Nova Scotia’s Provincial Parks are Not for Sale - Member Statement

CLAUDIA CHENDER « » : Mr. Speaker, I rise to celebrate the beauty, immeasurable ecological importance, and tourism value of our provincial parks, particularly the West Mabou Beach Provincial Park.

A park since 2001, this piece of coastline has unparalleled beauty, beach dunes full of piping plovers, and solitude. As Rodney MacDonald, then Minister of Tourism and Culture said in 2001: "We cannot overstate the importance of nature to tourism and to our quality of life. The vast majority of visitors come to Nova Scotia because of our natural environment, and access to the coastline is a critical part of the Nova Scotia experience."

As time continues to pass without our long-awaited Coastal Protection Act, I ask all members of this House to join me in affirming that our provincial parks are not for sale.