Islanders with an interest in the long-term protection of our province’s environment and natural resources can make their voices heard through ongoing consultations by the Environmental Advisory Council, Environment, Labour and Justice Minister Janice Sherry says.

“Islanders are very concerned about protecting this province’s natural heritage. Government wants to hear from Islanders about how we can strengthen this protection and about the measures they think are appropriate for safeguarding this province’s air, land and water,” said Minister Sherry.

The Environmental Advisory Council is consulting with Islanders on how we choose to use, protect and manage our natural resources.

To assist in the discussion, the Environmental Advisory Council has prepared a discussion document – Planning for a Sustainable Future: A Time for Questions.

Islanders can have their say in a number of ways:

• through the on-line discussion forum at www.gov.pe.ca/sustainablefuture

• via email to sustainablefuture@gov.pe.ca or

• in writing to the Sustainable Future Secretariat, Department of Environment, Labour and Justice, PO Box 2000, Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8.

At the same time as the EAC is conducting its review, government’s Land Use Policy Task Force is undertaking a wide-ranging review of land practices in the province. The Task Force aims to developed a new sustainable development strategy that will help to inform provincial land use policies by identifying principles for decision-making and setting direction for protecting land and resources. The Land Use Policy Task Force and the EAC will be working together to seek the views of Islanders on their vision for a sustainable PEI.

“I know that Islanders put tremendous value on our environment and its protection, and I urge everyone to take this opportunity to provide their ideas and suggestions for finding ways to meet our current and future environmental challenges,” says Minister Sherry. “A sustainable development strategy will help to develop the land use policies, planning standards and development principles that will shape what Prince Edward Island will look like well into the future.”