Little has changed since the Minister of Environment, Keith Irving approved the environmental assessment for a new road that would realign Marine Drive (Hwy 316) around the proposed Goldboro liquefied natural gas plant, providing Pieridae Energy Ltd. with unobstructed access to planned natural gas infrastructure. Recently Pieridae’s request for $1 billion in financing from the Canadian government for the proposed plant was rejected, the future of the project remains unknown.
Minister Irving has refused to provide any explanation for approving the environmental assessment, despite the requirements of the Environment Act and has only redirected the Ecology Action Centre to the approval document itself. The EAC believes realigning Hwy 316 has the potential to bring significant damage to the area, as it would pass through abandoned gold mine sites, pollute the groundwater and cause biodiversity loss. The EAC has submitted a detailed assessment alongside other environmental, Indigenous and student groups.
The lack of transparency, and for not following due procedure, especially, in the midst of the climate emergency, has prompted the EAC and New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance (NBASGA) to ask the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia for a judicial review of Minister Irving’s approval. The two groups—represented by Ecojustice—will be going in front of the Supreme Court in August 2021. The Judicial Review notice can be found here.
The EAC will provide updates.