TO THE HONOURABLE TIM HOUSTON, PREMIER OF NOVA SCOTIA

To The Honourable Tim Houston Premier of Nova Scotia

Dear Premier Houston:

Please accept this correspondence as a formal public complaint concerning the Mount Uniacke Quarry Expansion (aka Northumberland Capital Corp. Inc / aka Maritime Aggregates Inc). The associated matters under the jurisdiction of NSECC - the process by which it was approved - while substantive information and community evidence was not meaningfully investigated - nor was there meaningful engagement with the concerned and aggrieved citizens of this community when requested.

This submission is supported by a comprehensive, evidence-based package (see attachments) outlining unresolved violations and ongoing concerns that continue to impact the surrounding community and environment, including:

• Wetland7 infill;

• Quarry activity beyond the 'originally' approved 3.99ha quarry footprint;

• NSECC's declaration that the absence of substantiated findings regarding buried construction and demolition (C&W) materials (vs) the community's position that this declaration does not equate to confirmation of their non-existence;

• Continued concerns related to blasting practices, which have generated a significant volume of public complaints to the Department following past blast events;

• The ineffectiveness of NSECC oversight and enforcement of Industrial-approval conditions, including their reliance on the 'failed' Community Liaison Committee (CLC) as the primary mechanism for addressing community concerns;

A supplementary document (attached) prepared by another community opposition team member, provides a clear and organized account of these ongoing concerns referenced above.

Of particular concern is that certain relevant matters remain unresolved from the perspective of the affected community. In some instances, NSECC conclusions have been based on 'the absence of' substantiated findings through visual surface inspection only', which does not necessarily demonstrate that the concerns themselves have been conclusively ruled out. As such, questions remain as to whether potential environmental risks have been fully and appropriately assessed by the Department of NSECC.

Not being able to substantiate does not, in itself, disprove the existence of the concerns.

This submission is not a request to revisit a decision, but rather a request for you, as this Province's official leader, to ensure that the process leading to that decision reflects the level of transparency, consistency, and environmental stewardship expected by Nova Scotians, and that public confidence in that process is maintained.

Following the submission of a detailed community appeal in December 2025, the response received did not advance a constructive dialogue on the concerns raised, and instead resulted in formal legal correspondence issued by the Department’s legal counsel, rather than a substantive response to the concerns raised. As a result, the community is now seeking your office’s review as the appropriate next step.

The timing of this submission reflects the recent provincial budget period and House sitting, and a desire to bring these matters forward at an appropriate time for your 'full' consideration.

We respectfully request that your office review the attached materials and determine whether further examination of these matters is warranted to ensure confidence in the decision-making process, ongoing oversight and restoring public trust.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Kathy Smith

~ On behalf of the 'still' concerned residents of the Mount Uniacke community ~