Integrated Community Sustainability Plan - Village of Port Elgin

The Village of Port Elgin will develop an integrated community sustainability plan (ICSP) to increase community understanding of sustainability issues, define a vision for sustainability based on community input, guide decision making, improve quality of life and minimize the financial costs of environmental issues. The village will establish a multi-sector steering committee with representatives from council, municipal staff, the business community, and the Port Elgin District Voluntary Action Council. A survey will assess community knowledge and interest in sustainability issues. Key sustainability issues include coastal development, business development and quality of life. The village will gather information on current energy usage, number of brownfields, housing types and costs, food security, waste, infrastructure and transportation, recreation opportunities, water usage, natural resources (including endangered species) and local economic indicators. This information will be used to help set sustainability targets. The village will host community discussions with targeted groups, including non-profit organizations, businesses, professionals, municipal representatives, parents, seniors and others. These sessions will likely include informal "kitchen chats" where neighbours can discuss pre-established questions over afternoon tea. The goal is to get people thinking about their community in a different way than they traditionally do. The steering committee and stakeholder groups will create a sustainability vision, develop goals and priorities and draft an action plan. Key priorities will include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and establishing strategies for climate change adaptation and mitigation. The village will establish an evaluation and monitoring system and monitor progress at five-year intervals based on set indicators. The Tantramar Planning District Commission (TPDC) will ensure that the ICSP priorities can be integrated directly into the municipal plan, which is due to be renewed in 2010.

(Project description from original funding application)