P.E.I. urged to protect scenic vistas

A former tourism official with the provincial government says P.E.I. is not doing enough to protect its scenic vistas.

Carol Horne, who now works for the Canadian Tourist Commission, said over the past two decades, only two areas of the island have been designated scenic zones — New London and Borden-Carleton.

She said the province needs an objective way to add more locations to that list.

Horne's comments come as some residents of P.E.I.'s North Shore expressed concern about a utility's poles and wires ruining the view of a bay popular with tourists.

People in St. Peter's, the closest community to the newest section of P.E.I. National Park at Greenwich, say Maritime Electric's power lines bisect the view of the bay from their new boardwalk.

Horne said in her time as a provincial tourism official, she saw reports that addressed the issue of designated scenic zones.

"Many of the recommendations come out the same," she said. "But it's really not very apparent to me that any of those have been acted on or taken seriously."