BY JIM MACDONALD
GUEST OPINION
Re: Northern Pulp, the Northumberland Strait, and Prince Edward Island
I grew up in Pictou County, Nova Scotia in the 60s and 70s and was fortunate to enjoy time with family and friends on Boat Harbour, adjacent to our summer home, and on the Northumberland Strait to which the harbour connected.
But in the late sixties, Scott Paper established a bleached kraft paper mill at Abercrombie Point. This same mill these days is known as Northern Pulp.
You and your readers are probably aware that Boat Harbour became an industrial waste site. I was conscious at the time, and more so now, that the way this transpired makes for an extraordinary tale of caution. It’s a story of how an industry’s interest was promoted over those of other citizens.
Many of the people most adversely affected by the operation of the pulp mill were in no position to defend themselves, and were the victims of what can only be called skullduggery.
Others, including representatives from the fishing industry, vigorously argued for a more balanced, environmentally responsible approach and were simply ignored. The really unfortunate fact is that our government declined to act impartially and instead actively partook in the skullduggery, and in economic subsidies in favor of the industry.
Nor did they exercise any credible enforcement of the provincial environmental regulations. Boat Harbour is only part of it. The industry’s interests have prevailed in all other aspects of its environmental footprint as well – gaseous emissions, use of fresh water resources and woodlands.
The effluent from Boat Harbour has for these 50 years been flowing into the Strait. Prince Edward Island may already be affected. Northern Pulp would have you believe that this is evidence of a peaceful co-existence between fishery and forestry, ignoring any other interests.
But now that a relocated outfall is being considered, you might say some chickens are coming home to roost and the challenge for the people of Prince Edward Island is to make sure that they don’t fall victim to the legacy wrought by industry and government as outlined above.
Be very skeptical.
- Jim MacDonald of Halifax is a native of Pictou County, N.S. and spent summers with family at Boat Harbour, now an industrial waste site caused by effluent from a nearby paper mill at Abercrombie Point.
