is truly serioues about community involvement, to show that the work of the body is taken seriously. Every recommendation obviously doesn't have to be enacted, but the community should have a full and reasoned explanation, in a timely fashion, for why some of its advice was not heeded. |
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| - promote awareness of existing environmental regualtions(i.e. forestry, wetlands, beaches, species at risk, on- site sewage)
- invest in enforcement of above related regulations, vs. relying on community groups and self-policing to abide by regulations.
- the Province of N.S. does not have an active Environmental Trust Fund. This Fund should be made available to env. groups in the province.(Nova Scotia Environmental Trust Regulations http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/regulations/regs/env5095.htm)
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| improve and enforce laws leave communities decide what they want to do. |
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| the best way would be to give the five critera of environmental assessments: geographical,social,health, economical, & political, equal legal weight and better solicite community input.Making the first three the priority would be nice. |
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| to have legislation that protects the integrity of our environment - clean, undisturbed waterways, multiaged and biodiversity in forests, maintain wildlife, plants' habitat,stop erosion from wind, water by not clear cutting. Healthy environment brings about healthy citizens. We need stress free areas that encourage physical activity. Government needs to listen to citizens, hold public meetings so that people can voice their concerns. Raise taxes to help protect wilderness areas - nature trust etc. |
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| Insure that community based groups are valued and listened to as they make their concerns known. The government must take steps to identify wilderness spaces that are protected so the generations of the futher have areas they can visit and enjoy.
The government must also recognize the uniqe habitats that present themselves in Novas Scotia , like the Minas Basin and the Cape breton highlands and make the government agencies responsible take the appropriate steps to PROTECT THEM. |
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| The "Best" Way for the government to support community efforts would be to develop an Action Plan with involvement from the local groups. |
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| Bring in a zero tolerance policy for waste disposal from industrial use, recreational and private homes. All developers to take responsibility for sewage treatment(tertiary)all septic fields to be regularly inspected and performance enforced. |
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| Consultation, which leads to results helpful to the community - eg, paying attention to people who say that a quarry in their neck of the woods will be extremely detrimental to everone except the quarry owner. |
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| Ultimately it is government that decides what options its citizens has in choosing sustainable lifestyles. Therefore, government should ensure that options for sustainable living are readily available to as many people in the province as possible. For example, the province should ensure that renewable energy sources are "the norm" for consumers. Housing development should occur in a way that limits dependence on personal motor vehicles. If the government requires sustainable approaches, then they are more likely to happen. If sustainability is left to the choice of individuals, than it will likely be lost. |
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| Commit funding to grass roots groups such as the Mahone Islands Conservation Association and to initiatives that communities tell you are important. This includes an adequate, representative and comphrehensive natural system of publicly owned reserves. By ensuring that communities are informed and enpowered by consultations about policy directions in relation to healthy environments. |
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| The 'Best' way the government can support community efforts is to develop an Action Plan with local community involvement and support. |
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| Preservation of lands must be balanced with the need to keep lands open for mineral exploration, which, if a viable deposit is found, would allow the extraction of the resource in an enviromentally responsible way. These projects provide much needed rural work. The mineral exploration industry has been in a depressed state for many years, but is currently entering a growth phase. Please read the Winter 2004 issue of Nova Scotia 'Minerals Update' put out by the Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, Mineral Resources Branch to get an idea of what is going on. These exploration projects are income for Nova Scotians, and if a viable deposit is found, lots more jobs. There seems to be an 'Urban/Rural Disconnect'. Most urban dwellers readily agree that all the remaining country side should be protected. They seem to think that hamburger comes from the grocery store, not a cow, lumber comes from Home Depot, not a tree, and steel for the car or bicycle they drive comes from the factory, not out of a mine.
IF IT CAN'T BE GROWN, IT HAS TO BE MINED.
EDUCATION is the answer to better land use practices, not land sterilization. |
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| Allow local community organizations to submit their plans for their local area and include those plans in the larger plan. Allow the passing of local bylaws that protect the community values and assets. |
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| financially, holding public meetings, establish citizen committees |
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| The Government MUST listen to people who care about the environment in their communities.
Recently, MLA's have ignored repeated requests from communities to attend the meetings held to discuss protecting the environment. The meetings went ahead, but the local Govt. MLAs were not in attendance.
