Community Meetings on Natural Resources
NOTE: A list of dates and locations for community meetings follows this news release. All meetings will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Nova Scotians are invited to community meetings in May and June to share their ideas about the future of the province's natural resources.
The meetings will be hosted by the Voluntary Planning Natural Resources Citizen Engagement Committee. The volunteer committee is gathering Nova Scotians' views to help government develop a long-term natural resources strategy for the province.
"Our mandate is to engage the citizens of Nova Scotia in discussions about what they value in terms of natural resources, so we really encourage people to participate," said Rick MacDonald, co-chair of the committee. "We want to hear Nova Scotians' long-term vision for natural resources in the province -- specifically for biodiversity, forests, minerals and parks."
At the meetings, participants will be encouraged to express their ideas in small- and large-group conversations. Meetings will be held in French in Tusket, Saulnierville and Cheticamp.
The scope of the citizen engagement process and questions to help start conversations are on Voluntary Planning's website at http://vp.gov.ns.ca . The documents will also be available at community meetings and Access Nova Scotia centres in May.
The documents will also provide a framework for written submissions, which will be accepted until July 31. They can be submitted on the Voluntary Planning website, by fax at 902-424-0580, or by mail to:
Voluntary Planning Suite 600, 1690 Hollis St. Halifax, N.S. B3J 3J9
Nova Scotians can also call Voluntary Planning at 902-424-8644 or toll-free at 1-866-858-5850 to give comments.
Information gathered will be used in phase two of the development of a natural resources strategy. In phase two, an independent panel will conduct a more detailed analysis of the Voluntary Planning project committee findings. Phase three will be the development of the long-term strategy itself by the Department of Natural Resources.
Nova Scotia aims to have one of the cleanest and most sustainable environments in the world by 2020. To help reach that goal, new strategies are being developed for water, natural resources, energy, climate change and coastal management. To learn more, or take part, see The New Nova Scotia: A Path to 2020 at www.gov.ns.ca/2020 .
Following is a list of dates and locations for the 25 meetings to be held across the province. All meetings will be held from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Monday, May 12 Pugwash Saint Thomas More Church Hall, 79 Church St.
Tuesday, May 13 Blockhouse Blockhouse Fire Hall, 510 Highway 325
Tuesday, May 13 Parrsboro Parrsboro Fire Hall, 235 Willow St.
Tuesday, May 13 Port Hawkesbury Port Hawkesbury Civic Centre, 606 Reeves St.
Wednesday, May 14 Middleton NSCC Annapolis Valley Campus, 295 Commercial St.
Tuesday, May 20 Tusket École secondaire de Par-en-Bas, 360 Highway 308 North
Tuesday, May 20 Dartmouth Black Cultural Centre, 1149 Main St.
Tuesday, May 20 Inverness Inverness County Centre for the Arts, 16080 Highway 19
Wednesday, May 21 Saulnierville Royal Canadian Legion, 9938 Highway 1
Wednesday, May 21 Middle Musquodoboit Musquodoboit Valley Education Centre, 12014 Highway 224
Wednesday, May 21 St. Ann's Gaelic College, 51779 Cabot Trail
Thursday, May 22 Debert Debert Hospitality Centre, 130 Ventura Dr.
Thursday, May 22 New Minas New Minas Civic Centre, 9209 Commercial St.
Monday, May 26 Shelburne Shelburne Fire Hall and Community Centre, 63 King St.
Tuesday, May 27 Cheticamp Centre Acadien, 35 Baron Rd.
Tuesday, May 27 Windsor Hants County War Memorial Community Centre, 78 Thomas St.
Tuesday, June 3 Sherbrooke St. Mary's Lions Club, Highway 7
Tuesday, June 3 Sheet Harbour Masonic Hall, 42 Sprott Lane
Tuesday, June 3 Weymouth Royal Canadian Legion, 24 Back St.
Wednesday, June 4 Membertou Membertou Trade and Convention Centre, 50 Maillard St.
Wednesday, June 4 Yarmouth Royal Canadian Legion, 75 Parade St.
Monday, June 9 Halifax Holiday Inn, 1980 Robie St.
Wednesday, June 11 Liverpool Royal Canadian Legion, 43 Henry Hensey Dr.
Wednesday, June 11 Stellarton Nova Scotia Museum of Industry, 147 North Foord St.
Thursday, June 12 Antigonish St. Ninian's Place, 120 Ninian St.