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NDP Response Sustainable Maritimes - Open letter Sustainable development and environmental protection are very important to the New Democratic Party. That's why those issues are a component of our second Platform document, "It's time to stand up for Nova Scotia communities" released on June 29. We outline the plan for an NDP government to work with and for Nova Scotians, respecting their hard work, their intelligence, and their goals for their communities and the province. We believe that by including people in the policy-making process, an NDP government will achieve what successive Liberal and Tory governments in this province have not - responsive, responsible public policy. An NDP government will trust and respect communities enough to make sure that it is the communities themselves who take charge. Instead of handouts to large corporations that often have no attachment to a community, an NDP government will end those business-as-usual handouts that so often go bad. Our community economic development strategy will recognize that economic development driven by the community will protect and enhance whatever that community values most - whether it is a clean environment, natural beauty, mutual support, or something else equally valuable. This community-led approach will not turn into just another pot of money. It can be achieved with the addition of $2.5 million to the community economic development budget, reallocated from the slush funds that have proven in the past to be such a failure. Ending the handouts to big corporations and a new way of looking at economic development - these are essential first steps in forging a fresh start in Nova Scotia communities. There are other initiatives that an NDP government will undertake during its first mandate to stand up for communities and work to improve economic and social conditions, creating healthy sustainable communities. These initiatives can be accomplished through changes in policy and government direction within existing budgets. An NDP government will: 1. develop a comprehensive energy policy 2. get greater value from our natural resources 3. protect our natural resources 4. protect our forests and lands Energy Policy: Liberal and Tory energy policies have been a disaster for Nova Scotia. The Tories squandered hundreds of millions on Nova Scotia Resources Ltd. and on roads and bridges to nowhere. Liberals supported an offshore plan that will see must of the initial gas from Sable being shipped to the US and few of the jobs and benefits coming to Nova Scotia. Then they supported a distribution plan that will leave many communities without natural gas. An NDP government will: 1. develop a comprehensive energy policy involving our oil and gas resources, our coal supplies and alternative energy sources to ensure Nova Scotia has the cheapest possible energy at the lowest environmental risk; 2. ensure fishers are formally consulted before licenses are granted for exploration of sensitive habitat; 3. promote energy conservation, job creation and better housing by developing a program to retrofit homes for energy efficiency. In addition, an NDP government will develop a comprehensive transportation policy, which among other matters will address means of fostering increased public use of transit and passenger services. The relationship among various transportation modes needs to be well understood, for example the effect of van-pooling on passenger bus services. At this point, until we know the state of the province's finances, we cannot commit 5% of the highway budget for improvements to public transit, but we do agree that it is an important area for investment. Transit is one of the issues an NDP government will raise in the provincial-municipal service review that is presently underway. Natural Resources: Natural resources - fishing, farming, forestry, mining, natural gas - are the powerhouse of the Nova Scotia economy. An NDP government will take steps to protect our resources and our communities by: 1. providing much needed leadership on fisheries issues, by mobilizing and fostering a unified provincial position on fisheries management that lets communities take control of the resources, and therefore their future; 2. negotiating improved commitments of value-added production in Nova Scotia in all new resource leases on Crown land; and 3. developing management strategies for intertidal species in consultation with resource users. Forests and Land: In addition to getting a better economic return from the development of our resources, we must also protect our renewable resources. Under the Liberals, our forest are going the way of the cod. The Canadian Institute of Forestry says forest are being cut at an unsustainable rate. At the same time, the Liberals have cut funding for silviculture from $12 million to $3 million a year, less than a fifth of what is required to offset harvesting levels. An NDP government will: 1. investigate the impact on communities of non-resident ownership of land; 2. work with stakeholders to develop sustainable forestry and agricultural practices; 3. place stricter limits on clear cutting after consultation with the industry and communities; 4. support and promote management options for small wood lot owners by ensuring fair access and return for primary forest products sold; 5. improve incentives for forest stewardship and conservation; 6. work with Nova Scotians to develop a comprehensive system of protected areas with better landscape representation. Many of these issues are discussed in greater detail in our platform documents, which can be found at www.robertchisholm.net. On the issue of new spending commitments - until we know the true state of the budget, our list of specific spending commitments will be short, because we intend to keep each one of our promises. As you can see, we are sticking to promises that we know we can keep. Other NDP priorities will proceed as finances permit. An NDP government is committed to working with the community and involving Nova Scotians in the policy-making process. We will move immediately to conduct a special audit to determine the true state of this year's budget, and the true extent of the province's debts, obligations and liabilities. That is the starting point for a new government and Nova Scotians to develop an honest budget for the rest of this year. We will also review new budget options with a widely representative annual pre-budget conference, starting with a pre-budget conference in September to provide guidance for decisions about the remaining half of fiscal 1999-00 and initial direction for 2000-01. We anticipate that people from communities and groups across the province would want to share their ideas about budget priorities, and we will welcome that input. It's time that Nova Scotians had a government that listens, and that keeps its promises. We welcome comments or questions from sust-mar subscribers. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to discuss these important issues. Yours truly, Graham Steele Director of Research Nova Scotia NDP -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*- You received this because you are subscribed to "sust-mar", the Sustainable Maritimes mailing list. To unsubscribe, send email to <majordomo@chebucto.ns.ca> with "unsubscribe sust-mar" (without quotes) as the body of your message. To post a message to sust-mar subscribers, send it to <sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca> Posts that are off-topic or excessive length (10K) will be rejected. For help contact <sust-mar-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>
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