Nova Scotia’s environment minister is offering no specifics on the future of the Northern Pulp mill site in Pictou County, saying only that “a lot of moving parts” still need to be worked out.
Tim Halman faced questions following a cabinet meeting this week about the cleanup proposal Northern Pulp was required to file as part of its settlement agreement with the province.
Environment Minister Tim Halman Photo: N.S. Government.
Critics say the company may not have the financial ability to carry out the work and argue the province should move ahead on its own.
Halman did not provide new information, repeatedly stressing that as the regulator his role is to ensure companies comply with the Environment Act. “There’s a lot of moving parts to this,” he said. “As the regulator, my role is to make sure the Environment Act is being adhered to, and we’ll have more to say in the future.”
When pressed on whether the province can act before the company’s creditor protection process ends, Halman declined to answer directly.
He also would not commit to a timeline for when Nova Scotians can expect clarity. “I’m not going to speculate on a timeline,” he said. “This is a complicated situation with a lot of moving parts.”
The future of the site remains uncertain, with concerns from residents about long-term contamination if cleanup is delayed.
Halman said the government will provide more details “when the time is right,” but for now, the only commitment is to uphold the Environment Act.