This is NOT acceptable. |
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| I think the best way for the government to support community efforts toward a healthy environment is to not only supply funds for environmental projects, but also to ensure that the community is educated as to why these projects are important. I realize this information is available, but not enough people take the time to go out and get this information. I think the information should be in the media more. If this were the case, perhaps more people would care about these issues. In addition, if the government had high fines in place for those disobeying environmental laws, and if these laws were strongly enforced, I think programs aimed at creating a healthy environment would succeed. |
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| We urge the government to support well-planned, liveable, and sustainable communities. This means more funding for public transit, parks, urban and rural planning, and public health initiatives, and funding for non-profit groups that work on these issues. We have provided more detail in our other answers. |
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| Part of it is to support and fund groups that are already doing important work to conserve nature and the environment. The other part is to take the leadership to increase initiatives that reduce our carbon emmissions in order to meet or exceed the guidelines set out in the Kyoto protocol. |
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| Develop a proactive, comprehensive concept of planning (rather than a reactive, piecemeal approach) that clearly identifies the sacred responsibility to consider long-term environmental protection. At times, the voices of organized business and developers, exploiting fears and economic insecurities, pushes aside individuals and groups that are lacking in financial resources. Clearly enunciate the commitment of government to err on the side of environmental stewardship rather than development.
There is a need to select and designate more LARGE blocks of public (Crown) land for protection. Crown land should NOT be allowed to be swapped to developers so that they can build more sprawl. Time is running out. Specific areas that I would recommend include the Eigg Mountain/James River (as protected wilderness areas) and Gully Lake. |
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| Provide modest operating funds to groups who submit appropriate project proposals. Organise an annual state of the ecosystem workshop with recognised community environmental groups invited to meet with members of NS Dept of Nat. Resources and NS Dept. of Environment. Make every effort to implement in timely fashion recommendations arising from these workshops. |
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| . re: water resources management issues - act not just as a regulator but as a manager as well
. as a regulator be fair, impartial and above all consistent
. put as much money into technical research as you do into meeting public perception |
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| I believe economic incentives are a good way to get communities involved and support their efforts. This could be in the form of tax breaks for environmentally responisble business processes, such as using recycled paper products, or recycling/composting, or energy conservation. Even more basic than that, simple acknowledgement of communities green efforts would be a good first step. One big way to help anybody with their green efforts would be to arrange for communication of specific goals, agendas, ideas through advertising. There needs to be more media attention in general to this whole topic. I believe the government could help in persuading different media outlets to grant PSA's to certain communications campaigns. |
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| Further to other comments, I think this little booklet is not very specific. Promises such as these usually have a way of disappearing in time and nothing more is heard from them. Also, a more prominent site for this comments page would be better, you would get more feedback. |
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| On behalf of the Barrens and Backlands Subcommittee of the Ketch Harbour Residents' Association, we would like the government to designate the Herring Cove Backlands as a Wilderness Area. The Duncan's Cove Barrens is listed in the Green Plan as one which will be designated a Nature Reserve. We would like to see this
designation put into effect as soon as possible.
We are very concerned that the government has not placed the Herring Cove Backlands on its list for Wilderness Areas in the Green Plan. We are very concerned that this land will be sold off to developers. If this happens our health and wellbeing are at risk.
We are also very concerned that the government has not issued a comprehensive plan that outlines how they complete the Protected Areas Network. We would like to strongly encourage the government to develop an action plan to select and designate more large blocks
of public lands for protection. |
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| Adopt a Genuine Progress Index that includes tracking of environmental variables; adopt sustainable forestry practices (e.g. promote more selection harvesting and reduce clearcutting); make greater commitment to renewable energy and concomitant reduction of pollution; designate more protected areas; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; promote mass transit use and integrated land use - transportation planning; reduce the province's ecological footprint in all the ways recommended in the GPI Ecological Footprint report. |
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| Through a collabrative approach that is not dominated by any one sector/interest group. Fair representation from industry, communities, environmental groups, land users, tourism interests, etc. All to often big industry dominates the table. |
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| LISTEN !!!!!
The peoples of communities speak from their hearts when they tell governments their concerns. They know their communities, they know what's best for them !
Sometimes you just have to say NO to business. It is not always worth the tax revenue , when years late the government needs to spend millions of taxpayers dollars to clean up the mess business leaves behind. |
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| Government to all share in the responsibility of environmental issues. All government departments, both federal and provincial should be willing to work together to address issues that cross jurisdictions instead of passing the buck. |
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| To always include the environmental non-profit agencies in your discussions. To support them financially. To give lenghtly amounts of time for input, ensure all groups are made aware of public policy issues or decisions being made. Use proper communications tools to get the message out there. Form cluster groups of recognized community group reps to get the info to the community to offer them an honorarium to do so. |
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| 1. Complete the Protected Areas Network as soon as possible;the Province 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.
2. Implement the recommendations made by the Voluntary Planning OHV Task Force
3. Strictly regulate development; work with environmental and community groups and planners to come up with sensible growth program, with focus on urban core.
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| Develop a clear set of rights and responsibilites with respect to environmental issues, and a low cost mechanism for mediating disputes arising from these rights. For example, it could be required that all public bodies of water in Nova Scotia have a particular water quality standard. It is the responsibility of each community to provide its residents with water of that quality, and to not take any actions that would make it more costly for downstream communities to attain the same standard. The provincial government would serve to manage sampling and inspection, and mediate disputes between communities. Such mediation would lead to remdial actions, which could range from water quality improvements in the upstream community to the upstream community paying damages to the downstream community. |
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| Healthy Environment and Economic opportunities - YES, Land Sterilization - NO.
