A recent survey indicates that the majority of residents in Nova Scotia are against allowing private development within the province’s parks and protected areas. The online poll, conducted by the Ecology Action Centre, revealed that nearly 80% of participants opposed the idea of constructing amenities like golf courses, hotels, and spas in these legally safeguarded zones. Specifically, almost 60% of respondents expressed strong opposition to such developments, while only four percent voiced support for them.
The survey, which involved 540 Nova Scotians, took place between May 19 and 28 and was carried out by Narrative Research. The results were adjusted to reflect the region, gender, and age demographics based on Statistics Canada’s 2021 census data. No margin of error was provided for the findings.
Lindsay Lee, the wilderness community outreach co-ordinator at the Ecology Action Centre, explained that the survey was prompted by a recent proposal from Cabot golf company to build a golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. Despite Premier Tim Houston’s subsequent announcement in November that the project would not proceed, there were indications of potential interest in the development moving forward, contrary to community sentiments.
Both Lee and Nadine Hunt, chair of the West Mabou Beach and Trails Committee, emphasized the need to protect these lands from commercial development, highlighting the community’s growing support for preserving West Mabou Beach Provincial Park. Hunt stressed the importance of enacting stronger legislation to permanently safeguard these protected areas, rather than relying on residents to continually defend them.
Concerns were raised about the Provincial Parks Act, which allows the minister of natural resources to make decisions regarding flora, fauna, and licensing within provincial parks for up to five years. Hunt argued that the vague language in the act could potentially undermine public interests and urged the provincial government to heed the survey results and prioritize conservation efforts.
In response, the Department of Natural Resources stated that Nova Scotia has expanded its protected lands to over 800,000 hectares in the last four years, surpassing the total land area of Prince Edward Island. While the government remains open to exploring new economic opportunities, it is crucial to balance economic growth with environmental preservation.
Overall, the survey underscores the strong opposition among Nova Scotians to allowing private development in provincial parks, signaling a widespread desire to protect these natural spaces for future generations.