The Ecology Action Centre is disappointed with Environment and Climate Change Minister, Keith Irving's decision to approve the environmental assessment for a new road that will realign Marine Drive (Hwy 316) around the proposed Goldboro LNG liquefied natural gas plant, providing Pieridae Energy Ltd. with unobstructed access to planned natural gas infrastructure. 

Along with other local environmental groups, Indigenous groups and students, EAC submitted a detailed assessment in consortium with The New Brunswick Anti-Shale Gas Alliance and Sierra Club Canada Foundation of the Pieridae’s complete failure to address the safety and environmental contamination concerns posed by abandoned gold mine shafts and toxic tailing wastes within the path of the highway construction, as well as additional concerns on biodiversity loss. This despite the fact that the highway realignment issue had been substantively raised in two previous environmental assessments for the proposed Goldboro LNG plant project itself. 

We also remind Minister Irving that the road realignment is a key component of the larger project, for which there appears to be no accepted greenhouse gas emission management plan. If built, the Goldboro LNG project will set greenhouse gas emission achievements in Nova Scotia back by half a decade and deepen the effects of the climate crisis and biodiversity loss.