3 more municipalities ask province to hit the brakes on uranium exploration in N.S.
Province plans to issue exploration licences this summer
Pleas are mounting for the Nova Scotia government to slow down its push for uranium development.
Following on the heels of Pictou County, three additional municipalities voted this week to ask the province to pause before granting any uranium exploration licences.
Councils for West Hants Regional Municipality, the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, and the Municipality of the County of Annapolis voted unanimously on making the request.
The motions varied slightly, but essentially each council agreed to formally ask the province for an indefinite delay so that communities can become better informed about potential impacts.
"It's the unknown that's worrying residents at this point," said Abraham Zebian, mayor of West Hants Regional Municipality, at a council meeting Tuesday.
Not taking a position for or against
When delivering his motion, Zebian asked councillors to set aside whether they're for or against uranium exploration and mining. He said the issues are the speed at which the province is moving and the need for more engagement between provincial officials and the public.
These were common themes at each council meeting.
"We just have had no communication," said Coun. Brian Connell, who put forward the motion in Annapolis.
"No one can believe how fast the province is moving on this, and many feel that that is by design," said Coun. Alison Smith, who put forward the motion in Lunenburg.
Smith said she was not asking for a vote on whether uranium development should happen. But she noted that there may be an opportunity to take such a stance in the near future.
Last month, Smith and her colleagues asked for a staff report on the risks of uranium mining and exploration in the LaHave River Watershed. Smith said she expects that report back next week.
"When we have more facts in front of us, we may want to take a 'for' or 'against' advocacy position," she said.
Months of outcry
The request for a pause builds on several months of public outcry about the province's plans for uranium development.
The Houston government tabled a bill in February to lift 40-year-old restrictions on uranium exploration and mining, as well as a moratorium on fracking. Reaction was swift and largely oppositional. The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi'kmaw Chiefs said they were not consulted.
Nova Scotia Natural Resources Minister Tory Rushton announced last month that the province was opening a request for proposals for uranium exploration licences in three areas with known deposits.
Municipal officials and property owners said they were shocked by the news and were not told the RFPs were coming. Letters were sent to affected municipalities and property owners nearly two weeks after the public announcement.
Community organizers have been holding meetings around the province to voice their concerns.
Zebian said in an interview that he met Tuesday with Karen Gatien, deputy minister of natural resources and was told the request for a pause was being considered. A spokesperson for the department disputed that. They said Gatien told Zebian the request was received.
CBC News asked the department if it is going to heed the request. It responded with a lengthy statement that did not address the question.
Zebian said he asked the deputy minister for the province to hold a series of public meetings before issuing exploration licences.
"We think it's a good idea to have … those experts in the room that are making those decisions to answer questions from the public," he said.
Zebian said he is hopeful the province will agree.
The municipalities got their requests in to the province just as the request for proposals for exploration licences was set to close Wednesday. The province has previously indicated it would make decisions by July 11.
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