CORRESPONDENCE SENT TO PREMIER HOUSTON BY A VERY CONCERNED RESIDENT OF MOUNT UNIACKE

Premier Houston: Your November 13th remarks regarding the Mabou Beach golf course proposal were very clear. You said the company's request was "unreasonable and not in the public's best interests". You also stated, "We listen carefully to Nova Scotians all of the time --------the pros and cons-----and we try to wade through it. At the end, we make decisions that benefit Nova Scotians."

Sir, the community of Mount Uniacke is asking why these principles, supplied so clearly in Mabou, do NOT apply here in Mount Uniacke?

A Clear Double Standard - "Why do Some Communities Matter More?"

When Minister Halman delivered the quarry expansion approval to our community on November 12, it felt like a sentence -- one that ensures decades more of environmental degradation, poor air quality, excessive noise, heavy truck traffic travelling at dangerously high legal speeds of 80km per hour, deteriorating Uniacke Mines Road conditions, repeated improper over-blasts causing PTSD-like symptoms in both residents and their pets, and concerns for our most valuable assets - our homes and other structures and our wells - with no civil arrangements in place to mitigate any damages.

We watched as you championed the voices of Mabou residents while ignoring the equally urgent and evidence-based voices of Mount Uniacke. You have not felt it necessary to engage with this community in the Town Hall requested by many over the past six weeks or more.

You have not been listening to these Nova Scotians!

You have received extensive evidence of violations, illegal activities, environmental degradation and improper waste burial at the NCCI Site. You have also received countless emails, letters and appeals asking why your department continues to shield and reward the operator rather than hold them accountable.

We attach, yet once more, evidence of wrong doing captured in imagery and documents. Note the date of the NSECC Inspector's report - one day prior to the May 3, 2022 images captured.

In the Mount Uniacke case, the cons overwhelmingly outweigh the pros - the only "pros" here are the profits made by NCCI and the Province.

Ignored Evidence & Avoided Science

This community has presented photo evidence, clear documentation of harmful activities at the quarry, expert analysis and recommendations for soil collection methods and testing based on the expertise from accredited Environmental and Geotechnical engineers who have weighed in on the evidence presented to them - and Minister Halman dismisses all of it - insisting "there is nothing to see here - nothing to test" yet one of our key community members in this opposition movement - a community resident, who is a professional engineer himself - disagrees.

If there's nothing to see here - nothing to test - then prove it!

We demand Accountability. Conduct the Soil Testing

The public has repeatedly asked for independent soil testing in the affected areas - including tests for PCAS, PAHs, VOCs, metals and any contaminants from foreign "untested" soils potentially hauled from the HRM job sites under the business name All Terrain Contracting, and buried it at the site.

Has it ever occurred to anyone in receipt of these concerns, this evidence - that the debris is being well hidden? If the government is so confident that no contamination exists, then independent testing should be easy, welcome and immediate.

This is the only way to deliver truth, transparency and public trust, Premier Houston.

The proponent - not taxpayers - must bear all costs.

This is a simple accountability. This is what "listening to Nova Scotians" truly means, Premier Houston. Opposition Parties - Your Double Standard Must Also End.

A Clear Double Standard - "Why do Some Communities Matter More?"

Ms. Chender, Mr. Rankin, Ms.LaChance and Mr. Mombourquette - while we are grateful for your letters of support to the Premier concerning this community's opposition, , support must extend beyond written statements. You have seen the evidence. You know that NCCI should have had its operating approval revoked, not expanded. You know this is not a typical "NIMBY" Quarry case - it is a documented case of illegal activity and government non-enforcement.

Why were you not standing in front of the cameras calling this out on November 12th, the way you did for Mabou on the 13th?

If the Mabou Beach situation "should never have gotten as far as it did", then neither should the Mount Uniacke quarry expansion - a situation even more serious backed by years of evidence and warnings."

******From a concerned member of Mount Uniacke who wishes to help protect my family, my neighbours, our properties and our environment from the injustices that we are being expected to accept, without questioning!******