Tantramar council meeting with Premier Holt. Centre Right: Mayor Wiggins-Colwell, CAO Jennifer Borne, Premier Holt, Councillors Allison Butcher, Alyssa Greene, Deputy Mayor Josh Goguen, Councillors Kristen LeBlanc, Tori Weldon, Haidee Robertson, Barry Hicks, Wayne Wells [click on photo to enlarge it]
Her only promise during the nine minute discussion about the gas plant was that the provincial department of environment and local government would inform the municipality first before releasing the results of the ongoing environmental impact assessment (EIA) that began about a year ago.
“I was told that the department was going to reach out as soon as there are any developments,” Holt said, “[and] communicate with you (the mayor) and the municipality first.”
Councillor Kristen LeBlanc noted that NB Power VP Brad Coady had told council on July 14th that wastewater from the plant would be trucked across the border into Nova Scotia and she wondered if that would be enough to trigger a more comprehensive EIA.
“I don’t believe that that triggers a comprehensive assessment,” Holt replied.
“Does it make it a trans-boundary issue by any chance?” LeBlanc asked.
“Trans-boundary?” Holt asked, adding moments later that permitting systems are in place when waste products or dangerous goods are transported across provincial and national boundaries.
“There’s quite a bit of waste that comes from Nova Scotia into New Brunswick and from New Brunswick into Nova Scotia and vice versa in multiple directions,” the premier said before adding that’s not unusual.
Poor roads, risk of fire
Holt listened as councillors pointed out that Rte. 940 is already in poor condition even before the arrival of the heavy trucks and equipment that would be needed to build the gas plant.
She also listened and took notes, but did not respond when Councillor LeBlanc spoke about potential fire risks.
“I’m wondering I guess what idea you may have of resources that Tantramar has readily available to fight say, a forest fire that breaks out from these 10 turbines that are going in the middle of the woods?” LeBlanc asked.
“We are just rebuilding our fire department now in our municipality and actually going through a job posting of a full-time fire chief. So I’m wondering what incentive would the province maybe have to prepare for a gas plant in the middle of our woods if we have lack of resources now?” the councillor added.
Indigenous participation
Holt did respond to a question about whether there is any Indigenous partnership in the project.
“I believe that those negotiations continue to happen,” the premier said. “I haven’t heard of a final resolution to the commercial conversations that are happening there.”
After the meeting ended, she appeared to sidestep this question from The New Wark Times:
“NB Power is saying that an Indigenous partnership is not essential for the gas plant. What’s your view of that?”
“We’re doing a lot of work with First Nations communities around the province on a lot of different energy projects,” Holt said as she walked briskly toward her government vehicle and pulled several times at its locked door before it finally opened.
“It’s been a priority for us to restore those relationships and we’re advancing more wind projects with First Nations than New Brunswick has ever seen,” she added as she climbed into the passenger seat.
“I think we’re up to 600 megawatts, so it’s something our government is really driving,” she said before closing the van’s door.
Premier Holt talked to anti-gas plant activists briefly as she entered and left Tantramar Town Hall. L-R back row: Peter Higham, Harold Popma, Phyllis Wheaton. L-R front row: Meredith Fisher, Logan Atkinson, Barb Clayton, Terry Jones
This is the first of two reports on Tantramar council’s meeting with Premier Holt. Warktimes was able to attend the meeting after Holt said she had no objection because this was council’s meeting and it was up to them to decide who could attend.
