Over 6000 citizens supported the fishermen's call for a rigorous federal environmental assessment of Northern Pulp's proposal to discharge 70 to 90 million litres of treated pulp effluent daily into the Northumberland Strait by sending this letter to the Minister of Environment and Climate Change. 

Dear Minister:

Re: Request for Designation for CEAA Federal Assessment - Northern Pulp Effluent Treatment Facility

I am writing to support the request from fishermen's organizations from Nova Scotia, PEI and New Brunswick and Pictou Landing First Nation to have Northern Pulp's Effluent Treatment Project designated a project for Federal Environmental Assessment under Section 14 of the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act (CEAA) 2012.

I am very concerned about the harm to fish and fish habitat that could result from Northern Pulp's proposal to discharge 70-90 million litres of treated effluent from a bleached kraft mill every day through a 10.5k pipe into the prime fishing grounds of the Northumberland Strait.

Thousands of families from all three provinces, including First Nation communities in those provinces, make their living from these fisheries. Many fishermen come from families which have fished for generations. They have made changes to help keep our waters clean, so that their children and grandchildren can fish also. Owner-operator fishermen are an important part of our regional economies. Fishermen generate many jobs in our communities. They buy their supplies locally, and they spend their profits locally.

I am also concerned about the continued health of the Northumberland Strait, which attracts thousands of tourists, visitors and summer residents who fish, dive, swim and boat in its beautiful waters. The Northumberland Strait is a key part of life and the economy of Pictou County and draws people to our area.

I am further concerned about the health of people living close to Northern Pulp. For decades air emissions from the mill have been a problem affecting residents' health and local businesses. Northern Pulp has frequently failed stack emission tests. The new treatment proposal would add additional air emissions to an already bad situation.

I believe this project requires a more rigorous review than it will receive from the province of Nova Scotia, which has decided to require only a Class 1, 50-day review, including only 30 days for public comment.

The government's past handling of effluent from this mill has resulted in one of the most contaminated sites in Canada, Boat Harbour. I want to see a strong, science based review of this project which will protect the present and future health of our Strait and the economy which depends on healthy waters.