The back country my be kept open (not sterilized) for people (taxpayers) to enjoy both for Recreation and for potential small scale resource extraction in a sound environmental way. |
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| There needs to be a stronger environmental emphasis in the school curriculum because the children are the future and if we continue as we are the future will be a dismal place.
Also there needs to be strict environmental regulations and enforcement on those regulations on the products we buy. For example: GM labeling, lessening disposable packaging and products, and promoting local business. These will all boost the economy and health of Nova Scotians. |
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| Our government consistently ignores the environmental concerns of communities eg.the approval of the fish farm in Northwest Cove when 90% of the residents were opposed, the Digby Quarry-the Americans will not mine basalt in their own country for good reason! Our government needs to really listen to Nova Scotians-not pay lip service!!!! |
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| Continue to focus on effective conservation programs and insure that sports programs and facilities i.e., community recreation centres receive adequate infrastructure funding. Institute a network of bicycle trails ASAP. |
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| Through grant programs with local groups. |
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| protect all public lands from development, mining, forestry and ATV's |
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| Make this a priority. Provide more up to date information to the general population. Provide more funds to clean up the environment and protect endangered areas. |
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| - provide funds to set aside and maintain environmentally important areas (especially crown land) in the province
- provide funds in the form of a grant competition for research into the ecology and geology of sensitive areas |
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| Our number one priority should be better management of our province's natural resources.
All harvesting of our resources should be by Nova Scotians for Nova Scotians. We've sold our natural souls to outsiders too many times. |
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| See comments made during an online submission on or about March 8, 2004 |
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| - Spend less of taxpayers' money on writing booklets, etc. Have you totally forgotten the poor literacy rate of Nova Scotians? For whom are you spending so much time/money/energy on? A very tiny percent, and what do you gain? You are either reaching those who are abusers of the environment or the grustrated, well informed environmentally sensitive who are already converted. We want firm, positive action, not words and platitudes, high falluting ideals and zero substance! Teh above is "Motherhood"! Get real! Let's see solid, well thought out legislation re sewage and waste disposal; more legal protection of wilderness and coastal land; less sanctioning of rape of our forests and oceans; clearer commitment to protection of marine areas for sustainable (versus commercial exploitation) development.
Why not just get on with cleaning contaminated sites and envorce laws to prevent further contamination instead of supporting all the legal frenzy?
- Stop the clearcutting in favour of using good forestry management practices.
- Why not encourage more people to study soil contamination reversal; waste water disposal; biodiversity measures for environmental sustainable development in technical colleges, etc. to promote positive opportunities instead of polishing your writing skills and supporting businesses in their quick grabs! |
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| 1. Financial incentives - subsidies and/or tax breaks.
2. Use/adopt "model communities" and prizes/awards for sustainable community efforts.
3. Staff that can provide information on ways to make communities more sustainable. Likewise, have a web site with this information, and printed copies for those without internet access. Expertise is key.
4. Appropriate marketing.
5. Actively seek out community organizations that could become involved. |
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Make sure the people organizing such efforts are well informed about possible resources they could hook into; supporting organizations, financial resources, and others.
Help people network together; facilitate communication between groups. |
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| We believe that money support, watershed management (with reguatory powers), set up watershed boards (not just for drinking watersheds), buffers, paid insurance (take that problem off the backs of volunteer groups), support the Adopt-A-Stream Program,buffers, increase the forest guidelines for buffers fom 20 meters to 100 metres, GET RID OF "BY RIGHT DEVELOPMENT" Finish the protected areas plan,we need more crown lands saved for the public, e.g James River,Egg Mountain, and the many other areas. |
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| I believe that education is key. Therefore I feel that government money is best spent supporting groups which are involved in raising public awareness and education. |
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| Giving knowledge to the people on how to handle the resources in the propoer way. |
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| Proper guidance towards the community as a whole, where everyone should benefit. |
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| Assign a government liaison with community-based environmental groups. This would not be a PR person necessarily but someone who can help get information and answers for local interests.
Attend local fairs and festivals with an information stand promoting sustainability etc. |
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| Everything that government is involved in should have a focus of healthy environment. For example, we must make sure that our new roads are not harming our environment. We have such great lakes and rivers that we must be very careful to protect them. When we look at new technology, and the new toys that folks are using such as ski and sea doos, we should consider much stricter controls as to where these machines can be operated and by whom to protect our lakes, forests, and water drainage areas. I have seen terrible messes made by folks using such machines in areas where they should not be. We also need to support folks who do things that do not harm the environment, such as those who buy kayaks, which can be used without polluting our waterways and without making obnoxious noises. |
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| Our environment is badly polluted by too much government, one that does not tackle the difficult problems it has created. Before the government gets involved in micro-managing the environment it could do much more good by:
-getting rid of the debt
-balancing the budget each year
-reducing the size of government
-fixing the pollution it has caused by it's neglect, such as sewage in harbours, tar pond and pollution caused by overuse of salt on highways.
