In the News
Cape Breton
Environmental Issues

See pictures of the original Love Canal in New York, 1978, and
Canada's Love Canal - Frederick Street, Nova Scotia, 1998
See the similarities 20 years later

August, 1999

• August 24, 1999
  - Message sent from tar ponds; Two people collapse as sludge is removed from toxic site
  

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July, 1999

• July 23, 1999
  - Creek scares Sydney residents Orange stream runs from dump, coke ovens site, past homes
  

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• July 20, 1999
  - Firms will pay $7.1 million for Love Canal cleanup
  

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• July 16, 1999
  - Protesters take down tents
  

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• July 15, 1999
  - Ann Ross was left out of the "compassion" loop by government -- She wants RELOCATION from her toxic home
  

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• July 12, 1999
  - Whitney Pier residents protest at MLA's office; MacEwan pleads for calm
  

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• July 10, 1999
  - JAG tries to suspend member for cursing
  

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• July 9, 1999
  - Company wins tender to define red zone around Sydney's toxic waste sites
  

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June, 1999

• June 30, 1999
  - Tar ponds issue not just a Pier problem, meeting told
  

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• June 29, 1999
  - Tent city is home away from home for protesters
  - JAG chair defends position, process: Fraser admits public may be frustrated, but calls for patience
  

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• June 28, 1999
  - Tent protesters vow: 'we are not leaving'
  

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• June 27, 1999
  - New JAG boss off to rocky beginning
  

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• June 26, 1999
  - MacLellan blames NDP for protest near home
  - Letter to Editor
  Community at Large takes Charge
  

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• June 25, 1999 EDITORIAL - JAG told again to move along
  *****The issue: Another consortium is introduced.
  *****We suggest: Pace is the problem.
  

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• June 23, 1999
  - Consortium has tar ponds plan: International group says it is doing similar remediation around the world
  - Tent village comes down but not protest campaign
  

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• June 22, 1999
  - Protesters pitch tents across from Premier's (of Nova Scotia) home.
  

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• June 21, 1999
  - Tent pitched in protest - Whitney Pier woman camps near premier's home to make point
  

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• June 19, 1999
  - Premier Russell MacLellan may have a new neighbour today.
  

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• June 16, 1999
  - Laurier Street (Whitney Pier) family intends to stay in Sydney hotel
  

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• Rio Report Card 1998/1999
  

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• June 15, 1999
  - Residents told to return home
  - Letter to Editor: Tar ponds news sounds political
  

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• June 11, 1999
  - Latest cleanup funding will move work ahead - Sen. Al Graham
  

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• June 10 , 1999
  - The plight of Frederick Street residents will be depicted in a book to be published in 2000
  

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• June 7 , 1999
  - Pier residents told to keep making noise: Environmentalist stresses importance of media in battle for relocation
  

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• June 5 , 1999
  - Sierra Club Executive Director to attend Pier meeting Sunday
  

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• June 4 , 1999
  - Environment jobs top priority
  - Extensive soil and water testing program neart
  

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• June 3 , 1999
  - Pier residents want written guarantees on safety of neighborhood from government
  

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• June 2 , 1999
  - Awareness plays big part in protecting the environment
  

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• June 1 , 1999
  - No more buyouts - Premier
  

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May, 1999

• May 31 , 1999
  - Move more tar ponds neighbors - Sierra Club
  - Irate Pier residents to picket
  

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• May 30 , 1999
  - Frederick Street wants answers
  "We don't want to be here if it's toxic"
  

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• May 29 , 1999
  - Frederick Street residents will be bought out
  

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• May 28 , 1999
  - JAG's effort at spin control
  - JAG to get estimated $60 million for cosmetic cleanup
  

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• May 27 , 1999
  - Community Alliance sends letter to Chair of Parliamentary Standing Committee
  
  
• May 27 , 1999
  - Birth defects higher in Sydney
  

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• May 26 , 1999
  - Public forum to discuss coke ovens
  - Frederick Street residents alarmed about fire at abandoned house
  

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• May 25 , 1999
  - Toxin fears spur meeting in Sydney
  

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• Letter to the Editor - May 24, 1999
  - Alliance seeks to ignite cleanup
  
