Voluntary Planning

Your Vision:
Nova Scotia has a unique bio- and geodiversity. The geodiversity is the result of the interaction of processes over hundreds of millions of years, the biodiversity is largely a result of a combination of underlying geologic ingredients in combination with its physiography as an immense peninsula. In addition, we are lucky enough to be host to numerous (some rare) cetacean species in our waters. There are many countries in the world with a much greater population density than Nova Scotia and a less interesting geo- and biodiversity that do a lot better than Nova Scotia does in protecting and preserving this diversity. We don't have much to be proud of, but we still have a chance to improve. We need to urgently protect more forest (and the wildlife within these forests) and agricultural land. We must protect our coastlines: we are the only jurisdiction in the western world without a coastal management plan/law! We must discourage urban sprawl and encourage increasing density in towns and cities so that we can better preserve this natural heritage. Of course we will continue to have a certain number of jobs in the resource industry. But we must not seduce relatively poorly educated local people into thinking that these types of jobs will last for ever. The Moosehead Lake gold mine, for example, is estimated to be operational for only a limited number of years! We are spinning fairy tales if people believe that they can make a sustainable living from these industries. We desperately need to provide added value industry to our raw materials industry, so that there will be more jobs for higher qualified people and better economic conditions. Why do we ship out raw gypsum? Why do we not have a gypsum product industry? What have we done to discourage this type of development? It's almost a 3d world situation. If we can expand our resource industry (a primary industry) into a secondary industry, we will improve economic conditions for everyone and this will automatically decrease the need for more blind raping and pillaging of our natural resources.

Strengths:
see above, the combination of geo and (linked) biodiversity.

Barriers and Issues:
the main barrier is a vocal minority of conservative people who believe that the resource economy will have to continue until eternity. While there is no question that humanity will always need earth resources (both mineral and biological resources). The province's political leaders have never shown any coherent vision in the management of these resources.

Community's Priorities:
my community has taken the step to donate part of its land to the Nova Scotia Nature Trust. I was thrilled to see that happen. At the same time, my community struggles with a vocal core of the population who refuse to consider increased population density. The result of this, in combination with the fact that Wolfville as an incorporated town has a very small tax base and high real estate values, is that young and less well off people (other than students) cannot afford to live in Wolfville, thus increasing population density in the Gaspereau Valley and Port Williams (while using Wolfville services). The town will price itself out of the market in this way. People (the vocal minority) are unwilling to see reality in the eyes and display NIMBY behavior. The discussion about this attitude, scheduled for the coming year is going to be the priority for this town. Making people understand these realities is very important in crafting strategies that will ensure healthy communities and preserve natural areas

Guiding the health and sustainability:
the development of a coherent vision for the entire province. Leadership is required here! Dare to be daring! I have never detected a single integrated strongly formulated strategic vision in this province