Pictou Landing First Nation files suit against Nova Scotia and Northern Pulp

The Pictou Landing First Nation has filed suit against the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Northern Pulp, and all the former owners of the Northern Pulp mill over their lack of action on environmental concerns.

Neenah Paper and Kimberly Clark previously operated the mill at Abercrombie Point.

The band council feels the province should be held responsible for a pulp mill waste water facility that has been on its land for 43 years, and the council wants that waste water treatment facility relocated.

Boat Harbour was converted into a waste lagoon back in 1967 by Scott Paper. Fish life was destroyed and the water rendered unusable almost as soon as millions of gallons of waste water started pouring in from the mill daily, all despite government assurances that the community wouldn’t notice any change.

The water quality is better today, but the community wants the polluted sediment in Boat Harbour cleaned up so the water can be restored to its original state.

In 2008, the province promised to dismantle the Boat Harbour waste water treatment facility. The cost of moving the facility is estimated to be $91.5 million, a number that Nova Scotia said they couldn't afford to pay.

However, in March of 2010, Nova Scotia loaned Northern Pulp $75 million to buy private forest lands, and the province purchased 22,000 hectares for $16.5 million. Those commitments total $91.5 million - the exact amount the province said it couldn't afford.

The claim outlines a number of dates and deadlines for alterations or solutions that passed through the years, all failing to produce any results. Chief Aileen Francis said it was clear talk was getting them nowhere.

"It’s been years and years of talk and unfulfilled promises. Enough is enough. Now we put our faith in the courts."

Chief Aileen Francis said the band council believes the government is the "main culprit". Francis said Northern Pulp is an "important ally" to the First Nation, saying the band council hopes the lawsuit will be resolved without interrupting operations at the mill.

Read more:

Boat Harbour suit filed - Inaction on pulp mill pollution violates rights, band says (Chronicle Herald)

Band council wants wastewater facility moved (Metro News)