NEW GLASGOW, N.S. — A #No Pipe Land and Sea rally will be held Friday on Pictou’s waterfront with people marching in the streets and boats sailing into the harbour to show their concerns over Northern Pulp’s plans to place an effluent pipe into the Northumberland Strait.
Friends of the Northumberland, which is made up all people from all different backgrounds, is organizing the event in conjunction with local fishermen – including those from P.E.I. Both groups want the federal government to provide a more detailed environmental assessment of its own, rather than going through with the provincial government 30-day process.
Organizers say the more people at the rally the better because one of criteria feds will look at when they are deciding to designate the project is to determine whether there is broad public concern.
Wayne Noel sets his traps directly where the original location for the pipe was supposed to be placed, but no one had bothered to tell him about the plans or ask his opinion.
“I heard it through a fisheries officer,” he said. “He said, ‘Wayne, you will want to check this out. This is the rumour.’ I said, ‘they will never do that’.”
Noel knows his days in the boat are short-lived because of his own health problems, but his lack of trust in politicians and Northern Pulp to do the right thing has turned this 70-year-old soon-to-be retired fisherman into an environmental activist.
“They will go out there and poison all our fishing industry and in 10-year’s-time Northern Pulp will probably pick up and leave. Here are our grandchildren — what are they going to say? ‘Hey Grampa, thanks for leaving me this’.“
The rally takes place from noon to 2 p.m. at Pictou’s Marina Quay. There will be guest speakers from environmental groups, First Nations and local stakeholders as well as a performance by Dave Gunning.
- With files by Sueann Musick, The News in New Glasgow, N.S.
