Northern Pulp touts economic impact, but critics still eye pollution woes

Environmental critics of Pictou County's Northern Pulp mill have reacted to the company's study touting its economic importance in the area.

"Everyone knows that Northern Pulp has an economic impact on Northern Nova Scotia," says Stirling MacLean, with the local environmental group Clean the Mill.

"The question is, does that economic impact absolve the mill from running a clean operation?"

On Thursday, Northern Pulp released the results of an economic impact study completed by consultant Gardner Pinfold showing it spends $315 million a year and is responsible for 2,000 spinoff jobs.

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The company says the study is part of an effort to rebuild its image in an area where air and water pollution complaints about the mill have been raised for decades.

But after the study was presented at a fire hall in Abercrombie, Pictou County Coun. Robert Parker rose and challenged the company to restore trust.

"We have to hold them accountable" Parker said.

An executive from the Richmond, B.C., head office of mill owner Paper Excellence responded with promises to address environmental concerns, including the future of the notorious wastewater treatment plant at Boat Harbour on Pictou Landing First Nation.  

"Both Northern Pulp and Paper Excellence are vehemently committed to closing Boat Harbour," said Tanner Elton of Paper Excellence. Elton repeatedly mispronounced the name Pictou.

He said company officials were meeting with government today in Halifax.

Boat Harbour negotiations

What replaces the Boat Harbour facility when it closes in 2020 is unclear. Negotiations on where a new facility goes and who pays for it are just starting.

Northern Pulp has launched a judicial appeal of the requirements imposed in the latest provincial government industrial approval.

"We are in very difficult discussions with the ministry of environment," Elton told the fire hall audience.

He said the conditions contain requirements that exist in no other jurisdiction and the current industrial approval would put the mill out of business.

Northern Pulp also received plenty of support from the audience, which includes suppliers, contractors and sawmillers.

"The government can't afford to shut down that mill," said Ben Chisholm, with United Association Local 244, a pipefitters union. "The government should back off."

But critics say a show of support was the point of releasing the study. MacLean says the mill is worried it won't meet new environmental standards or win the court challenge it has launched.

"They are being proactive in ensuring the government gets a positive message about their performance," he said.