-reducing taxes and providing tax relief for enhancing the environment. |
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| We should be able to look to government for leadership. Unfortunately issues such as the the Tar Ponds in Sydney and the Digby Neck mining permit contributes to a conclusion that government is the enemy. We do not need spin to correct this. Rather we need appropriate action. |
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| Give local communities the right to look after and make decisions on their immediate surroundings. Including protection of watersheds from industy and the right to say 'no' to industrial developments in their back yard. |
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| HELP SUPPORT GROUPS SUCH AS OURS (B.R.L.A.) BOTH WITH EXPERT CONSULTATION AND SOME FUNDS FOR US TO UNDERTAKE THE PROJECTS AND ATTEND THE MEETINGS THAT WE NOW TRY TO DO OUR SELVES. WE ALSO FEEL THAT VARIOUS PROGRAMS COULD BE INITIATED THAT WOULD BENIFIT A WATERSHEAD SUCH AS OURS. |
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| Education beginning with very young children. Support the development of Community Models of excellance. Develop incentives, tax breaks, subsidies for people who want to do the right things in the right way. Promote, promote promote, many people are simply not aware of the consequences of theri behaviour in an environmental sense. Show them alternatives. |
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| 1. Impliment the ATV report recommendations in full
2. Give more support to small woodlot owners to ensure viable renewable wood supply and health of NS forests
3. Encourage the "clean" attidude by rewarding those who spend their own monies to promote "green" |
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| Better protect their air, water and land through a combination of stronger rules and reulations for industry and strict enforcment. |
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| 1) Government needs to regularly review and strengthen environmental legislation. Many elements of society only react to legislation. Voluntary change does not work for many so legislation is a foundation for SD. This is the base upon which other efforts are built and it should never be underestimated in importance.
2) Use the government's purchasing power to encourage suppliers to develop/adopt independently audited environmental management system certification such as ISO 14001. Other large organizations like the auto companies (Toyota, Ford, etc) do this. They will not purchase from suppliers who do not have such systems in place.There is no good reason why the NS government can not do this too, with proper lead time so that I ISO standard is based upon continuous improvement, EMS's established under it and their certification are funded by the organization seeking cerfification and are independently auditable and certified. Having a large number of firms self certifying their EMS in this way also underpins everying that community does to support SD and a healthy environment.
3) Establish legislation to make chemical pollution of lands the responsibility of the owner of the chemical when it was released to the environment. I believe that Manitoba may have done somenting like this. |
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| Protection of designated green spaces; promotion of planting trees in urban areas; protection of natural watercourses; limiting urban sprawl; riparian area protection. |
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| Ban recreational use of ATVs and all other off-road motorized vehicles.
Provide funding for the purchase of lands that have inherent natural values - especially those lands bordering ocean, harbour and lake. |
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| Help support non-government organizations in communities that are working towards improving human health and the health of the natural world (what's left anyway!).
REALLY create a balance between industry needs and environmental needs (Nova Scotia government is not environmentally conscious-sides too often with 'big business' industry-forestry companies, mining companies, oil/gas etc.) |
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| 1. Funding specific community projects aimed at improving the quality of life, e.g. clean-up of rivers, greater protection of water courses, especially in urban areas
2. Making relevant information available to community groups |
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| Government can best support community efforts by listening and considering the options put forth by the various community groups. Groups working for protected areas in their own community are part of environmental stewardship and are interested in the sustainability of both their natural environment and their economies. Act on the recommmendations for protected areas. Act on transportation related issues - other than road building and widening. Government needs to take a leadership role. Environmental issues should not be delegated solely to the Department of Environment and Labour, but need to be addressed by the Department of Transportation and Public Works, Department of Natural Resources, Department of Health. Our environment affects all of these aspects of society and all aspects of society affect the environment. |
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| Our last Prime Minister jumped into the Kyoto Accord blindfolded knowing full well we could not deliver the results required. Almost all polution in N.S. comes from Southwest U.S., Ontario, and Quebec. We have some of our own like C.B. tarponds, Halifax Harbour sewage that could have been stopped years ago if government had been so inclined. The law was there but not inforces. |
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| To support the community financially and by leglislation limiting growth of unfriendly enviromentally projects such as clkear cutting and open pit mining such as cpmtemplated on Digby Neck. Also increase the size of the acerage requiring approv al to develop. |
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| The provincial government should encourage sustainable development within the province. Municipalities should be forced through planning legislation to build communities that are neighbourhood based with housing, recreation, shopping, and employment opportunities oriented in a mixed way so as to create walkable communities. These places rely less on expensive infrastructure and strengthen community networks while preventing the conversion of wild land into suburban strips. Human health is directly related to the form our commuinties take. Higher density communities use less fossil fuels, have cleaner air, and promote active lifestyles as destinations are closer together. |
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| Work with organizations that are working for their local enviroment such as "Habitat societies, local private forest management projects, local fish and stream enhancement organizations etc.....". |
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| By demonstrating its commitment to the environment in urban communities. Increased attention to public transportation, cycling, reduction of urban sprawl, more green space. Well planned cities need to be seriously dealt with in government. With a demonstration of this commitment to the environment, people will become more aware and then more involved. |
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| Government support for communities efforts towards a heathy environment should be through education and funding.
