PETITION TO THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA
  
    Whereas:
    
      
        The Department of National Defence intends to build a Land-Based Testing Facility at Hartlen Point, Nova Scotia;
      
    
    
      
        300+ bird species have been observed at Hartlen Point;
      
    
    
      
        Environment and Climate Change Canada claims to be "an international leader in bird science, monitoring and conservation...";
      
    
    
      
        The Canada-NS Nature Agreement promised $28.5Million to protect biodiversity, habitat and species at risk in Nova Scotia;
      
    
    
      
        Hartlen Point is Nova Scotia's top bird observation site, in Canada's top ten and the only site in Canada's top 49 not protected;
      
    
    
      
        Construction of the facility will destroy important protection, feeding and resting grounds for thousands of migratory birds;
      
    
    
      
        Site selection:
      
    
    
      
        took place before public consultation was initiated;
      
    
    
      
        utilized outdated and incomplete studies;
      
    
    
      
        ignored independent expert bird studies;
      
    
    
      
        did not consider the impact on lobster fisheries; and
      
    
    
      
        Access to information requests have been ignored.
      
    
    We the undersigned citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to pause all construction and further development of the Land-Based Testing Facility at Hartlen Point until the following are completed:
    
      
        An independent impact assessment, including:
      
    
    
      
        consideration of the impacts on wildlife, migratory bird populations and traffic;
      
    
    
      
        full and transparent community consultation and outreach;
      
    
    
      
        Proper consideration of alternative sites including re-purposing of existing DND facilities;
      
    
    
      
        Public access to all documents affecting the decision to develop Hartlen Point; and
      
    
    
      
        Permanent protections for the habitats and staging areas at Hartlen Point.