Government keeping NS in the dark on Lighthouse decision

Thursday March 17, 2005

Halifax – Michele Raymond, NDP MLA for Halifax Atlantic, has written to the Minister of Tourism and Culture, Rodney MacDonald, asking the government for a decision on whether or not it will take over ownership of scores of lighthouses around the province, including the one at Chebucto Head, before the March 31, 2005 deadline.

“Our province’s lighthouses are symbols of a bygone era, examples of historic technology,� says Raymond.

“The Federal government is giving up most of the lighthouses in the province. Instead of letting them disappear, the province can preserve them for future generations to admire and enjoy.�

“If the government isn’t willing to take on the lighthouses, it has a responsibility to ensure the lighthouses and the coastal property surrounding them remain accessible to the surrounding communities.�

Federal government protocol on lighthouse divestiture is to make them available to the province first, then to municipalities, then to interested community groups.

The federal government originally set a decision deadline of January 31, 2005, but that deadline was extended to March 31, 2005 at the province’s request.

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