Emergency debate on Boat Harbour required

Halifax-- NDP Leader Gary Burrill made the following statement in response to the decision to not hold an emergency debate on the closure of the Boat Harbour effluent treatment plant:

“The Liberals have sown deep uncertainty and division among those who are affected by the Boat Harbour effluent plant and the Northern Pulp Mill in Pictou County and beyond.

Every session we've asked what is the government doing to ensure that Boat Harbour will close on January 31, 2020, and Premier McNeil has offered, not leadership, but shrugs, diversion, and evasion. Today, the Liberal government failed again to engage this urgent issue in the House of Assembly.

The people of Pictou Landing First Nation, the hundreds of workers at the mill, and the thousands of workers in related industries deserve to know where all members of this House stand when it comes to finding a solution.”

Yesterday, the focus report from Northern Pulp was released indicating that a new effluent plant will take 21 months to build. It is unlikely that Northern Pulp can both comply with the Boat Harbour Act and maintain operations.

The NDP is committed to the January 31st, 2020 deadline to close the Boat Harbour effluent treatment plant and opposes any extension.

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