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| Tax breaks, implementation of sustainable practices in government operations. Long-term vision. |
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| Under the Municiapal Planning Act, communities theoretically have the right to make land use planning decisions about the kind of development they want to see in their communities. However, in reality, many municipalities are not aware of the powers this Act could give them. This is not surprising considering that municipalities that do try to regulate development such as Halifax and Lunenburg are frequently met with law suits from developers. The Province needs to create dispensations so that municipalities can make and enforce environmental laws.
The Province should also make available the funds, resources, and support to allow municipal councils, planners and community groups to participate in the planning process. Why not make it mandatory for municipalities to engage in some kind of community planning process? |
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| Holding "town meetings" to find out what communities want to do to improve the environment is a start! Ongoing support will be needed, following these meetings, in the form of consultation and funding. |
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| Government must make their assets available to community groups i.e. professional support such as scientists and enforcement. Government must decentralize decision making power an allow community groups some decision making abilities. Providing financial incentives to motivate communities to manage their resources. |
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| Develop programs for each of the levels of school (elementary, high school, etc.) and provide funding and framework for practical, project-based hands-on collaborations and partnerships with private enterprise, NGOs, government authorities.
Such programs would have concurrent benefits:
* Education
* Stewardship and responsibility
* Facilitate ongoing connections between various sectors and stakeholders |
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| Stop talking and suggesting and start doing before it's too late!!! Don't let money(the corporate and business world) make the rules. |
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| sss |
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| DEsignate more park/consrvation land |
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Note: This consultation format is confusing. I don't know how to line up the boxes, or in what box to put general comments. So I put all comments in this box, I hope that's OK.
General impression: The Green Plan looks like it was hastily thrown together at the last minute.
There isn't much here - as if someone just combed through existing programs and stuck a bullet in front of anything that sounded like it could relate to the environment.
However, I was happy to see a commitment to protect Gully Lake and Eigg Mtn/James River. That should mean protecting both areas in their entirety.
There's a vague commitment to continue working towards a protected areas network - we need some details here. NS needs measurable targets that reflect outstanding commitments - e.g., full representation of natural landscapes - at a minimum. This issue has been dragging on way too long. Enough paralysis - Let's GET MOVING on this.
I thought public consultation for the Green Plan was going to happen *before* the plan was developed. Maybe there wasn;t any time. Anyways, you probably won't get a whole lot of input this way. People will wonder what the point is if the plan has already been sketched out without them, and it may not even address the issues they care about. For example, we know that clearcutting is a contentious issue that draws lots of opinions, but it's not mentioned. A good plan needs to address the hard problems too; they're not going away. It's hard to engage the public with pabulum like "manage the commercial use of natural resources to ensure sustainability...",etc.
You might want to take a look at the model Voluntary Planning used to study ATVs. They solicited input first, then followed with an interim report that summarizes - without fluff or spin - what was heard.
The idea of a Green Plan is admirable, but it's pretty clear there are some problems with this document. It's not too late to turn this around. Stick a new cover on the document - call it something like the status quo: what gov't is doing now, and view it as one of many supporting or background documents to set the stage for an engaging and meaningful public process aimed at developing a Green Plan for the Province.
Thank you for considering these comments. |
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| Enforceable and enforced legislation regarding drinking water standards, land development, pollution control, etc.. Also education is a must regarding waste disposal, energy efficiency, idling cars, etc. |
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| Community "ownership" is essential, but since many smaller, rural communities lack human resources or experience in environmental stewardship, the government must guide the process, providing educational material and clear templates for identifying and solving environmental problems. |
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| By exceeding International agreements such as Kayoto. Developing wide 1km buffers between watercourses and any human activity. By reducing the use of hydrocarbons as a fuel source. By mandating that all new buildings should exceed R2000 Insulation qualities.By promoting the purchase of local produce to minimise fuel and transportation costs. Ensuring Nova Scotia Power ceases to emit large amounts of Acid rain producing gases |
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| Provide funding to environmental groups, promote environmental projects and actions and promote environmental education in all school systems. |
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| By providing support for environmentally friendly inovations so that they can become economically feasible for Nova Scotians and eventually develop such a high demand that they no longer require government support. |
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| Reward innovation, innovation, innovation! I know many people, myself included, who are willing to invest time and often personal resources for exciting and innovative environmental projects, yet they seem to run in to a wall when it comes to seeking government support or partnership.
