Tourism industry says parks and protected areas should be off limits for development

Michael Gorman

CBC  - Nov. 5, 2025 Originally published here

'There’s lots of land available for sale in Nova Scotia," says industry association president

The head of Nova Scotia’s tourism industry association says it is “almost incomprehensible” that the provincial government would entertain a proposal for a golf course within the boundaries of a provincial park or development in any other protected area.

Darlene Grant Fiander said the government’s contemplation of an 18-hole golf course in West Mabou Beach Provincial Park, which would be developed by a private company, overlooks the tourism draw of parks and protected areas.

“While we very much support new tourism investment and new development — not in our protected areas, not in our public parks,” said Grant Fiander, president of the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia, in an interview. “There’s lots of land available for sale in Nova Scotia and we feel very strongly about that for this one and every other protected area.”

... Grant Fiander said the new position of the Progressive Conservatives overlooks the economic development that already comes from parks and protected areas. Adventure tourism and recreation is one of the fastest-growing segments of tourism, and Grant Fiander said natural assets were among the pillars of the recently launched tourism strategy for the province.

Last year, the tourism sector was worth $3.5 billion to the provincial economy, she said.

“The natural assets we have are a tremendous driver of that activity, and low-impact recreational activities are important. We want people to get in and experience the parks,” said Grant Fiander.

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