Friends of Northumberland Strait seek NG council support

The Friends of the Northumberland Strait urged New Glasgow council to show support for their effort to preserve the environmental integrity of the body of water.

The organization is calling for a federal Class 2 environmental assessment of Northern Pulp’s plan to create a new effluent treatment system to replace Boat Harbour by 2020.

Several members – Gerard MacIsaac, Krista Fulton, Wes Surett and Jill Graham-Scanlan – visited council at the June 5 committee of the whole meeting, saying they believe Northern Pulp’s proposed system will endanger the strait, and that a more rigorous federal assessment is necessary to ensure the safety of the ecosystem.

Representatives with the organization noted that there is a great deal at risk, including the fisheries and tourism industries as sources of revenue and business, the success of which hinge on the health of the strait.

“Nobody has a crystal ball, and nobody can tell the future, but we believe there’s a lot at stake here,” said Surett. “With $2 billion in fish exports, $200 million in Northumberland Shore tourism revenue, and $56 million for sports fisheries, property values, small businesses, social wellbeing and happiness, we believe a lot is at stake.”

The presentation delivered to council focused on the poor environmental legacy of Boat Harbour, referred to by Graham-Scanlan as a “tidal estuary turned into a waste lagoon,” and how the warm freshwater that would be released in the new system could harm aquatic life such as lobster and their larvae, creating a “dead zone.”

Graham-Scanlan noted that the potential contamination could also hurt business in Nova Scotia, tarnishing the reputation of Nova Scotia’s fishery for delivering a sustainable, clean product from “pure waters.” And with $2 billion in exports last year, and 18,000 people working in the fishing industry, that would be too great a price to risk.

Surett noted that Nova Scotia is a world leader in tourism – something that stands to also be hurt by a polluted strait. He noted that compared to other regions in the province, Pictou County is already seeing declining tourism numbers.

Coun. Jack Lewis asked what the plan was, if the federal government decides against a Class 2 assessment: “Is there any confidence on your part that… they will decide a Class 2 assessment is a necessity?”

The way to avoid that sort of scenario is to convince the federal government that there is public concern, Graham-Scanlan said. She added that one criterion for the federal government to call for a more detailed environmental assessment is public concern – something she and her fellow members asserted there is much of in Pictou County.

“That’s why we’re coming to you to make the presentation, and to other groups asking for support – to demonstrate there is public concern,” she said. “We only ask that you support a more rigorous study so that the federal government does become involved.”

Coun. Troy McCulloch asked what would be done if Northern Pulp’s plans for its new effluent treatment passed a Class 2 assessment.

Graham-Scanlan said the Friends of the Northumberland Strait anticipate Northern Pulp’s plan will not pass a federal-level assessment.

She noted that she anticipates the new plan will be seen as “an environmental disaster,” and that “we’re thinking that’s probably what the conclusion will be… so the time is now for Northern Pulp to get going on an alternate proposal.”