Latest news with #PictouCounty
CBC
5 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Pictou County council votes to ask province to pause uranium plans
The issue of uranium exploration landed in the laps of the Municipality of Pictou County council on Monday night. Members were faced with two motions suggested by a member of the public related to the province's recent push for uranium exploration. One motion called for council to request that the provincial government pause before granting any leases for uranium exploration, in order to give council and residents time to learn more about the potential impacts. The other was for council to begin a process to protect the River John watershed and to ask the province not to permit any activities that would not be allowed in a protected water area. Both motions passed, the first by a vote of 11-1 and the second by a 7-5 vote. River John resident Barbara Harris brought the motions to council. "Watersheds are not being protected adequately," she told councillors. "What does this mean for rural communities all across the province if we don't protect our water? "And how does that impact all sorts of things — how does it impact agriculture, fishing, commercial fisheries, property values, all sorts of things? There's a lot we need to learn, and the next few weeks is not enough." In a letter Harris wrote to council, she outlines concerns that uranium exploration can release radioactive matter that can harm the environment, including drinking water and living organisms. Push for development The Nova Scotia government has been prioritizing the development of natural resources in recent months, overturning a long-standing ban on uranium exploration and mining, lifting a moratorium on fracking and adding to its critical minerals list. Last month, the province issued a request for proposals from companies interested in exploring for uranium in three designated areas of Nova Scotia — Louisville in Pictou County, East Dalhousie in Annapolis County and the Vaughan area in Hants County. Many municipal politicians and property owners were surprised to learn that their areas were chosen. A letter from the Natural Resources Department to the warden of the Municipality of Pictou County dated May 27 characterizes the potential for exploration in Louisville as "likely to take place." 'It doesn't hurt to ask' At the meeting on Monday night, Pictou County councillors voted on the motions as an emergency resolution, since the council's following meeting isn't scheduled to take place until July 7, which is the date the province expects to announce successful exploration bids. "There's not the time to fool around with this. This has got to be stopped," said Coun. Chester Dewar. In an interview with CBC News on Tuesday, Coun. Ronald Baillie, who represents the Louisville area, said although he supported both motions, he's not confident they will actually slow the province down in its push for exploration. "I think they have made a decision that they're going to move ahead with it regardless of what. But anyway, it doesn't hurt to ask," Baillie said. Coun. Andy Thompson voted against both motions, noting that he didn't feel he had enough information. "I think we need to hear both sides of the story. I don't think one side of the story is how you make decisions, so I can't support this motion," Thompson said. Watershed protection is not without precedence in Nova Scotia. In 2022, the province approved a request from the Municipality of the County of Colchester to designate the French River watershed as a protected water area after the community and council raised concerns about mining exploration. The designation means the municipality can ban activities that could affect water quality, such as new garbage dumps or mines. Next steps Harris said in an interview with CBC on Tuesday that she is pleased with council's support. "The ban that we've had for 44 years was arrived at through a very broad and painstaking public consultation and evaluation of the risks, and the ban was repealed without either of those things," she said. "To me, a pause is the only responsible next step for the government to take, and having the backing of our council for that is really helpful." Community members have planned a public meeting on Thursday night at 7 p.m. at the fire hall in River John. The province has set a June 11 deadline for companies to submit exploration proposals. The government will evaluate the bids, and if there is a successful applicant, that will be announced on July 7. Exploration licences could be issued as soon as July 11.
