On March 10, 2010, CBRM released its Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, known as the ICSP. 

This plan has as one of its goals to “ To preserve and enhance the pristine environment of CBRM as a key element of CBRM’s economy, an attraction to visitors, and a legacy for future generations.”

Hark! 

The current mayor and several councillors are on the record stating that they are not allowed to consider the environment when planning how CBRM should grow. 

Yet they have a plan to do just that. 

(Sure, it is not easy to find, but they must know about it.)

First you go to the cryptic CBRM website. 

Then you look around until you see this list at the bottom of the page. 

Then you click Reports and Studies.

Then you type “Integrated Community Sustainability Plan” in the convenient search box. (hahaha). 

Then you read down a list of report names and there it is - about 30th on the list. 

Then you think, yeah! I found it, only to realize that it is offered on laserfiche, not the most user-friendly format. 

If  I were cynical I would think that this report was not considered important for our community.

Port Hawkesbury, for example, based its MPS on its Community Sustainability Plan, and says so on its cover. 

I will write more about this, but I wanted to point out that transparency is essential to good governing and community involvement.

We need to know why this plan has not been used as a basis for the CBRM planning strategy?

Stay tuned.