PUBLICATIONCape Breton Post
DATE Tue 29 Jun 1999
EDITION FINAL
SECTION/CATEGORY Cape Breton
PAGE NUMBER3
BYLINESteve MacInnis
STORY LENGTH 613
HEADLINE:
JAG chair defends position, process: Fraser admits public
may be frustrated, but calls for patience
The newly elected chairperson of the Joint Action Group (JAG)
spent his first day on the job Monday familiarizing himself with
the process and trying to manage a controversy over his election.
Dan Fraser defeated two other candidates Saturday to take over the
reins of the JAG group which is mandated to develop a remediation
plan to clean up what many consider Canada's worst toxic waste
dump - the .
The JAG group has been the target of harsh criticism since it was
formed in August, 1996, and Fraser's weekend election added more
fuel to that fire.
JAG member Mark Ferris, who has been with the group since its
inception, claims Fraser's election was fixed by the federal and
provincial governments who along with the municipal government are
the funding partners in the process.
``The federal and provincial governments are in cahoots over
this,'' said Ferris, during an interview Monday.
He further suggested the media, including the Cape Breton Post,
also played a part to ensuring Fraser was elected.
``This is absolutely news to me. I hardly know who the federal and
provincial members are,'' said Fraser, adding he doesn't
understand why Ferris would even make such a remark.
Ferris said he has to question why Fraser was featured in a
profile published in a JAG newsletter which was not approved by
the public relations committee.
``There were absolutely no back room talks about my nomination,''
said Fraser, adding he was asked by a nomination committee member
whether he planned to run and responded he was.
Ferris said he has no plans to quit the JAG process and will
continue to raise objections.
Fraser, 57, comes to the JAG group after a 35-year career in the
Canadian military, retiring two years ago as a lieutenant-colonel.
His speciality is personnel administration.
Both he and his wife, Arlene, are from Cape Breton and along with
their two daughters lived in Sydney for four years during the
1970s when Fraser was posted to the former radar base.
He became involved in the JAG process 18 months ago and has served
on several committees including steering and human resources.
His one-year term is strictly voluntary although the governance
committee is reviewing the possibility of implementing some sort
of honourarium.
He replaces former chairperson Dr. Carl (Bucky) Buchanan who has
led the process since the beginning.
Fraser admits the public may be frustrated with the process but
hopes the community will continue to be patient.
He points to the former coke ovens site as one area where the
process is working given that over the past two years a number of
structures have finally been demolished and more work is planned
for this summer.
``We have turned the corner in a lot of ways,'' he said, adding he
welcomes all other groups with ideas for a cleanup to come to the
table for a discussion.
``We are so fortunate now to have volunteers who have such a
tremendous background and we have the expertise to clean up this
problem.''
The watershed area includes the famed tar ponds which contain
700,000 tonnes of highly toxic sludge laced with PCBs and PAHs.
Much of the contamination stems from nearly a century of steel
making and unregulated dumping of waste products.
Fraser is also committed to maintaining the JAG mantra of being an
open and transparent process.
``I promise to keep everyone informed and promise that every
person who comes to the table will have the opportunity to express
themselves.''
JAG was recently awarded $62 million in government funding to
continue with the next phases of the remediation development. The
group is also still searching for a program co-ordinator.
PUBLICATIONCape Breton Post
DATE Tue 29 Jun 1999
EDITION FINAL
SECTION/CATEGORY Cape Breton
PAGE NUMBER3
BYLINEKen MacLeod
STORY LENGTH 578
HEADLINE:
Tent city is home away from home for protesters
Ada Hearn realized her protest group was making headway when she
heard people honking their car horns as they drove past her
Whitney Pier home Monday morning.
She doesn't spend much time at home these days, usually stopping
in only to shower or take care of necessary household chores.
Anyone looking for Hearn can usually find her in the little tent
village across the street from Premier Russell MacLellan's Sydney
home, where 11 tents of various sizes now occupy the green space
that was once the site of the old City Hospital.
Sleeping overnight on the site are 20 to 30 protesters supporting
a Whitney Pier woman's bid to win a government buyout offer for
her home.
Ann Ross and her 13-year-old daughter, Lindsay, were among 10
families from the Whitney Pier area who were moved to a Sydney
hotel after traces of arsenic were found in basements of homes
near the former coke ovens plant site.
In early June, Ross was notified she would have to move back to
her home, but was also informed she was not being considered for
the voluntary buyout offer presented to 24 families living on
Frederick Street and Curry's Lane.
Despite the serious nature of the protest, the families are doing
their best to bring a holiday atmosphere to their vigil.
``Our kids never say they're bored,'' says Hearn. ``My children
(daughter Quinn, 6, and son Cale, 14) have all made new friends
here.''
About a dozen children are staying in the tent city and there
appears to be no shortage of activities to keep them busy. A
wading pool, donated by a local business, is a popular spot when
the temperatures rise and one of the tents has been set aside for
children's toys and games.
The kids have even adapted to life without television, says Hearn,
noting that everyone ``talks a lot - and no child is left
unheard.''
Support for the tent city is as close as neighbouring homeowners
offering the use of their washroom facilities and as widespread as
people from New Waterford, North Sydney and Glace Bay dropping in
to spend some time with the protesters.
According to Hearn, public support for the protest has always been
strong. While she was being interviewed for this story, a lemon
meringue pie was dropped off, cars constantly honked their horns
as they drove past and her cell phone rang several times with
calls of support.
One of these calls of support was from famed Canadian
environmental activist, Dr. David Suzuki.
``He just wanted to ask how everything was and that we should keep
up the struggle,'' said Hearn, obviously pleased that such a
well-known public figure would offer his support.
``It was a very encouraging call; it certainly helps us keep
going.''
Support has been constant and ongoing on all fronts, she added.
``A couple from the Pier brought us a first aid kit, a water
cooler and a tent,'' she added, ``and a lot of businesses bring us
food and water.
``As well, I've gotten calls from people in Ontario about this
situation and my answering machine is always full. We've had very
little in the way of negative comments from anyone.''
Hearn was quick to deny that the protest was a politically
orchestrated campaign against the ruling Liberal party.
``This is a health issue that affects us all,'' she said. ``We're
here for the health of everyone in Cape Breton, not just the
Whitney Pier area.''
