Province Appoints Round Table on Environment and Sustainable Prosperity

Nova Scotia will have help meeting its environmental goals from a round table on environment and sustainable prosperity, appointed by the province.

Mark Parent, Minister of Environment and Labour, appointed the committee, which includes 19 members from the legal and academic communities, industry, and environment sectors from many regions of the province.

Both deputy ministers from Environment and Labour and Economic Development will participate.

"Addressing issues of economic prosperity and environmental sustainability requires co-operation between government, non-government groups and other Nova Scotians, so I look forward to the round table's advice," said Mr. Parent. "I was impressed by the caliber of all candidates and thank all those who put their names forward."

Ray Côté, professor of Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University, has been appointed as chair.

"Given the number of environmental initiatives underway in Nova Scotia, it is an exciting time to be part of this advisory committee," said Mr. Côté. "I believe it will play a significant role in advancing environmental sustainability and economic prosperity in Nova Scotia."

As the chair, Mr. Côté will determine meeting schedules and issues to be addressed by the round table in consultation with Mr. Parent. The round table will advise on the province's progress in meeting its commitments in the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act.

It will also co-ordinate a thorough public review of the act every five years.

Members of the round table are:

• Ray Côté, School of Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University (chair)
• Anne Janega, Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters
• Leanne Hachey, Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses
• William Simpkins, Canadian Petroleum Products Institute
• Laurence Nason, Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture
• Steve Talbot, Nova Scotia Forest Products Industry
• Michael Cox, The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq
• Peggy Crawford, Union of Nova Scotia Municipalities
• Gordon Dickie, Mining Association of Nova Scotia
• Martin Janowitz, Jacques Whitford
• Robert Grant, Stewart McKelvey
• Edith Callaghan, Arthur Irving Academy for the Environment, Acadia University
• Meinhard Doelle, Marine and Environmental Law Institute, Dalhousie
• Dwight Whynot, vice president, Minas Basin Pulp and Power Co.
• Peter Lund, Environmental Services Association of Nova Scotia

Environmental Non-Governmental Organizations including:

• Mark Butler, Ecology Action Centre
• Tamara Lorincz, Nova Scotia Environmental Network
• Judy McMullen, Clean Nova Scotia
• Stephen Hawboldt, Clean Annapolis River Project a member of Atlantic Coastal Action Centres

For more information about the Round Table on Environment and Sustainable Prosperity, see the website at www.gov.ns.ca/enla/roundtable , or call 902-424-8891.