LETTER TO PREMIER HOUSTON from a very unhappy resident

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!" Sir, the community of Mount Uniacke is asking why these principles, applied 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 illegal speeds of 80 km/hr, deteriorating Uniacke Mines Road conditions, repeated improper over-blasts causing PTS-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-doings 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 weighted in on the evidence presented to them by one of four key community members in this opposition movement. Mr. Byron Purcell, who is a professional engineer himself, 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 - Mr. Byron Purcell, 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 AllTerrain Contracting, and buried 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.

Key members of our community, including P. Eng. Byron Purcell, Clifford Messervey (CLC member), and MLA Brad Johns, should be present during this sample collection. Testing should be performed by CALA - accredited labs, and results shared with these representatives and the public.

The proponent - not taxpayers - must bear all costs. This is simple accountability. This is what "listening to Nova Scotians" truly means, Premier Houston.

Opposition Parties - Your Double Standard Must Also End.

To Ms. Chander, Mr. Rankin, Ms. LaChance and Mr. Mombourquette - We are grateful for your letters of support, but 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 caseof illegal activity and government non-enforcement.

So 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