Twice in the past five years, local advocates have had to fight to save West Mabou Beach Provincial Park from privatization and development, even though the park is already legally protected. And no one will soon forget the unprecedented grassroots movement that was necessary to save Owls Head Provincial Park from a secret backroom deal. But how many times must concerned citizens fight the same fight?
The issues aren’t changing—so the legislation needs to.
Together, we can put pressure on the government to update and strengthen the Provincial Parks Act to ensure that all of our provincial parks and park reserves remain protected forever.
Will you sign onto our letter?
Ask government to strengthen protections for these important natural and recreation spaces. Copy the text below, edit as you see fit, and send then send it in an email or print mail to the Premier, Minister Rushton, and your MLA:
“Dear Premier Houston and Minister Rushton,
The Canada-Nova Scotia Nature Agreement and the mandated 20% by 2030 target are important steps toward conserving our most beautiful and biodiverse natural spaces. But we can’t build successfully on a shaky foundation.
I appreciate that your government did the right thing by designating Owls Head Provincial Park and refusing to lease West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. But unfortunately, the underlying issues remain. So today, I’m asking you to fix the problem once and for all, by strengthening the legal protections for our provincial parks and park reserves.
This issue isn’t going away, and neither are the thousands of Nova Scotians like me who care about safeguarding our protected areas.
Thankfully, fixing the problem is easy. By making a few surgical amendments to the Provincial Parks Act, your government can restore the public’s trust and ensure that our protected areas remain protected in perpetuity.
When the Provincial Parks Act was created in 1959, it governed roadside picnic parks. But in the past 64 years, Nova Scotia has only amended the Provincial Parks Act a few times, most notably 34 years ago, in 1989. As a result, the Act has not kept pace with today’s threats and values, particularly when it comes to protecting parks intended primarily for nature conservation.
Updating this legislation is vital to reaching our protected areas goals, which is why the Natural Resources Strategy (2010) and the Parks and Protected Areas Plan (2013) both call on the government to amend and strengthen the protections of our provincial parks.
I’m calling on you to follow through on these commitments because I know how important that is – not just to me, but also for us as a province.
Sincerely, [Your Name]
[Community], Nova Scotia”
Meet with your MLA in person
Face-to-face interactions are often a more meaningful and memorable approach to getting action from our elected officials. Make an appointment, stop by their office, or better yet, organize a community meeting and ask them to take your concerns back to government. Reach out to your MLA today.
Keep an eye and ear out for unsustainable development plans
You might be surprised to learn how small and connected your community really is. Visit your local Provincial Parks, find out what businesses have contracts to operate inside them, and talk to them about how a mine, quarry, or giant golf course development would impact them. You might find the local surf rental operation, ice cream stand, or eco-tourism outfitter are on your side. Ask your MLA about their connections to resource extraction, tourism, and other industries. Find out who donated to your MLA’s campaign when they were a candidate. Understanding your local community and the connections within it may be key to preventing the next Owls Head debacle.