Try funding small, community-based and driven innovative projects that can feed back in to the data that the government needs to carry forward it goals of sustainable development. I'm envisioning something like the Community Health Promotion Grants program, but not necessarily tied to established community groups. Broaden to neighbourhoods, informed citizens, small businesses. |
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| Setting up a community-based committees would be a good start. Each community could then have some input into what they want to happen in their communities.
After the committees come up with recommendations, financial government support is critical! |
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| Meaningful participation by Community- based organizations during development of long range plans rather than merely inviting Stakeholder comments after the draft has been developed |
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| There are few"community"efforts.
There are a few "people"who believe
they can change Nova Scotia to suit
their needs by making it into a park.
Good laws that are enforced for all lands
and waters in Nova Scotia will work.
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| Provide the community with impartial information on the topic(s) at hand. |
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| 1. More reliance on wind, solar, thermal and other renewable non-polluting forms of energy.
2. Customers who prefer energy by coal or gas should pay extra.
3. Increase gas tax. Too many people just driving around out of boredom.
4. Force automobile companies to produce cars that don't pollute so much. Authorities are doing this in British Columbia and California. Now is the time for action! We have been talking about this for 25 years now. This should not be a voluntary option.
5. Too many trucks and cars on the road. |
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| I think that the government needs to do more initiative like this one that allow the public to get involoved. Along with that, increasing public knowledge about projects that both help and hinder creating a healthy environment is important in order for people to support action plans. Also, programs that have the needs of the natural environment and the community compared to large companies in mind is a good way of earning local community trust. |
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| Provide leadership in identification, inventory and protection of sensitive environments: particularly fresh wetlands and streams, habitats of endangered or rare species, coastal environments, and areas of old growth or mature diverse landscape settings.
Help communities establish greenways and greenbelts.
Provide educational resources (people and materials) to the school systems so that the students grow up having an appreciation of their home environments. |
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| Involve community based organizations in the development of long range plans rather than merely inviting them to comment after drafts have been developed |
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| I believe in having some regulations in place that limit industries ability to pollute because you there is no point in one industry cleaning up if the guy down the street isn't going to.
Also, a huge concession to me is big tax breaks for green purchases (may be more in the federal realm). Anytime somebody buys a hybrid car, or installs a solar hot water system or even just buys compact flourescent ligthbulbs, it should be tax deductible. |
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| Be seen in public! Listen when people talk! |
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| Appropriate legislation, solidly enforced, and supported by education that begins postpartum to acquaint us with details of how the systems of our bodies function. It follows naturally that children will be interested in the air they breathe, the food they eat, the clean water they need, and the forests and fields that must be kept pollution free and available for healthy exercise. |
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| I believe that Govt should provide direction, education,training, support and (some) financing to community groups. These initiatives should help ensure these well meaning people are focused on the real issues and not just "feel good" superficial events/programs. |
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| Provide the knowledge and expertise to communities so that they can complete their projects. Make sure communities know about programs and funding they can access. Help ensure that successful projects get noticed, so one community can draw inspiration from another. |
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| More community input to planning
More partnering with community groups toward sustainable precatices, not merely commercial utilization of resources |
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| -provide communities with the resources to inform themselves about issues
-go beyond the typical public consultation and allow communities to develop and provide valuable solutions to issues
-encourage solutions that focus on long-term sustainable solutions, i.e. low-impact ecotouirsm over short-term destructive mining operations |
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| Government needs to be consistent in it mission in order to provide the best support. Grass roots community groups need to be on a contact list (instead of just happening to see something on a government website). They need some financial grants to maintain themselves. They need to be consulted on all environmentally affected initiatives.
Government needs to be clear about maintaining wilderness areas PLUS seek to add the acreage through private transfers, ie estates.
Wilderness areas need to be just that. No infringement by mineral rights grants, clearcuts or motorized vehicles.
A healthy outdoor lifestyle would save our government millions in health care costs, ie re obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes. Let's commit to that! Put our common money where our mouths are. |
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| Consult and listen to local citizen's and groups when new industrial developments are proposed (quarries, mines, aquaculture facilities, clearcuts, etc.). If they don't want it - don't do it. |
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| Give us the truth about Programs already in operation. Not always certain that projects are in the best interest of the public. |
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| Government can support community efforts at many levels: individuals, community and province wide. At an individual level, government should play a role in providing information to people about how to live more sustainably. In addition, government should set the example for individuals, in ways such as chosing to value the environment and consider it in all decision making. Government can also set examples in the types of activities they engage in, for example, when constructing new buildigs, use green building technology and use these buildings as places to teach people about these new and inovative approaches. Government can and should play a role in exploring inovative approaches to addressing complex problems, although when considering the environment, a precautionary approach should always be used.