  
• May 24 , 1999
  - More coke ovens neighbours to meet
  

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• May 22 , 1999
  - Premier should make tough decisions
  

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• May 20 , 1999
  - Community Alliance formed to get answers from Government Partners
  
  
• May 20 , 1999
  - Residents may be moved to provincial housing
  

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• May 19 , 1999
  - Evacuations compound fears -- other residents want out
  

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• May 18 , 1999
  - Residents may be moved to provincial housing
  

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• May 15 , 1999
  - More families moved from Pier homes
  

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• May 14 , 1999
  - Families forced from homes
  - Similarities between Love Canal, Frederick Street noted.
  

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• May 13 , 1999
  - Juanita McKenzie writes letter
  - Province 'hiding' goo test results - Halifax Herald
  - Province has Frederick Street test results
  

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• May 12 , 1999 - BOSTON GLOBE
  - Hoping blight makes might
  Cape Breton town seeks role as toxic waste learning site
  

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• May 11 , 1999
  - Cabinet minister responds with everything but action
  
  
• Letter to Editor - May 11 , 1999
  - JAG process remains mired in controversy
  

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• May 9 , 1999
  - The precautionary principle -- by Juanita McKenzie of Frederick Street
  

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• May 8 , 1999
  - Reflections of an activist: Bradford Duplisea
  
  
• May 8 , 1999
  - More bad news for Frederick Street
  - Sydney ooze arsenic laden
  - Letter from Roger Dixon
  

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• May 7 , 1999
  - Pier residents expecting gooey test results today
  - Ignoring emissions 'murder' -- Government knew Sydney lifestyle wasn't to blame - former worker
  

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• May 6 , 1999
  - Feds agree to fund tar ponds cleanup
  

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• May 5 , 1999
  - Information meeting attracts a few non-Pier residents
  
  
• May 5 , 1999
  - Bradford Duplisea writes letter to several editors
  

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• May 4 , 1999
  - Dr. Rosalie Bertell tells it like it is
  - Frederick Street results expected next week
  

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• May 2, 1999
  - Another basement in Whitney Pier has ooze
  - Protest in Halifax for the evacuation of Frederick Street
  

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• May 1, 1999
  - JAG will be involved in Frederick Street decision: Samson
  - Evacuation of Frederick Street not in works
  

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April, 1999

• April 30, 1999
  - OOZE now in basements of Frederick Street residents
  - 10 members leave JAG
  
  
• April 30, 1999
  - JAG undermines legitimacy
  
  
  

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• April 29, 1999
  - JAG kicks out members tied to incineration plan
  

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• April 28, 1999
  - Lawyer meets with Pier residents
  - MPs to tour tar ponds
  

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• April 24, 1999
  - Muggah Creek neighbors consider class action suit
  

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• April 23, 1999
  - Toxic ooze resurfaces near Sydney coke ovens
  

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• April 22, 1999
  - Panel can't link environment, high C.B. cancer rates
  - Diseases hit County hard
  
  
• Letter to Editor - April 22, 1999
  - Environmental campaign draws criticism
  

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• Letter to Editor - April 20, 1999
  - Sobeys expansion should be stopped - ecological, legal, financial concerns
  

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• Letter to Editor - April 17, 1999
  - Municipal trash incinerator wrong method of disposal; should be shut down
  

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• Letter to Editor - April 13, 1999
  - Concern for Community predates personal battle to escape toxic hazards
  

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• Letter to Editor - April 12, 1999
  - History of cleanup much revised in JAG membership controversy
  

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• April 8, 1999
  - JAG process beyond salvage
  

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• April 5, 1999
  - Change JAG to GAG if members excluded because of employer
  - It's the same for Kellogg's
  

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• April 3, 1999
  - Sydney group urges more to join lawsuit
  Only 3 families suing government over tar ponds
  

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March 1999

• March 31, 1999
  - Sobeys confident they have answer to environmental concerns
  - No shellfish to be taken from harbour
  

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• Letter to Editor - March 29, 1999
  - Shirley Christmas resigns from JAG because of discrimination
  

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• March 27, 1999
  - Sobeys will continue to build store
  

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• Letter to Editor - March 26, 1999
  - JAG should put stop to witch hunt - Activist resigns because of discrimination
  

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• March 25, 1999
  - JAG postpones discussion on Ethics Committee's SERL ruling
  - JAG calls for halt to Sobey's store project
  

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• March 12, 1999
  - SERL employees & their families barred from JAG process
  
  
• March 12, 1999 - Letter to Editor:
  - Residents have a right to lash out
  

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• March 11, 1999
  - Sobey's has a plan - a real doozie!

