Introduction
In the last decade, the concept of Active Transportation (AT) has gained popularity across Canada. Some of our larger cities including Vancouver, Ottawa, Moncton, Victoria, and Halifax are implementing strategies that promote AT as an alternative to conventional travel. At a provincial level though, Nova Scotia is the only province to develop any type of guiding structure for directing AT initiatives province-wide. We are definitely ahead of the wave of change.
In the past few years, AT in our province has literally grown in leaps and bounds. This is due in part to committed individuals and organizations who care about our environment and our collective health. It is also due to increased political awareness and funding at a federal and provincial level, plus some elbow grease in municipalities to support infrastructure changes.
Below are three sections detailing who the major players in Nova Scotia's AT movement are:
Click here to learn about what's happening at the federal and, provincial levels of government.
Click here to find out what Nova Scotia communities are doing by county/municipality.
Click here to read about provincial organizations with AT supportive mandates and/or programming.
Focused and committed government involvement is key to the growth of AT in Nova Scotia and in Canada.
In Go for Green's 2005 Presentation to the Standing Committee on Finance entitled Community Solutions for Climate Change, Health, and Transportation, the group suggests that the Federal Government establish a National Secretariat responsible for undertaking investments to enhance infrastructure for AT in Canadian communities.
They note that AT is often recognized as a sustainable form of transportation but rarely supported through programs, policies, or the active removal of barriers. They also point out that Canada is lagging behind the rest of the world in AT programs. Moving up to international best practices requires designated funding within the realm of transportation spending and should be equivalent to what the US and other major countries are spending.
That being said, there are many government initiatives, at all levels, currently underway that support AT in a variety of ways.
Federal
The federal government is a large funder of AT development, either directly through programs like the Environment Canada program Eco-Action (http://www.ec.gc.ca/ecoaction/) or indirectly, by providing funds at the provincial or municipal level (i.e., gas-tax dollars being allocated for sustainable municipal development). These funding pieces really help the province and communities put action to their AT plans.
The federal government also provides services and programs that contribute to building a climate that allows for good things to happen around AT.
Provincial
At the provincial government level, there have been some key pieces of legislation, policy, and planning put in place that open doors to communities wanting more opportunities for AT.
Over the last decade, the NS Department of Health Promotion and Protection (HPP) has both supported and been actively involved in the area of AT in Nova Scotia.
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is responsible for management of crown lands in the province, including provincial parks (but excluding wilderness areas), which are a valuable resource for the development of AT opportunities.
The Active Kids Healthy Kids Strategy has provided ongoing funding for the Active and Safe Routes to School Program (in Nova Scotia) offered through the Ecology Action Center, and supports other AT-related initiatives such as skateboarding/ BMX biking through the Active Community Environments component of the Strategy.
The Chronic Disease Prevention Strategy has identified active transportation as a key element to furthering the physical activity agenda.
As part of the provincial government's strategy to combat climate change in our region, a commitment has been made to produce a Sustainable Transportation Strategy by 2010. Led by the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and with members from Conserve Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Environment, and municipal governments, the task force will examine all aspects of transportation including active transportation, public transit, funding, and land use planning.
Conserve Nova Scotia is dedicated to the conservation of non-renewable energy (fossil fuels) and supports initiatives of the TRAX project of the Ecology Action Centre by providing ongoing operational funding and sitting on the TRAX Advisory Committee.
The Emergency Measures Organization plans to apply the civic address initiative to long distance trails thus improving emergency response efficiency.
The Motor Vehicle Act legislates that all users of bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and in-line skates must wear a helmet at all times. It also allows a sidewalk to be designated as a trail allowing a wide variety of human-powered uses.
The Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture and the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture could both play a significant role in providing walking/cycling opportunities through its affiliation with the Marsh Bodies who manage dyke-land in specific areas of the province.
The Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development coordinates the Partners in Growth Fund with Entreprise Cape Breton Corporation (ECBC) and are also a trail development partner with community trail groups.
The Nova Scotia Department of Education has shown ongoing support for the Active and Safe Routes to School program in Nova Scotia and the creation of other active community environments.
Nova Scotia Environment, through its Protected Areas Branch, supports the use of AT (e.g., canoeing, hiking, snowshoeing, etc.) within all of its 34 wilderness areas. The department's Youth Conservation Corps has also played a role in trail development and the promotion of AT opportunities.
Over the last decade, the NS Department of Health Promotion and Protection (HPP) has both supported and been actively involved in the area of AT in Nova Scotia.
The Nova Scotia Department of Justice is responsible for the Volunteer Protection Act, Occupiers Liability Act, and has key links to provincial and municipal policing.
The Nova Scotia Department of Tourism, Culture and Heritage has been a long-time partner in the trail and AT movement through funding (mainly through the Economic Diversification Agreement but also through other mechanisms), provision of expertise, and marketing.
The Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal manages many highway rights-of-way and k-class roads (abandoned public roads) that are becoming a vital part of an AT/trail network.
The Occupiers Liability Act reduces the duty of care owed to trail users by occupiers of land who have trails on their property.
The Rails to Trails Policy for Nova Scotia encourages the acquisition and development of abandoned rail corridors as shared-use trails.
The Seniors Secretariat has developed a Strategy for Positive Aging in Nova Scotia, which recommends improvements to the transportation environment and the expansion of safe AT opportunities for seniors (sidewalks, trails, and benches).
Service Nova Scotia and Municipal Relations partner with Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection in supporting the trail movement through the provision of mapping, planning, and promotion.
The Take The Roof Off Winter program, delivered in partnership with Recreation Nova Scotia, the Recreation Facility Association of N.S., Go for Green, and Cross-country Ski N.S., promotes spontaneous, outdoor activity in winter.
The Volunteer Protection Act has elements that protect volunteers who develop or maintain trail/AT opportunities.