At a community level, it is often community groups composed of volunteers that work the hardest for environmental causes. Our society, and therefore government must recognize the value of this work, through financial support, technical support and partnerships. |
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| Nova Scotia is different from all other provinces in the amount of land that is Crown, vs private. The Crown must come to own, and regulate, a larger proportion of land in this province so that the public interest can be, once defined, better served. |
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| People unthinkingly damage their environment daily. Because they are not in educational institutions to be reminded or mindful they are not often confronted with their misdoings : small things like letting engines run, throwing garbage out the car window, leaving tap water running, damaging trees to get to some previously determined location, leaving bags of advertising flyers to rot (but they don't) along side their mail boxes, and numerous other mindless examples. A public education system via media reminders, fines, incentives for roadside cleanups, reminders legislated on fast food wrappers, restrictions on off road vehicles, are all a part of what is needed in the big picture. Further to that, a more calculated plan including the protection of wilderness areas,(the addition of more land to those already established) a protected corridor for animal wildlife across the province, better monitoring of water resources especially in rural areas and investment in roadside cleanup in the spring would be priorities from my point of view. |
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| All departments need to look at their practices, especially Transportation and Municipal Affairs. While the Power Corporation is now privated, the coal deal was a government deal. In any case it needs to be killed. |
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| Take initiative and a leadership role.
Provide fiscal, regulatory, and legislative support. |
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| We need to set aside some of the remaining relatively unspoiled places, before it is too late. Encroachment is constant so we must act now. We need to protect the wild places for many reasons: a legacy for future generations to enjoy; wildlife habitat; clean water and air supplies. |
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| Bring in stronger environmental legislation and provide funding for local environmental groups. |
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| Clean highways are part of what constitutes a healthy environment. I would like the government to support communities to maintain highways --ie, make free of litter.
Provide incentives for communities to remove large items such as refrigerators and construction debris.
Construction debris from new developments is a growing problem and perhaps there needs to be better monitoring of construction sites by an outside agency
Clean water is crucial. The government needs
designate sufficient green space, and it must oversee municipalities and industry such that land controls are in place and that best management practices are used to protect water supply areas.
Government control on private enterprise to control emissions (eg, CO2,SO4 etc) into the atmosphere. Peoples' health comes first.
I would see a curb on development outside of the downtown area of Halifax. I worry about urban sprawl. I would rather that development be restricted to the downtown cores of Halifax and Dartmouth in a thoughtful (ie, not just more tall buildings) so that people are encouraged to live in the city. They won't need cars if there is good and inexpensive transportation.
I would like to see the Herring Cove Backlands designated as Wildnerness Area. I make use of a region of this area for hikes and running.
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| Educational programs are the number 1 priority. Many people do not understand why they bother to even try to have a healthy environment.
Number 2 would be government programs and community partnerships backed up by money. Help people help themselves
Number 3 would be to be an example. I know the government is 'going green' but do you encourage double sided printing? Do you install energy saving lighting systems? Are public service employees trained in environmental initatives? It is a big kick in the pants that Martin and Hamm seem to give the environment only lip service and act only as far as their corporate interests let them. |
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| Illegal dump sites should be reconsidered as recycling centres. All the recent attention and outrage about dump sites does not take into consideration that these sites are used by community members to recycle materials back into the economy. Residents scour dump sites for anything that can be refurbished, recycled, or reused. Yet politicians (and sometimes environmentalists) would prefer these things be incinerated--creating pollution and creating more consumption demand. When a person needs to get rid of a refrigerator and the choice is between paying $5 at the legal dump site/ incinerator or taking it into the woods, the person has no incentive to take it to the legal dump site. Why not use the same method that has cleaned up our highways of cans and bottles? Give a refund of $5 (or so) for every appliance turned in to a recycling centre, and I can almost guarantee that the sites will be immediately cleaned up. (Add it to the original cost of the appliance, if necessary, as we do with bottles.) Then find ways to give citizens incentives to recycle mattresses and furniture, possibly by breaking them down into their constituents for recycling. But don't penalize people for using a local dump; rather allow dumping of non-toxic items and allow scavenging in specified and publicized places within a mile of every community. We can take a lesson from the way trash is handled in countries like China and Egypt. Absolutely everything is recycled. We have enough poor and under-employed people in Nova Scotia who, with the right incentives in place, would make a few extra dollars by bringing these things in for the deposit. We should not think of ourselves as affluent enough to simply burn everything we don't want. Rather, like yard sales and flea markets, allow dump sites to make this so-called trash available to someone else who might make use of it. |
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| Listen to what community groups are saying - involve them in projects in their community - respond in a timely way to their concerns |
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| Provide information and resources from various government departments and serve as laison between provincial and municipal agencies. |
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| I believe that we need to increase the amounts of organic farms in NS. As well, I think that the government should organize environmental fairs and community gatherings every year.
