Comments on the draft EIS guidelines submitted to the Panel Review
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Mr. Steve Chapman
Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency
200 Sacré-Coeur Boulevard, 13th Floor
Gatineau QC K1A 0H3
RE: Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Environmental Assessment
Dear Mr. Chapman,
The Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS) submits the following points for consideration in finalizing the Guidelines for the Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project. Thank you for considering this important input on issues that should be considered from a Tourism perspective for the proposed basalt quarry.
The Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia is the provincial advocate for Tourism in Nova Scotia. TIANS has a membership of 1800 individuals and businesses from all areas of the province, including the Digby Neck. These members are comprised of all sectors of the industry including accommodation, adventure tourism and recreation, transportation, attractions, events and conferences, food and beverage, tourism services and travel trade. TIANS is a non-profit organization with a mandate to lead, support, represent and enhance the Nova Scotia Tourism Industry.
The Tourism Industry in Nova Scotia is worth $1.29 billion in revenues each year. It provides up to 40,000 jobs, contributes $498 million in wages and salaries and $119 million in federal, provincial and municipal taxes (Source: Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage (NSTCH), 2003 Tourism Industry Facts:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/pubs/insights/docs/2003IndustryFacts.pdf p.1).
The Tourism Industry is currently engaged in a Vision process for Tourism in Nova Scotia which aims to double Tourism revenues in a sustainable manner. This process has the support and involvement of the Nova Scotia Department for Tourism, Culture and Heritage, the NS Tourism Partnership Council and TIANS. One of the tasks of this process is to “create and advance a Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy for Nova Scotia’s Coast”. The industry is concerned about development and use of the coast that negatively impacts the coastal area. We are in favour of appropriate development in keeping with the values and vision of how Nova Scotians want the coastal area to look generations from now.
Given the significance of Tourism to Nova Scotia’s economy and the mandate of the Tourism Industry to plan appropriately for the coast, it is important to assess the environmental, social and economic factors of proposed projects in Nova Scotia which may negatively impact the Tourism industry. This project is one which has the potential to negatively impact Tourism in the immediate Digby Neck region, and also to affect the image of Nova Scotia as a premier Nature Tourism destination in the eyes of visitors.
We are concerned that the “Draft Guidelines for the Preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement for the Whites Point Quarry and Marine Terminal Project (November 2004)” do not request a thorough enough analysis of the potential implications of the quarry and marine terminal on Tourism in the region. The effect on Tourism needs to include an analysis of the impacts on the resources upon which Tourism relies.
Visitors experience an array of activities when visiting Nova Scotia: 55% of visitors do leisure walking / hiking, 36% visit national and provincial historic sites, 34% observe nature, 31% visit beaches, 9% go birding, 7% go fishing and do sightseeing boat tours, 2% go bicycling 1% do sea kayaking (Source: NSTCH, 2000 Visitor Exit Survey,
http://www.nstpc.com/docs/0112756_Visitors_Exit.pdf, pp. 29-30).
Tourists travel to the Digby Neck and Islands area to participate in several of these nature-based Tourism activities; primarily to whale and bird watch. Other tourism activities with potential for future development in the area include sailing, diving, fishing, hiking, camping, visiting heritage sites and sea kayaking and canoeing. This area of Nova Scotia has great potential to grow community-based nature tourism. The Digby Neck Community Development Association has produced an ecotourism map of Digby Neck and Islands. They have invested time, energy and resources in building the area’s image as a nature-based coastal destination. 28% of visitors listed Coastal Scenery as one of their most enjoyed aspect of their visit to Nova Scotia (Source: NSTCH, 2000 Visitor Exit Survey, http://www.nstpc.com/docs/0112756_Visitors_Exit.pdf, p.33). For many tourists, the Bay of Fundy is the “highway” that is used to partake in tourism activities. The proposed quarry will not be visible from Highway 217 but will be visible from the Bay of Fundy. The effect of the quarry on landscape aesthetics and view planes may have a significant effect on tourist’s satisfaction and perception of the value Nova Scotia places on its natural resources. This may have a long term negative impact on repeat visitation to the region and the province.
Currently, Nova Scotia’s visitors come from Atlantic Canada (52.6%), Ontario (19.2%), Western Canada (5.4%), Quebec (5.1%), New England (incl. Maine) (5%), Other USA (9.7%), Overseas (3%) (Source: Nova Scotia Tourism, Culture and Heritage, Insights, September 2004: Visitor Origin Jan-Sept 2004:
http://www.gov.ns.ca/dtc/pubs/insights/docs/Sept2004_1.pdf).
Residents from our core markets are following this issue closely. If this quarry is approved, it has the potential to negatively impact perceptions of potential visitors about Nova Scotia and therefore the marketability of Nova Scotia to visitors.
The guidelines should request an analysis of:
1. How the marine terminal and quarry activities (including but not limited to blasting, trucking, shipping and grinding rock) are likely to affect tourism experiences and hence tourist satisfaction and lasting impressions of Nova Scotia as a nature-based coastal tourism destination.
2. The potential effects that this quarry and the cumulative effect of other future quarries along the North Mountain would have on the long-term marketability of Nova Scotia as a Nature-Based Coastal Tourism Destination.
3. The likely impacts of the quarry activities on the long-term viability of tourism businesses and subsequently the sustainability of local communities. This should include direct and indirect economic and social / cultural impacts.
4. The likely impact of the quarry on the ability of Digby Neck and Islands and the surrounding region to continue to develop as a nature-based tourism destination. Inventory mapping should be conducted of Tourism values and assets within a 100km radius of the proposed quarry to determine the likely impact of the quarry on the sustainability of these assets and Tourism operations. The inventory should include current and potential Tourism activities and current Tourism services, facilities and attractions, including (but not limited to):• Whale watching: Identify the likely impact of the quarry activities on:
* Whale and marine mammal location and movement within the vicinity of the quarry and the subsequent impact on routes and distances whale watching operators will need to travel in order to observe whales.
* Feeding: Discuss the effects of silt from the quarry activities on the food chain and hence the movement and health of the Whale’s and their prey; and
* Whale strikes: Discuss the potential impact on the highly endangered Northern Right Whale as well as other marine mammals.
• Bird watching: Discuss the likely impact of the quarry on habitat, nesting, and migratory patterns.
• Other tourism activities with current and future potential for development; sailing, diving, fishing, hiking and coastline walking experiences, camping, visiting heritage sites and sea kayaking and canoeing. Discuss the likely impact on these activities.
• Identify the Tourism related businesses in the area, their value to the economy and the effects of the quarry on their operations: Accommodation, Tour Operators and Guides, Attractions, Food and Beverage services, Transportation, Tourism support services such as gas stations, information services and retail sales.
5. Seafood dining experiences are a major part of the Tourism experience in Nova Scotia. The guidelines should request an analysis of the effect of ballast water, blasting and silting on commercial fisheries and the food chain on which commercial fisheries depend, and an analysis of the potential impact on local fishers, seafood markets and the restaurant industry in Nova Scotia.
6. The overall suitability of the project for long-term development of the region. The guidelines should require the proponent to include evidence that a majority of residents are in favour of the project.
Thank you for the opportunity to submit our comments to this process. Please contact the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia should you have questions. Please inform us of upcoming consultations on this proposed project.
Yours sincerely,
Jennifer Weseloh McKeane
Project Coordinator
Tourism Development and Sustainability
Email: