Whitney Pier woman camps near premier's home to make point
By Sharon Montgomery
While Nova Scotia Premier Russell MacLellan was winning the official nomination as Liberal candidate for Cape Breton North, Sunday, his neighbourhood in Sydney was growing>
Anne Ross of Whitney Pier pitched a tent in a field across from the premier's home on Hospital Street Saturday and vows to stay until someone listens to her.
Ross said she and daughter Lindsey, 13, were moved into the Delta Hotel 37 days ago after high levels of toxin and arsenic were found in her basement.
"She said any compassion the government had ran out Saturday.
"I was given my eviction notice. It is definetly criminal negligence to force me and my daughter back into our home. I'm not a radical or out just to cause trouble -- I just want someone to listen, as this is a toxic, a chemical, a poison and it kills."
Ross spoke to MacLellan Saturday night.
"Bottom line is he says there is nothing he can do for me at this time."
Ross said the substance found in her basement is the same as the rail bed seeping taken along Frederick Street, containing 49.9mg/kg levels of arsenic. She said her daughter has suffered from extreme health conditions -- including nosebleeds, headaches and leg cramps -- but since moving out of the house has improved drastically.
A voluntary buyout offer was presented to 24 families living on Frederick Street and Curry's Lane, which border the site of the former coke ovens -- together with the considered Canada's worst toxic waste dump. The area, heavily contaminated with a variety of hazardous chemicals after nearly a century of steel making is now the target of Canada's largest remediation project.
Ross, who lives on Laurier Street -- which is separated from Frederick Street by one street -- was not included in the buyout offer.
About 20 supporters and people affected spent the night in the field with Ross, including Elizabeth May, executive director of the Sierra Club, and Steve Downes and his wife Elizabeth Beaton.
Frederick Street resident Ada Hearnn -- who has also camped out -- said public support has been incredible, with cars honking horns and area residents offering the use of their facilities and food.
"One person even left us with a key to their house after they went out for the evening."
Hearn said they don't want to keep bothering local residents -- especially late at night -- and are hoping someone will donate a port-a-pottie.
Debbie Ouellette, also of Frederick Street, said the government is only giving them amounts in the $40,000 range for their homes, which is not enough.
"If one has a mortgage on their previous home they have to pay off the loan first, and repurchase another home with whatever is left."
She said a year ago all they asked for was a safe place for their children to live.
Premier Russell MacLellan said it is not his decision who can be moved, there is a certain criteria under the departments involved -- transportation and public works, environment, and health.
"They have a criteria -- and they have to. If not, they could lose total control."
MacLellan said he doesn't want to minimize the concerns of Ross or others, but from the information they have received, there are no health risks.
"There is nothing I can do other than check the information we were provided with again. I can't indicate there is a risk, if there isn't."
MacLellan said in the '80s the provincial government spent $52 million on the tar ponds and didn't get anywhere.
Three years ago the JAG was formed and with their help now things are moving ahead, he said.
MP Michelle Dockrill arrived Sunday to offer support to the campers.
"If it's okay for the premier to have Anne go back to her home, how about he swaps homes with her for a couple of weeks?"
Dockrill asks if the area where Ross and the others reside is not a health risk, why won't they give this to the residents in writing?
Samson clarifies position
By Sharon Montgomery, Cape Breton Post, June 21, 1999
The Nova Scotia Minister of Environment says misinformation in the public concerning the Frederick Street situation is resulting in undo anxiety for the residents.
Michel Samson said based on information he has been provided from the department of health, there are no health and safety concerns for residents of Frederick Street and surrounding areas.
"I am not a scientist, and rely on expert opinion. Unless this stuff is consumed, it will not cause health or safety concerns."
Samson said since becoming minister this has been his hardest file. He said he was warned a while back that actions such as relocating people would open floodgates.
"I said I was going to take action as it would go against everything I believed as a politician, minister of environment and a member of the Nova Scotia Barristers Society, if I didn't."
Samson said they decided to relocate the residents of Frederick Street not over health dangers, but rather so they could get in around these homes to begin phase two of the project, to determine where the substances are coming from, hwat is causing it and why it is being found in some of the homes.
The decision to relocate some residents temporarily -- such as Anne Ross -- was to give time for department officials to sit down with them, explain the issues and address their concerns, he said.
He said the substance found in Ross's house does not scientifically compare with that of the coke ovens site and it is unlikely it was coming from there.
"I made the decision for temporary relocation on the grounds of compassion, after anxieties heightened from misinformation over the level of danger to themselves and their families."
Ross was given advice including repairs which could be made to her home, he said.
"Taxpayers could no longer be responsible for paying her hotel."
Samson said people are basing concerns on guidelines under the Canadian Council of the Minister of Environment, which are fine for areas where there is no coal but inappropriate for this situation.
He said results they have received are consistent to there being coal contents in the ground. If testing of areas included in Pictou, Colchester or Cumberland counties were carried out, these levels would be found, he said.
"If we went in the valley in the farming community arsenic would be much higher than the homes tested.
Samson said he believes certain groups are getting involved in this situation for their own agenda, and in the process are heightening the fears of local residents.
"They know better and are using this situation for their own benefit which is unfortunate."
He said it is too bad residents are protesting by camping by the premier's home, treating him as the bad guy.
"The premier has given the full support of the government behind all this. He is not an enemy to these people."
