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July 15, 10:46 a.m. – ATV use There are many issues that take up the attention of the public and the politicians at this time. One of those that gains infrequent attention and very little action is the "protection" of the protected wilderness sites in this province and the lack of control exerted on ATV use in these areas. ATVownership represents an ever-growing part of the population and it appears to me that government is halfhearted in its mandate to protect the environment from the ravages ofmany peoplewho own these machines. They appear to be the equivalent of the outlaws of the 19th century with no rules and no controls. In addition to the terrible devastation that the machines cause to the wilderness (protected or not), the noise and destruction that these owners cause to campsites, logging and private roads and the noise pollution that accompanies them are all issues that the government has failed to address. There are many laws currently in place that seek to control various aspects of the use of these machines, but dismal enforcement. The only issue that seems to grab the attention of governmentis safety, and while it is important, it is not the only issue that concerns many of the public who daily see the negative side of this toy. I would suggest that if government is going to reap the benefits of the sale of these items through various forms of tax and licensing, it should make these costs high enough to pay for the cost of measures to control this blight, such as setting aside some Crown land already devastated by other use for the recreational use of these machines. Additionally,I would suggest that much more effort be devoted to enforcement of existing laws, creation of reasonable restrictions and creation of deterrents such as confiscation and sale of these machines when violations occur. What is the position of the three parties on this issue? - Anne and Scott Merry
July 15, 1:07 p.m. - The environment Having paddled all around the Gulf of Maine in a sea kayak last summer as part of GOMEX, I fully appreciate how important our remaining wilderness is and how threatened it is. Between logging, mining and foreign private ownership, we are at risk of losing our precious natural heritage. The Hamm government has an abysmal environmental record. It got a failing grade from the Sierra Club. What will the next government do to protect our wilderness areas? - Susan Hutchins, Gulf of Maine Expedition Association
July 15, 7:12 p.m. – The overlooked issues I am new to politics and the elections scene. e reason is because in previous years I have never felt that the issues I found important were discussed. Environmental issues in this province, in my opinion, are too often overlooked. e sheer number of endangered species that are unique to Nova Scotia needs to be addressed and plans for the future of these species needs to be a concern of political leaders everywhere. The quarry on Digby Neck whose fate is still uncertain tells me that the government is more interested in a harmful economic venture that is neither in the best interest of the community or the fragile ecosystem of the Bay of Fundy. I find it ironic how the government can move shipping lanes to help avoid further devastation to the North Atlantic Right whale population, but is still able to OK a rock quarry which will have unknown effects on the whales as well as other marine species. This is only one of many issues that need to be addressed by the political parties before they have my vote. - Leigh-Anne Outhouse, Long Island
July 15, 11:02 p.m. - Is sustainable transportation on the election radar? Although transportation is an election issue in so far as commitments made to road infrastructure, so far nothing has been said about supporting measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by investing in public transportation. The Hamm government has committed to investing $10 billion to transportationover the next decade, yet nowhere is there any mention of funding public transit, cycling paths, or increasing car and van pooling (Green Plan, July 2003). This is an urban issue to some degree, but not exclusively so, as citizens in rural areas in Nova Scotia are also forced to be car dependent. The HRM is growing rapidly, and an integrated transportation system is essential for obvious social, economic, healthand environmental reasons. Provinces such as Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta fund infrastructure to improve public transportation. Surely our provincial government could commit a percentage of the transportation budget to improving an underfunded system in the most densely populated area of Nova Scotia. The Hamm government appears to be weak in this area. My question is, where to the NDP and Liberal parties stand on this issue? - R. O'Brien, Halifax
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