I would have liked to see a special section on URBAN SPRAWL in the text. This is an issue that will increasingly threaten the natural beauty of this province. I believe that Halifax should follow the footsteps of Portland, Oregon and HALT ALl urban development within the HRM. KEEP HALIFAX GREEN AND GORGEOUS! |
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| Put more money in community groups hands. They are very creative with the money and get in-kind community involvement. There must be at least a 3 fold benefit out of every dollar. |
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| Instead of developing band-aid solutions, we need to have interventions before environmental problems happen.
The government should therefore support any efforts that try to develop initiatives that are NOT end of pipe solutions but proactive and preventitive.
A good way to spend money would be to develop community/university partnerships where researchers can work with community groups in developing a healthy environment. |
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| Allow the community to design the plan that fits them best. Allow us to submit it to you. Then you incorporate that plan into your plan. |
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| There is a new federal-provincial agreement in place for the development of new affordable housing. It would serve the interests of affordable housing developers, affordable housing residents, and the envrironment to put in place economic incentives that promote energy efficiency in the design and construction of these buildings. I have searched through NRCan's website and the Office of Energy Efficiency and the Ecology Action Group, etc., and have only found one such program, but it is only for large apartment buildings, so it is not available to our group. If you know of any such programs, please advise! |
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| Support organizations that are formed to protect the environment, seek input from the public on environmental matters |
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| - assess the quality of the environment and its impact on citizens quality of life
- send in environment workers with know-how into communities to teach communities what they can do for themselves
- give them the resources to maintain or improve the quality of the environment and in turn the quality of life |
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| Government must always remind itself that it is not a stand alone entity and that it serves at the will of the people. My experience has shown me on too many occassions that the elected officals have too little knowledge of local issues and rely far to heavily on the staff who are hired to assist. Far too frequently we see the shadow government, the staff, making decisions that go agaist what community organizations are trying to achieve. While I respect their right to make recommendations, I believe thet should and must be held accountable for those recommendations. In most cases the elected officals are fearful of staff and consequently allow community projects to be destroyed by staff.
Elected officals must stand up and be counted and not be bullied into following some staff persons idea of what is right. Staff are there to assist, not make decisions. We have also seen too many cases where staff fail to be forthcoming on issues when asked by citizens, either as individuals or as part of a group. They, in my opinion, have on occassion shaded the truth to the point where their credibility has been seriously erroded.
Communities know what they want and why they want it. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of government to work with communities to achieve their goals and not be unduly influenced by the politics of who respresents each riding.
The contribution community based organizations make to the well being of the Province as a whole is staggering and needs to be recogonized and appreciated. Unless there is a radical change at the top, then we as nova Scotians will continue to be governed by those we did not elect, those who bring their own agenda forth and who influence the politicians to act in a manner that is contary to community wishes.
If our communities are to be a reflection of the residents and government wants community groups to continue to contribute to the well being of the community and the Province, then radical changes must be made at the top. Hollow promises and token words of appreciation will only ensure we continue along the same path we have walked for years. i can only hope that those in authority, the elected officials, have the required courage to step forward and place the public first. I live in hope but also realize that there is not an abundance of courage at the political level in our Province. |
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| By keeping the back country accessable to everyone for their use, enjoyment, and development. In this way people can relax in the back country.
The natural resources of the province must be kept available to environmentally responsible development in rural areas, whether it be forestry, mining, or what ever, so that Nova Scotians can continue to find employment in our rural communities.
This leads to a healthier environment in which to live, and the health and well being of our communities is less threatened than it would be if areas are closed off to possible development for any reason.
By making communities financially sound, good environmental principles can be endorsed and respected. When communities become financially strapped, people can't respect environmental principles because they get in the way of making a living. Financially strapped communities are the ones that have back country areas filled with garbage, junked cars leaking wastes, issues of poor water quality and uninformed populaces. These are the problems that follow rural localities that have too many restrictions placed on natural resource development in thier neighbourhoods. |
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| It can be done in a variety of ways. For example, through infrastructure. The town I reside in still doesn't have 30% of the sewage being dumped treated properly. At a cost of just over $1 million, local municipal officials say they can't afford it. Another example is compost, numerous people where I live are into it about 75% but many refuse to still put food scraps because of bugs and fruit flies in the summer. Perhaps food scraps still going to our landfill sites is not a paramount concern but it is just one example of a cleaner environment. Another example is composting, it was my understanding the new environment act called upon all municipalities to have it in place, but many refuse to pay for it and have set it up in some cases I am aware of that carts are available if residents want to purchase them. Many don't bother and therefore are not composting. These are all dollars and I appreciate government just can't write a cheque at anytime but as planning is done, these are three areas which can be given some thought. |
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* In keeping with the privacy provisions of the NS Freedom of Information & Protection of Privacy Act, [S.20] personal information has been removed from these comments. |
