Compromise, cooperation needed in resources policy

There were calls for cooperation and compromise, but a great deal of patience was necessary to sit through the May 27 Voluntary Planning meeting in Windsor.

The latest stop on the organization’s Resources Citizen Engagement Committee’s tour of the province saw more than 160 people crowded into the community centre.

The committee is gathering citizen input on biodiversity, forestry, minerals and park strategies on behalf of the province’s development of natural resource policy. Results, to be analyzed and compiled by next fall, will form the basis of phase one of the new policy development.

Format frustrations

Seated in a circle, each participant was asked to speak for one to two minutes on his or her highest priority topic, while committee members Donna Hurlburt and Dave Duncan took notes. Then, there would be an opportunity break into smaller discussion groups on the four subtopics.

Given the sizeable crowd, the format could not work as planned. The microphone had reached only two thirds of the room in the first three hours. No time remained for small group discussions.

At several points in the evening, frustration with the process heated up the stuffy room.

Few speakers stuck to the time limit on comments and gentle reminders from facilitators did little to keep discussion on track. Annoyance with participants who read lengthy documents led to restless muttering and one angry outburst.

A number of participants questioned how useful the evening was, with one calling the process “superficial.” Concerns were that the exercise of stating individual views on issues gave no opportunity for debate, dialogue or compromise between competing interests.

As Jennifer Scott, a Hants County resident said, “we need more time to find our common ground and understand our common assets.”

Forest Products Association of Nova Scotia executive director Steve Talbot seemed to agree. “If we are to achieve everyone’s objectives, it is going to take a lot of cooperation.”

Economics and resource management

Even without a formal opportunity for debate, many arguments came forward. Representatives from the forest and mining industries spoke of their role as economic drivers in rural areas. Several stated a desire for responsible, science-based, sustainable practices.

Third generation sawmill operator Cassie Turple asked those present to give current forestry regulations a chance to work. Turple added that forestry management has always been necessary. “Years ago, forest fires did the very same work we do now.”

Speakers from outside forestry disputed industry definitions of responsibility, science-based and sustainability. Barbara Gallagher of Citizen Action to Protect the Environment (CAPE) was among those criticizing current forestry practices “Our group would like to see a silviculture model of forestry that is truly sustainable.”

On the mining side, Peter Oram of the Mining Association of Nova Scotia called the province’s mining companies modern, safe and dynamic.

Opinions on mining were varied, but many present, including West Hants Warden Richard Dauphinee, spoke strongly against uranium mining.

Calls for unity and cooperation

Local guide and Hants West Wildlife Association president Mike O’Brien spoke about the need to find compromise between preserving natural resources and allowing economic activity. “All I ask that there is a place for 10-year-old boys or girls or anyone else to slap a paddle in the water.”

Another call for unity came from Acadia professor Dr. Soren Bondrup-Nielsen, who urged the crowd to take biodiversity seriously. “I don’t think there is a single soul in here who wants to harm the environment…We have to function together among all living creatures.”

Not everyone was feeling as patient and positive as the night wore on.

Later in the evening, before abruptly departing the session, woodlot owner Peter Coleman protested the very idea that government policy should regulate what happens on private property. “I’ll do damn well what I want on my property. Now I’m going home, ‘cause I have trees to cut tomorrow!”