Green Partnership Proposed by the Mid Island & Vancouver's Green City Initiative

by MISSI
Cedar - Yesterday's decision to cancel public hearings, and revise the Regional District of Nanaimo's Regional Growth Strategy, has prompted MISSI to submit green plans for jobs and economic benefits.

"The green economy can be the foundation for growth in the region," said MISSI President Laurie Gourlay. "We're submitting our recommendations to the RDN & CVRD so that cross-boundary cooperation might be fostered for coastal communities and conservation throughout the mid island."

The Regional District of Nanaimo has just announced cancellation of public hearings, while it reviews new submissions from First Nations and the Provincial government. MISSI, the Mid Island Sustainability & Stewardship Initiative, is suggesting a larger vision also be considered - one that incorporates partnership between regions, and across the Strait of Georgia.  

"We think Vancouver's 'Green City' initiative offers many new reasons to emphasize and promote the mid island's natural assets," said Gourlay. MISSI sees the cross-boundary area of Cedar/Yellowpoint offering rural, agricultural and forest lands, as well as the remarkable Nanaimo River and Haslam Creek watersheds, that provide unsurpassed ecological and green tourism opportunities.

"It's a Green Gateway to Vancouver Island," Gourlay notes. "We have the coastal lands and waters,  dedicated ferry connections to Vancouver Island along with heavy industrial port facilities, and we've set aside light industrial areas along the Island Highway and E&N railline to Victoria and Courtenay."

MISSI looks at new demographics that point to growing numbers of professionals, and those with skilled trades, locating in the mid island. We have the facilities and skills, and if managed appropriately, sufficient land and water to make the RDN/CVRD a hub of green technology and production - supplying green needs for Vancouver, Victoria and Comox/Courtenay.

"We need to take a look at the big picture, where growth and demand provide opportunity for employment and business," Gourlay contends. "Our greenbelt region has the potential to implement sustainability and stewardship goals. And we can foster economic returns by inviting green technology and product development that benefit and build on the potential of our mid island region. This can be done while we retain and protect watersheds, and rural and resource lands that are the key to our long-term growth and prosperity."

MISSI is writing to municipal, regional and provincial governments of the mid island, as well as the City of Vancouver, requesting the opportunity to make a presentation on their proposal to establish the area as a 'Green Gateway to Vancouver Island'. A public forum on sustainability and conservation, that will also provide further details, is being held at Vancouver Island University on September 22nd.

With the Rio+20 UN forum coming up in June 2012 Gourlay is optimistic, "We believe the future is green, and that the mid island has all that's required to be a model for sustainable development. By working together we can meet the economic, social and environmental needs for our common future."

 
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