Brison supports CBU toxic cleanup research project: May 22, 2006

Brison supports CBU toxic cleanup research project

Liberal leadership hopeful in town for meet-and-greet

BY LAURA JEAN GRANT
Cape Breton Post
Mon., May 22, 2006

NORTH SYDNEY Scott Brison supports establishing a centre of excellence at Cape Breton University that would develop leading-edge toxic site cleanup and remediation technologies.

The Nova Scotia MP and federal Liberal leadership contender made the commitment Saturday while in Cape Breton for a meet-and-greet with party faithful at the Northern Yacht Club.

Brison said the idea of a centre of excellence was brought forward to him by CBU president John Harker. "It's (an idea) that I really believe has great potential and one that I would support as (Liberal) leader and prime minister," he said.

Brison said support building for bid

Brison said that the Sydney tar ponds project must be approached as an opportunity and the establishment of a centre at CBU would be a significant step in that direction. "We can take what has been a challenge and turn it into a long-term opportunity," he said. "We can develop the types of technologies here that can make a difference and help clean up sites around the world and we can export those technologies to create jobs and to build prosperity for the people of Cape Breton."

Brison also cited wind energy as a potential economic driver for rural regions of the country but added there is no magic solution to issues facing rural Canada and government needs to make a long-term commitment to the problem. In fact, Brison said he and Sydney-Victoria MP Mark Eyking, who supports Brison in his bid for the leadership and accompanied him on his visit to the island, are currently working together to develop rural policies for the whole country

While in the area, Brison, Eyking and several local MLAs also took some time to meet with area residents opposed to a proposed strip mining project on Boularderie Island. "You can balance economic opportunity and be environmentally responsible at the same time, and we have to make sure projects do that and that we don't create environmental damage that actually outweighs economic gain," said Brison. "We have to be very careful, particularly in places as beautiful as Cape Breton."

As for his campaign for the Liberal leadership, Brison said his base of support is building across the country. "There's a desire for a new generation of leadership and a new generation of ideas and I think we can fulfill both arid make a real difference in building an even more socially progressive and economically innovative Liberal party," he said.

The new leader of the Liberal party will be chosen in December in Montreal.

ljgrant@cbpost.com

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Liberal leadership hopeful Scott Brison addresses a question from the audience during a meet-and-greet at the Northern Yaqht Club in North Sydney, Saturday.