Estabrooks, has a point that what had been assumed by many people to be public islands seem to be suddenly swept away from the public realm and the use becomes prohibited.

…Halifax - NDP MLA Bill Estabrooks wants Nova Scotians to know that people from around the world are buying up islands off the coast of Nova Scotia on the Internet, which limits public use and endangers fish and wildlife habitats.
…”Just look at the development that’s taken place on some of the Mahone Bay islands over the last number of years to see what lies ahead if this government inaction is allowed to continue.”
In a posting on Halifaxlive.com yesterday, it seems the NDP are hot after setting or curtailing foreign island ownership.

Estabrooks says, “Intervention is long overdue. When these islands are sold to private owners, they are no longer accessible by local residents or visitors to our province. It also threatens valuable wildlife habitats”. Possibly Estabrooks should check out just who owns the islands that are for sale. I believe he will find that almost all of the islands that are on the market are already owned by foreign individuals or held in companies registered in Canada and owned by outsiders. Estabrooks should have his researches check the present ownership, he will be quite surprised to find that foreign ownership has been around for quite awhile.

While I am not pro-development. I am not against private ownership, be it foreign or otherwise. Estabrooks, has a point that what had been assumed by many people to be public islands seem to be suddenly swept away from the public realm and the use becomes prohibited. Well, the same thing happens on the mainland too. I don’t think Estabrooks wants people wondering over his private property either.

The new private ownership of islands also brings stewardship. Many of our islands are failing badly. High erosion rates, sick trees, many deadfalls etc. New private ownership in most cases means better care. Many present owners of islands that have owned them for years are not taking care of them. The “New” owners have pride of ownership and are stewarding the islands quite well. Yes, they are prohibiting access, but that is their business.

I am not pro-subdivision of private islands. I believe the highest and best use is single ownership. Single ownership has a high cost to the owner, but it keeps the integrity of the island. Yes, there may be tree clearing and dwellings erected, but in the cases I have witnessed, the quality of work and planning has been second to none. No to mention the employment it brings. In may case the owners are looking for fine trades people, masons with old school abilities to build natural rock walls and fireplaces and carpenters with fine woodworking skills. They build natural erosion control systems and in some cases even additional ponds and wetlands are expanded to keep the wildlife in balance.

If Estabrooks is concerned about foreign ownership. Lets look at the big picture. Foreign ownership of all of Nova Scotia. In my next posting I will try and bring to light how foreign ownership of our province is shaping up.

Full press release.

Estabrooks: NS Needs To Intervene In Island Real Estate “Free For All”

By NDP Caucus News Release
Jul 29, 2005, 11:04

Halifax - NDP MLA Bill Estabrooks wants Nova Scotians to know that people from around the world are buying up islands off the coast of Nova Scotia on the Internet, which limits public use and endangers fish and wildlife habitats.

“It’s a free for all. Right now, there are 23 island properties for private sale on the two websites I’ve found. If the government isn’t concerned, they should be.”

“Intervention is long overdue. When these islands are sold to private owners, they are no longer accessible by local residents or visitors to our province. It also threatens valuable wildlife habitats.”

“Just look at the development that’s taken place on some of the Mahone Bay islands over the last number of years to see what lies ahead if this government inaction is allowed to continue.”

Private Islands Online* and Vladi Private Islands** are two sites currently listing number of Nova Scotia islands for sale.

Real estate listings for Nova Scotia islands are often described using historical names with obscured geographical details that make them difficult to locate on detailed maps.

“Before we lose more of these gems, there has to be some consideration of how the buyer intends to use the island. Are they going to put a helicopter pad on it? We don’t know.”

*Private Islands Online: http://www.privateislandsonline.com/novascotia.htm
**Vladi Private Islands: http://www.vladi-private-islands.de/sales_islands/sites/3a_map.html

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