PICTOU MILLSTONE

The Northern Pulp mill in Pictou County is again in the news. While the restoration proposal for the mill may not be ideal election fodder for either the Liberals or the Conservatives, there are significant future costs for Nova Scotians flowing from any decisions on the future of Northern Pulp.

The government (taxpayers) is responsible for treating the water effluent from the mill post-2020 when the Boat Harbour facility was shut down. Since there was no facility to replace Boat Harbour, the mill shut down in “hot idle” mode.

By agreement, it is my understanding that the government — by not providing an acceptable wastewater treatment facility and thereby forcing the mill to close/cease operations — is in all likelihood liable for Northern Pulp’s loss of profits from 2020 to 2030, potentially hundreds of millions of dollars.

Alternatively, if the government provides an acceptable facility to replace Boat Harbour, the taxpayer bears the construction and operating costs of any new facility. That, again, will be well above the $100-million mark.

The future of the mill is important to all Nova Scotians, both due to the liability costs mentioned above and the ongoing negative impact on the forestry industry if the shutdown becomes permanent. Many, if not most, candidates in the upcoming election are not wellversed on proposals by Northern Pulp and how such plans, if implemented, affect all Nova Scotian taxpayers. Hopefully, there will be more discussion and debate about the above before election day on Aug. 17.

Rod Desborough,

Halifax and Braeshore