Thousands protest incinerator plan

CBC NB
Oct. 6, 2003

Web Posted

BELLEDUNE — About 2,000 opponents of a toxic soil incinerator protested at a rally in Belledune on Sunday, demanding the government halt construction of the project.

Workers began building the plant two weeks ago. It's owned by Bennett Environmental, a company that operates a similar incinerator in rural Quebec. When completed, the plant will burn thousands of tonnes of contaminated soil every year. Plant engineers insist the technology is safe, and the provincial government agrees.

But people who live near the proposed plant are concerned the incinerator will increase air and water pollution in their community.

Listigouche elder Don Kaplin brought his concerns to the doorstep of the construction site. With a portion of his face painted red with a white stripe, he laid several piles of tobacco on the ground.

Security guards watch him carefully, as he's just a few metres from the entrance to the Bennett incinerator construction site. "This ceremony was for this project to fail," Kaplin says.

The project, if it goes ahead, means 100, 000 tonnes of toxic soil will be shipped to Belledune each year.

Village resident Junia Culligan hopes Sunday's protest will convince politicians to send the contaminated soil elsewhere. "We the people elected the government but we the people should have a say in what comes to our region and the province."

Protestors hope to gather 15, 000 signatures on a petition. They want construction stopped until an environmental impact assessment is complete and the government holds public hearings on the project.

Opponents say they'll continue lobbying until October 21, that's the deadline they've set for a government response.