Voluntary Planning

Nova Scotians' thoughts, concerns and values are the focus of a three-phase project to develop a new natural resources strategy for the province.

The report on the first phase of the project, The Future of Nova Scotia's Natural Resources: Our Common Ground, was released today by Voluntary Planning's Natural Resources Citizen Engagement Committee.

The Department of Natural Resources is seeking applicants for four panels
of expertise to focus on the key components of the provinces natural resources strategy: forests, minerals, parks and biodiversity.  Applications are being invited up to Friday, January 23, 2009.

The Nova Scotia Minister of Natural Resources has named retired Chief Justice of Nova Scotia Constance Glube as the chair of a steering panel that will build on the work of Voluntary Planning and lead to the development of a strategy for Nova Scotia's natural resources. 

The volunteers on the Natural Resources Citizen Engagement Committee are grateful for those who participated in the three workshops and took the time to write responses to the working paper.  The committee is now using the feedback gained from the second round of citizen engagement to draft their final report.  Voluntary Planning expects to publish the final report early in the new year.

The Natural Resources Committee has released a working paper and is seeking public feedback.  The working paper was created based on the public meetings and submissions from earlier in the year.  It is being released to provide Nova Scotians with the opportunity to provide comments before the final report.

Nova Scotians have until Friday, Nov. 14 to submit comments on the working paper.

The work of the committee is phase 1 in a three phase process.  The committee will be passing on a final report by the end of December to the Minister of Natural Resources and the phase two advisory and technical panels.

Download the working paper here.

View press release.