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• March 10, 1999
  - Public Screening of TOXIC PARTNERS, by Neal Livingston of Black River Productions in Mabou
  
  NEW ARRIVAL - Published March 5, 1999
  - Out of Site, Out of Mind, Out of Time
  Byline by: Paul Schneiderheit, Halifax Herald

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• March 9, 1999
  - Opposition to JAG tar ponds video discouraging
  - Construction near tar ponds raises questions
  - Pollution silence proved deadly
  

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• March 8, 1999
  - INCINERATOR NOT WORKING, Environmentalist says
  
  
• March 8, 1999
  - Letters to Editor
  * Problem's not video
  * Active participation in JAG cleanup work one part of business effort in community
  

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• March 7, 1999
  - Letter from Roger Dixon re: SOBEY's extension
  

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• March 6, 1999
  - BUILDING SITE CONTAMINATED
  - Sobey's extension being built on TOXIC SOIL
  - JAG tar ponds video wins national praise
  

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• March 5, 1999
  - Report flawed on asbestos - worker
  

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• March 4, 1999
  - Firm had no work site plan
  - Report satisfies Labour Minister
  

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• March 3, 1999
  - New burner to be operational by month's end
  - Blue-bag program set for C.B. municipality
  

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• March 2, 1999
  - Waste strategy gets go-ahead
  
  
• March 2, 1999 - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
  - JAG should stop advertising and get something done
  - Environmental cleanup may need the world’s help
  
  
• March 2, 1999
  - Sierra Club of Canada - APPOINTMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
  

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• March 1, 1999
  - Documentary details communities' toxic woes
  - Our VIEW: Balanced story now available
  

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February, 1999

• February 27, 1999
  - Board of trade opposes Website video on toxic waste, POST
  - Sierra Club calls for review of health assessment
  - Committee prioritizes wastewater issues
  
  
• February 27, 1999
  - Put public health ahead of wallets
  - Letter FROM the Editor
  Sydney's environmental blight getting wide play
  

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• February 26, 1999
  - Board of trade opposes Website video on toxic waste, POST
  - Site assessement report identifies various problems, POST
  - Group worries video hurts Sydney's image, HERALD
  - JAG Deadline not a sure thing
  

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• February 25, 1999
  - JAG roundtable sets date to implement separation zones
  - Move residents by June 1: JAG
  

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• - Revealing photographs taken at Regional Incinerator of
  " burned " medical waste
  

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• February 24, 1999
  - Edgar prepares removal strategh
  - Sierra Club of Canada issues press release
  

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• February 19, 1999
  - Second primary burner to be installed at regional incinerator
  - Municipality seeks funds for sewer
  
  
• February 19, 1999
  - JAG co-ordinator to leave group
  

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• REVIEW OF THE HUMAN HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT OF THE FREDERICK STREET AREA
  Final Report by Roger Dixon & Dr. Rosalie Bertell
  

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• February 18, 1999
  - Sobeys expands on toxic waste
  - JAG meets with Pier residents
  

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• February 17, 1999 - Press release from Sierra Club of Canada
  - Nightmare on Frederick Street Continues...
  
  
• February 17, 1999 - No word on possible soil contamination
  

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• February 16, 1999 - Sewer collector altered for treatment facility
  

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• February 13, 1999 - New Environmental Group Formed

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A Toxic Exchange	CANTOX report reviewed by Experts	JAG Joint Action Group
Letters to Editor	FRANK about Sydney	Photos of Bio-medical waste
The Monster Among Us	CCHW Citizen's Clearinghouse	Chief Seattle's Speech
Close-ups of Watershed	In the NEWS	Natives vow to protect Mother Earth

Nightmare on Frederick Street

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