Re: “Provincial loans top $85 million.” The Nov. 18 front-page story by Aaron Beswick about Northern Pulp brought back memories. This article reported some interesting facts about loan amounts and when they were made.
When I was appointed minister of the environment in 1978, it was quite a shock to learn that over half my budget was going to the Pictou County pulp mill to operate the facilities that supplied water and accepted untreated effluent. When I read the contract that established the pulp mill, which dated back to the Stanfield-Smith era, it was spelled out that the province was responsible to deliver fresh water to and accept the waste from the mill. What seemed to be a good job-creating deal then has become a taxpayers’ burden over the years, as factors keep changing.
I seem to remember that when I wondered about renegotiating the deal, it was pointed out that the contract said I would have to wait for 30 years. Maybe the rumours about a big party at head office after the final deal was signed contained some truth.
Glenn Ells, Canning (former Liberal cabinet minister)