The Keltic hearings
‘The buck stops with me’
Meet the man who’ll decide Keltic’s fate
“In this case, it’s pretty much going to be a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ kind of answer.”
GUYSBOROUGH – Minister of Environment and Labour Mark Parent is a very interesting man.
An ordained but not consistently active Baptist minister, Parent was appointed to Premier Rodney MacDonald’s cabinet after the summer election. The promotion was a long time coming – Parent was elected MLA for Kings North in July 1999.
Day one, Guysborough
Keltic hearings open to supportive, emotional crowd
“Do I support the project? Yes, 100 per cent. Do I feel the environment will be protected? Yes. Does the area need these kinds of projects? Yes.”
– District Seven councillor Bradley MacLeod
GUYSBOROUGH – It was the day Keltic Petrochemicals president Kevin Dunn had surely dreamed about.
The long-awaited Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) public hearings into the proposed $4-billion dollar Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) and petrochemical complex in Goldboro began in Guysborough on Monday.
Day two, Sherbrooke
Opponents rally after positive opening
“I’d like to get into the business of selling terminals that don’t exist
on land I don’t own.”
~ Colin Negus, lobster fisher.
SHERBROOKE – Monday’s positive start to the Keltic Petrochemicals Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) hearings continued in the opening exchanges of Tuesday’s sessions in Sherbrooke.
After an opening presentation by AMEC Engineering’s Shawn Duncan (the primary spokesman for Keltic throughout the week’s hearings), Spanish Ship Harbour resident Wendy Breen lauded the project and lamented the ongoing exodus of the region’s young people.
Day three, Antigonish
Consultation concerns take centre stage
“What level of compensation is adequate for the destruction of heritage sites? We hold that site very sacred and we do not agree to have that area disturbed in any way.”
~ James Desmond on the Red Head cemetery.
ANTIGONISH - Concerns over consultation – or a lack thereof – dominated day three of the Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) public hearings into the proposed Keltic Petrochemicals project.
Presentations from the Assembly of Nova Scotia Mik’Maq Chiefs and the Concerned Citizens of Lincolnville both featured comments about whether the groups had been adequately consulted about the project.
Day four, Antigonish
Mussels, minerals, tourists and terrorists
“Our association makes the offer that we will work with the local community and the proponent in any way we can to ensure that both the project and the existing mussel farm co-exist through the life cycle of the project.”
~ Aquaculture Association of Nova Scotia (AANS) executive director Brian Muise.
ANTIGONISH – Offers of co-operation mingled with the spectre of terrorist attacks, during day four of the Keltic hearings.
While the project received strong support from several of the province’s most influential corners – including a claim that it could be a tourist attraction – it also came under fire as a potential terrorist threat and for being “so wrong and so contrary to the direction humanity needs to take.”
Day five, Antigonish
Tears, fears and cheers
“I’ve only seen [my boyfriend] for three weeks this year. He wants this project to go so he can come home and start a family with me.”
~ Resident Melissa Christie.
ANTIGONISH – Passions were stoked to the point of tears during day five of the Keltic hearings, as Guysborough County was portrayed as a community on life support, relative provincial newcomers complained of alienation, and promised jobs were called into question.
The Ecology Action Centre (EAC) continued its attack on Keltic with Jennifer Graham’s presentation on coastal impacts.
Day six, Antigonish
Company confident as hearings wrap up
“I only wish the development could’ve taken place four or five years ago. Four of my children have moved to Calgary.”
~ Antigonish warden Herb Delorey.
ANTIGONISH – The Environmental Assessment Board (EAB) hearings into the Keltic project ended on a mostly positive note last Saturday, with community support overshadowing concern, one very vocal detractor won over, and the company promising good environmental citizenship and regulatory adherence.
However, the Ecology Action Centre (EAC) remained highly critical. Chantal Gagnon, a previous presenter and regular speaker, delivered EAC’s third and final presentation of the week. Her slideshow was anchored in the Nova Scotia Government’s 2003 green plan, Towards a Sustainable Development. Gagnon said Keltic’s proposal is at loggerheads with the province’s vision for an environmentally-sound future.
