A tough decision! Today I offer a version of a speech and decision which the Premier could and should have made on Friday, Dec. 20.
Dear fellow Nova Scotians, the decision I have to announce today will not please most of you. We know from opinion surveys that the majority of people are opposed to the extension of the deadline, primarily because they are opposed to the continued operation of to pulp mill in Pictou County, regardless of what they will do.
In government we are sometimes guided by the results of opinion polls. But let me be clear: we must not blindly follow them. Some will say that that is undemocratic–not too listen to the majority. I believe that true democracy is not direct democracy- by opinion poll or plebiscite. True democracy representative democracy. The citizens elect their representatives and expect them to make the best possible decisions, based on a careful analysis of all the facts and all factors and grounded on an informed, long-range vision vision of all the consequences of a decision.
Consequently, my government has decided to do what we believe is the right path–-to extend the deadline and agree on a new one.
As soon as Jan. 2, we will try to meet with the leadership of the First Nation at Pictou Landing and the management of Northern Pulp to determine how long it will take to complete the emission process alternative to using Boat Harbour. I will recall the house in January for an emergency session to amend the Boat Harbour Act and change the date to one that will cause the least amount of harm to the least number of Nova Scotians.
Let me quickly add two things, very emphatically: one, I am well aware of the terrible impact the use of Boat Harbour has had on the nearby indigenous people. My government and I will stick to our promise to end that practice and clean up Boat Harbour. Let there be no doubt about that.
Two, I refused to be tested to place all the blame on Northern Pulp.That would indeed have been a cowardly act. To say that "they had five years” ignores the fact that throughout these five years there has been nothing but opposition to the mill of finding an alternative.
My government bears some of the blame. We never managed to set clear standards. We changed the hoops we expected them to jump through. We yielded to the widespread public opposition. We didn't dare to state that we would help the company to stay in business in order not to devastate the province’s forest industry.
For example, we did nothing as fishermen interfered in the company's efforts to prepare for an alternative to Boat Harbour. A few months ago, I submitted an opinion piece about having faith in science when it comes to environmental protection. Instead of approval, I got a criticism for not blindly condemning the company.
In this regard, I was greatly persuaded by two factors: one, the team of scientists from St.F.X. University, which has been monitoring the water quality outside of the Boat Harbour estuary and the adjacent waters of the Northumberland Strait. They've found no adverse impact on the aquatic life from what left to estuary by natural tidal action. I found it quite simple to conclude that those same waters would not be polluted by the same material ,or even better treated material, being deposited far out into the Straight itself.
Secondly, I was influenced by the fact that there are several such mills operating in North America, using the same treatment and disposal processes, which Northern Pulp is prepared to build and use. Unfortunately, too many people are persuaded by NIMBY- based emotionalism and an antibig-business bias. I am a “rural boy", so it is easy for me to believe that too many people no longer are able to identify with the benefits of primary industries, of which forestry is certainly one.
So much, if not all, real wealth originates from the ground and the water. It is not created by government employees, by professionals or by the service sector. It starts with primary industry and we should not ignore or even demean that ,as so many people so unthinkingly and ungratefully do.
In making this decision I did not allow myself to fall into two traps: One, I did not seek to be a hero, who shows some kind of courage. I did not want to seek favourable media coverage and have a headline say approvingly “Premier Stands Fast". I had to do what was right.
Secondly, I rejected the recommendation to use a special fund to mitigate the negative impacts following the closure of the mill. The figure that was suggested to me is 50 million. That didn’t appeal to me at all. It smacked of political whitewashing, like using a band-aid to stop the bleeding from a deep gash.
Also, I am not in the least convinced that such a sum can make up for the loss of a $2 billion industry, representing three per cent of our province’s GNP. Such a measure might help 300 mill workers and some contractors, but how would it compensate all the other sectors of our economy, which benefits from our forest-related economy: the silviculture workers, the car and truck dealers, the insurance agencies, the gas stations and so many untold others.
Lastly, I asked myself, where would this money come from? It certainly it won't come from the laid-off workers and all the lost income of all the others affected. Would all those opposed to Northern Pulp on principle be prepared to chip in? Would we raise taxes? Or would we have to take the money away from other uses – from healthcare, education, social services, agriculture and so on? I do not have the luxury enjoyed by the leader of the opposition, who’heroic ally’ advocates sticking to the deadline and bemoans the negative impact at the same time. That kind of ‘doublespeak’ is not leadership. Not in my books!
I asked Nova Scotians for little more tolerance for the forestry sector of our economy. I ask Nova Scotians for some patience and to forgive me for being flexible and practical for the good of the Province. I am convinced that with a little more time we will together come up with a sensible and practical solution. That time will not only save us millions in compensation and transition funding, it will continue to earn us millions in the taxes which we need to pay for the services we expect. And that is my bottom line. Thank you.
Morris Haugg is a member of the Amherst News Community Editorial Board.
