In January 2014, the Commission on Land and Local Governance sent its report to Minister of Finance and Municipal Affairs Wesley Sheridan. This report was the final result of two years of consultation with Islanders with assistance from staff at Municipal Affairs and provincial planning division. The report portrays what Islanders felt about land use and governance. Commissioners represented a cross section of Islanders, land use planners, corporate farmers and environmentalists.
They were extremely dedicated to the task at hand and accepted the challenge previously made by Commissioner Ralph Thompson’s report calling for comprehensive land use planning.
The Commission on Land and Local Governance wrote in the executive summary: “Public input, presentations and dialogue confirmed the priority issues and policy direction. Many people provided careful and considered advice and spoke of the need to achieve better results – to minimize potential land use conflict in future.”
The task force came up with 10 priority goals, which resulted in 10 key recommendations.
Currently the Department of Agriculture and Land has initiated a project to review and update land related legislation and policy which involves yet another survey, albeit this time it is an online survey.
Why is government subjecting Islanders to yet another solicitation of views on land use policies?
Land use issues are more pronounced today compared to 2014 but they are the same issues.
Let’s not waste more time and simply implement the recommendations made in 2014 by the task force on land use and governance.
Paul A. Gallant (former member of the Task Force on Land Use and Governance),
Souris West
