Houston government must protect Dartmouth Cove from infilling

HALIFAX – NSNDP leader Claudia Chender made the following statement today:

“I am extremely concerned about the aggressive tactics being employed by Atlantic Road Construction & Paving Ltd. in their attempts to retaliate against the denial of their plans to turn Dartmouth Cove into a dumping ground for pyritic slate.

Workers from Atlantic Road Construction & Paving Ltd. are trying to block public access to the Harbourview Trail, the cove, and parcels of provincially and municipally-owned land. The company has no approvals, no legal easements, and no right to block this trail. This action is illegal, and the community will not stand for this kind of bullying.

The proposed infilling project would seriously impact the work of the neighbouring Centre for Ocean Ventures and Entrepreneurship (COVE) and force the eviction of the Maritime Search and Rescue operations which lease docks in the area. As well, it would be a clear violation of community trust. This project is strongly opposed by the community, the local councillor, the Member of Parliament, and myself.

Premier Houston and his government must immediately restore access to provincial land, and finally take action on protecting Dartmouth Cove and waterways and coastlines across this province.”

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