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<H1 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes<?xml:namespace prefix =
o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></H1>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H2 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">E-update: December
2005<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></B></H2>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><A
href="http://www.publicland.ca/bluemountainbirchcovelakes.html"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.publicland.ca/bluemountainbirchcovelakes.html</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">*********************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">HRM proposes to protect
wilderness<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">HRM is poised to declare a portion of the Blue Mountain –
Birch Cove Lakes wilderness as a protected regional park through its new
regional planning process.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This is
a major victory for our campaign and thank you to everyone who has taken the
time to voice your concerns about protecting Blue Mountain – Birch Cove
Lakes.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Because much of Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes consists
of Crown land, however, the area won’t truly be protected until the province
comes on board with the municipality.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>We must keep up the pressure.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The final draft of HRM’s regional plan will be available
to the public after December 6<SUP>th</SUP> on HRM’s
website:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><A
href="http://www.halifax.ca/regionalplanning/index.html"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.halifax.ca/regionalplanning/index.html</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Unfortunately, the regional plan also makes provisions
for Highway 113 to be constructed through the middle of the proposed Blue
Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes regional park, by zoning a portion of the wilderness
as a “transportation reserve”.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New
Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Public hearings on the regional plan could take place in
late January or early February, followed immediately by a ratification vote by
HRM’s regional council.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Premier overwhelmed with
letters<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Since October, the Premier’s office has received almost
100 letters demanding that Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes be protected as a
wilderness area and that the proposed construction of Highway 113 be
stopped.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Thank you to everyone who has written the Premier on this
issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It is having an
effect.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Premier’s office is obviously taking notice and the
spin machine is in full operation.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>The Highway 113 project is now being referred to as the “Highway 113
Corridor Preservation Project”.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>But, we are not fooled by this name
change.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The project currently registered with the Department of
Environment and Labour is to BUILD a highway, and construction can begin at any
time once environmental approvals for the project are granted.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In fact, environmental approvals, as set
out by the Environment Act, require work to begin on a project within 2 years of
receiving environmental approvals, or those approvals could become null and
void.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Highway 113 environmental deadline
extended<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Nova Scotia Department of Environment and Labour has
extended the final deadline for the environmental assessment of the Highway 113
project, giving the Department of Transportation and Public Works (TPW) till
March 31, 2006 to complete its focus report.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">This will be the fifth attempt by TPW to gain
environmental approvals for the Highway 113 project without carrying out a full
Class II environmental assessment.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The public review period for the Highway 113 project will
begin as soon as the final report is submitted.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Stay
tuned!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><A
href="http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ea/highway113.asp"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.gov.ns.ca/enla/ea/highway113.asp</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Petition reaches 1750
mark<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The petition to save Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes has
topped 1750 signatures.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Diana Whalen, MLA for the Birch Cove Lakes area tabled
the petition in Province House on November 3, 2005.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It calls on the Provincial Government to
declare the publicly-owned Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes a legally protected
wilderness area.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">We are still gathering signatures for the petition and
hope to reach the 2000’ mark by the time Highway 113 comes available for public
review in the new year.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Copies of the petition can be downloaded
at:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><A
href="http://www.publicland.ca/downloads/bluemountainpetition.pdf"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.publicland.ca/downloads/bluemountainpetition.pdf</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Clarity sought on Highway 113
classification<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">New 4-lane highways in Nova Scotia longer than 10km are
required to undergo full Class II environmental assessments.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Highway 113 was designed to be 9.9km in
length, just shy of this cut-off mark, making it subject to a much less
rigourous Class I environmental assessment.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">This maneuver has prevented the public from directly
participating in the environmental assessment process for the highway, except
for a limited 2-week period at the very end of the process, yet to
come.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Turns out, however, that Highway 113 may actually be
longer than the allowable 10km in length.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN><o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">The Department of Transportation and Public Works
confirmed in November that it has not included the full length of the highway
infrastructure in its distance calculation.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Instead, substantial portions of the
roadway have been removed from either side of the proposed Highway 113.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The reason for doing this seems clear
enough to us.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">By including the entire road infrastructure for Highway
113, the Department of Transportation and Public Works would be required to
carry out a full and transparent Class II environmental
assessment.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">For a map of the proposed highway, checkout our
website:<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><A
href="http://www.publicland.ca/popups/proposedhighway113.html"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.publicland.ca/popups/proposedhighway113.html</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Cost of highway could jump to $100
million<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works,
suggested recently that Highway 113 could cost upwards of $100 million to
construct by the time it’s built<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">On a particularly ruckus day in Province House, the
Minister stated on October 20<SUP>th</SUP>, “…by the time we get to build that
highway it's probably going to be a $100 million
highway.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">That’s a lot of money for a highway, the purpose of which
is to save a mere six to eight minutes of driving time for traffic traveling
between Hubley and Bedford.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><U><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Grade 7 Park West students explore
wilderness<o:p></o:p></FONT></U></SPAN></H3>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Over 100 hundred grade seven students from Park West
School in Clayton Park West ventured into the Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes
wilderness this fall to learn about the natural area and its importance to the
environment and the community.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">It was a cold and windy day, but the students
successfully braved the elements.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">They will be incorporating what they have learned about
Blue Mountain – Birch Cove Lakes into their science and social studies
curriculum throughout the school year.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Hats off to the students of Park West
School!<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">***************<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Please feel free to forward this email as widely as
possible.<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">For more information, contact </FONT><A
href="mailto:birchcovelakes@yahoo.ca"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">birchcovelakes@yahoo.ca</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><A
href="http://www.publicland.ca/bluemountainbirchcovelakes.html"><FONT
face="Times New Roman">http://www.publicland.ca/bluemountainbirchcovelakes.html</FONT></A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><BR>Birch Cove Lakes Wilderness
Society</FONT></DIV></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>