New minister says Frederick Street top
priority
By Sharon Montgomery, Cape Breton Post, December 14, 1998
The new Nova Scotia Environment Minister said he will be
treating the Frederick Street situation as a top priority in
the new year.
"I will be contacting residents there to hear their concerns
and will be looking into the situation to see what I can do,"
said Michel Samson of Petit de Grat.
"This is a big concern which shouldn't be taken lightly. This
will be a high priority on my list."
Samson said he has driven past the coke ovens site and
attended a caucus meeting at the University College of
Cape Breton (UCCB) during the summer where JAG gave
a presentation on the problem.
He plans to visit the site.
Samson said it is too difficult this time of the year to try and
arrange meetings. He planned to head to Halifax Sunday
evening.
"I don't even know where my office is yet. I have to get up
there (Halifax) and get organized first."
Nova Scotia Premier Russell MacLellan shuffled his
cabinet and made some new additions Friday.
Newcomer Michel Samson was given the responsibility of
the department of environment.
Former environment minister Don Downe retains
additional departments of finance and aboriginal affairs.
Frederick Street has gained national attention for its
contamination and proximity to what some consider North
America's worst toxic waste dump.
Minister to visit Frederick Street early in '99
Halifax Chronicle Herald, December 14, 1998
Nova Scotia's new environment minister says he will visit residents of an area in
Sydney some say is contaminated.
Michel Samson said he wants to personally inspect the neighbourhood on
Frederick Street early in the new year.
Residents have been asking the province to move them from the neighbourhood,
near the Sydney tar ponds and former Sydney Steel coke-oven site that contain
toxic waste produced over a century of steelmaking.
The residents say the toxic waste is making them sick.
Tests conducted after a yellow substance was found oozing from the ground in
May determined arsenic levels in the area to be 18 times higher than acceptable
standards.
Samson, the MLA for Richmond, was appointed the province's new environment
minister in Friday's cabinet shuffle.
~ The Canadian Press
New Environment Minister makes Surprise visit to Frederick Street
