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Province firm on Owls Head despite objections

Public will get a say but on the developer's terms

3 min read
caption Iain Rankin, minister of lands and forestry, speaks to reporters about Owls Head.
Sam Gillett

The government defended its handling of Owls Head on Thursday, despite continuing calls for the sale of public land to be stopped.

Minister of Lands and Forestry Iain Rankin said he is aware of the public’s interest, but has no plans to protect the area. He said the sale to a private developer is still in progress.

He said he’s committed to protecting 13 per cent of the province’s land, and this falls outside of that.

“At this time, and that has not changed, it has not been put forward as a priority for protection to get us to our 13 per cent, which is in my mandate letter,” Rankin told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

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Owls Head is 267 hectares of coastal land located in the Eastern Shore. Its ecology has high conservation value, containing rare plant species and unique rock formations. It was managed as a provincial park reserve, though it was awaiting official designation as a provincial park.

In December, CBC reported that the government de-listed Owls Head from its parks and protected areas plan and revealed Lighthouse Links Development Company intended to purchase it.

News of the decision and the secret nature of the deal upset many people.

Over 2,000 letters have been sent to the Nova Scotia government through a website created by Chris Miller, executive director of the Nova Scotia chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.

Over 2,500 members have joined a Facebook page supporting protection of the area.

Bob Bancroft and the Eastern Shore Forest Watch Association are seeking a judicial review of the government’s decision to de-list the land, and filled legal papers in Nova Scotia Supreme Court last week.

Supporters raised over $12,000 of the $15,000 required for legal fees in three days.

Premier Stephen McNeil said he has received many letters on the issue, but the process continues.

“That property was never protected, that property will go through the process that it is going through,” said McNeil.

Public input?

Rankin said people will get to have their say in the matter, but exactly how will be left up to the developer.

“In terms of the letter of offer that we’ve put together we have a clear condition to have a public engagement plan that we have to approve,” said Rankin.

The engagement plan will not give anyone the ability to block the development, though Rankin insists the developer wants public support before he moves forward.

“There’s no veto, but from my understanding the developer wants to have a good understanding of what the community wants,” he said.

caption NDP Leader Gary Burrill says public consultation is required.
Sam Gillett

Nova Scotia NDP Leader Gary Burrill wants the government to revisit the issue. He said no decision should be made before people can have their say.

“Owls Head ended up on the list of parks and protected pending areas out of an extensive public consultation. So if the area is to be removed from that list there needs to be a consultation of the same scope,” said Burrill.

The NDP plans to introduce legislation that would require public consultation before an area’s pending protected status can be removed.

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About the author

Stefan Sinclair-Fortin

Stefan is a journalist who lives in Halifax. When he isn’t staring at a screen, he can be found falling off of Nova Scotia’s granite cliffs...

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  1. K

    Katherine e Keddy

    Can’t the wives of some of these —————- (whatever they are labeled) gently talk some sense into them? Are they too intoxicated to understand? If I were the wife of one of them I would be absolutely ashamed.
  2. N

    Nikita milfield

    This can't happen! We can still stop it! Please join the protest: Thursday, February 20, 2020 at 12:30 PM – 3 PM @ 1726 Hollis St, Halifax https://www.facebook.com/events/1232979236897801/
  3. D

    David Sim

    Most of Canada is untouched wilderness, the population is growing and people have to live somewhere. There is plenty of nature available in this country without turning every square inch in to park land and nature preserves !!!
    • J

      Jerry Andrews

      David, there is clearly a much bigger profit for developers to make from building private homes on premium coastline. So it's completely obvious that this land sale is primarily not about building homes for a growing population, it's about providing investment opportunities for a very few people to profit from. If you think this is an honest way to make money, that benefits everyone, I have to say that I (and at least tens of thousands of others) don't agree. It's profiteering, at the public expense. This is PUBLIC land. Not the governments land, or the politician's land. They work for us. And they'd better listen to us if they want to be re-elected. Unfortunately I think some politicians are only in politics for the personal gains to be made - which are considerable - above and beneath the table.
    • P

      P. Marks

      This land is not being developed for housing. It is being developed for seasonal recreational use by those with cash to spare play golf. There are numerous golf courses in the province already that struggle to stay afloat. We do not need golf courses built in protected areas that draw tourism away from the existing golf courses. David is correct - we need affordable housing and critical infrastructure. Not playgrounds for the rich on public protected lands.
  4. B

    Brenda

    Shame on this government. But, then again, it is consistent with its' agenda. Hopefully, people will vote this lot out. Patronage abounds. DIsrespect for the electorate is the norm.
    • C

      Christine Johnson

      This Government and Party just lost my vote !
  5. D

    Debbie Wolfe

    I would like to know what politician is pushing this. Could be very telling.
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