On November 1, 2018, a year after Atlantic Gold produced its first gold bar at its Touquoy open pit mine in Moose River, 11 provincial public servants gathered for a two-hour meeting with four high-level representatives of the gold mining company. Two were with Nova Scotia Environment, six with Lands and Forestry, and three with […]
Even when things are going well, the “nice” Canadian society is a myth
Morning File, Wednesday, February 16, 2022
News 1. Mass murder inquiry This item is written by Tim Bousquet. Yesterday, the families of the victims of the mass murders of April 18/19, 2020 issued a statement through their lawyers, objecting to how the Mass Casualty Commission is proceeding next week. You can read the statement here. The families make an important point: […]
The Examiner quizzed the four main political parties on gold mining issues. Here are their responses.
Nova Scotia is experiencing a 21st century gold rush. Unlike the three previous gold rushes in the province in the 1800s and 1900s, this one involves a whole new kind of destructive extractive industry — open pit gold mines so massive they can be seen from outer space. These mines leave behind mountains of toxic […]
Who benefits from Atlantic Gold’s Nova Scotia operations?
Firm with gold mines on the Eastern Shore pays no taxes and low wages to its employees while it gets large government subsidies and maximizes profits. Oh, and it will leave toxic mine tailings that will be with us forever.
In mid-May, Laird Brownlie, head of external affairs for Australia’s St Barbara Ltd that acquired Atlantic Gold and its mining operations in Nova Scotia in 2019 for $722 million, sent out an email — a “special bulletin” — about the company’s proposed modifications at its Touquoy open pit gold mine in Moose River. Brownlie’s message […]
Hardening the shoreline
Morning File, Thursday, September 10, 2020
News 1. Mark Furey’s potential conflict of interest in the mass murder inquiry Tim Bousquet reports on PC leader Tim Houston’s affidavit, filed with the Conflicts Commissioner of Nova Scotia, arguing that justice minister Mark Furey is in a conflict of interest over the public inquiry into the mass murders of April 18-19. The conflict […]
Halifax council aims for below-inflation tax increase
It’s early in the budget season, but Halifax regional councillors are hoping to keep next year’s tax increase well below inflation. Council’s budget committee met Tuesday to work toward creating the municipality’s billion-dollar 2020-2021 budget, and unanimously passed a motion to limit property tax increases for the year ahead to 1.5% on the average bill...
Happy Hermits in Caves Day: Morning File, Thursday, December 15, 2016
News 1. Weather There’s going to be weather today. This is a terrible time for people living on the streets. 2. NSGEU members reject offer Civil servants represented by the NSGEU voted 94 per cent to reject the provincial government’s contract offer. 3. Teachers back at table At 2:21pm yesterday, the province sent out a press release […]