Coastal Consultation Deadline Extension

There is still time to have a say about the future of Nova Scotia's coast.

Residents can still make their views known on issues affecting Nova Scotia's coastline by providing feedback on the State of Nova Scotia's Coast report and the development of Nova Scotia's Coastal Strategy. The province has extended the deadline to Sunday, July 18.

Since the consultations were announced in May, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has engaged with more than 350 residents at eight open houses held across the province. Coastal co-ordinators also met with community groups and municipal governments and received 130 questionnaires and written responses through the coastal website and by mail. A telephone survey is being conducted across the province as part of the consultative process.

"I would like to thank every Nova Scotian who took the time to share their views on coastal issues," said Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau. "I want to encourage Nova Scotians who have yet to provide feedback to please take a few minutes to make their views known so our provincial coastal strategy can make life better for families in every region."

The extension means residents will have eighteen additional days to provide written submissions either online at www.gov.ns.ca/coast/views.htm or by mail. At the end of the consultative period, the department will compile a document detailing what was heard that will be shared with the public online in the fall.

The coastal consultations used the six priority areas identified in the State of Nova Scotia's Coast Report as a starting point for discussions. The report was released in December 2009 and highlighted six priority coastal issues: coastal development, working waterfronts, public coastal access, sea level rise and storm events, coastal water quality, and sensitive coastal ecosystems and habitat.

Visit the website for the report at www.gov.ns.ca/coast and to access the online questionnaire.