CBC
a day ago
- General
- CBC
Exhaustion sets in as search for N.S. kids hits one-month mark
A month into the search for two missing Pictou County children, searchers are beginning to wear out mentally and physically. Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing from their rural Lansdowne Station, N.S., home on May 2. About 80 searchers were out again on Sunday. They focused on a pipeline trail where a boot print was found during an earlier search. Amy Hansen of Colchester Ground Search and Rescue, who is this weekend's search co-ordinator, said there were no new finds over the weekend. It's never been established that the boot print is related to the missing kids, but Hansen said earlier this weekend it was all the searchers had to go on. She said morale was fairly good among those who turned out this weekend, but she conceded it has been hard on others. There have been two weekends of searching on top of the initial six-day search. "There are people that made the decision not to return to the search site this weekend because of either physical exhaustion or burnout or mental exhaustion," Hansen said, noting the challenging terrain where searchers have worked. She said that some people felt that they could not handle being in the situation again for another weekend. Hansen expected the search to be suspended on Sunday evening, barring new information. Still no sign of Lilly and Jack Sullivan after 4 weeks 3 days ago Duration 2:21 The sister and brother were reported missing from their home in Pictou County on May 2. Haley Ryan has the story. Hansen said the decision to resume the search would depend on the RCMP and their investigation. The benefit of sending searchers back out again would also need to be taken into account. "It's getting to the point where maybe they need a little bit of time to recover and deal with the stress and issues like that, and spend time with their own families that they're leaving behind to be out here," she said. Sunday's search also involved teams from Pictou, East Hants, Strait, Sheet Harbour, Eastern Shore, Halifax and Pugwash. RCMP said they have received more than 355 tips and have formally interviewed more than 50 people, with more interviews planned. The Mounties have said all missing persons cases "are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise." Members of the community have been showing their support for Lilly and Jack by placing flowers and stuffed animals on a post outside of the RCMP detachment in Stellarton.
CBC
2 days ago
- General
- CBC
Exhaustion sets in as search for N.S. kids approaches 1 month
Almost a month into the search for two missing Pictou County children, searchers are beginning to wear out mentally and physically. Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4, were reported missing from their rural Lansdowne Station, N.S., home on May 2. About 80 searchers were out again on Sunday. They focused on a pipeline trail where a boot print was found during an earlier search. Amy Hansen of Colchester Ground Search and Rescue, who is this weekend's search co-ordinator, said there were no new finds over the weekend. It's never been established that the boot print is related to the missing kids, but Hansen said earlier this weekend it was all the searchers had to go on. She said morale was fairly good among those who turned out this weekend, but she conceded it has been hard on others. There have been two weekends of searching on top of the initial search. "There are people that made the decision not to return to the search site this weekend because of either physical exhaustion or burnout or mental exhaustion," Hansen said, noting the challenging terrain where searchers have worked. She said that some people felt that they could not handle being in the situation again for another weekend. Hansen expected the search to be suspended on Sunday evening, barring new information. Hansen said the decision to resume the search would depend on the RCMP and their investigation. The benefit of sending searchers back out again would also need to be taken into account. "It's getting to the point where maybe they need a little bit of time to recover and deal with the stress and issues like that, and spend time with their own families that they're leaving behind to be out here," she said. Sunday's search also involved teams from Pictou, East Hants, Strait, Sheet Harbour, Eastern Shore, Halifax and Pugwash. RCMP said they have received more than 355 tips and have formally interviewed more than 50 people, with more interviews planned. The Mounties have said all missing persons cases "are treated as suspicious until our investigation leads us to determine otherwise." Members of the community have been showing their support for Lilly and Jack by placing flowers and stuffed animals on a post outside of the RCMP detachment in Stellarton.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
With few leads, search for missing N.S. kids focuses on area where boot print found
Social Sharing Searchers looking for two missing kids in Pictou County on Saturday scoured the area where a boot print was found in a previous search. But searchers concede they have little to go on and have no way of knowing if the boot print is even related to Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4. They were reported missing May 2. "We don't know for sure it was from the children, but it's the only real thing we've had to go on thus far," said Amy Hansen of Colchester Ground Search and Rescue, who is managing the search this weekend. Approximately 75 volunteers resumed the search on Saturday. Lilly and Jack Sullivan went missing from their home in Lansdowne Station, N.S., just over four weeks ago. The rural area is about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax. Hansen said there has been no new evidence since the search was suspended two weeks ago on May 17, but crews have returned this weekend to cover particular areas of interest. She said the search is focused on Landsdowne Lake and a nearby pipeline trail, where the boot print was located. Hansen said the woods are full of brush and debris that have made it difficult for the searchers. Thus far, crews have done a grid search of about six square kilometres. Hansen expects them to search an additional one or two square kilometres this weekend. Three drones are helping with the search, but poor weather conditions mean that helicopters haven't been able to assist. In addition to the Colchester team, ground search and rescue teams from Pictou, Strait, East Hants, Springhill, Pugwash and Halifax are also helping out today. "We're actually starting to see people that just physically and emotionally can't return to the search at this point," said Hansen. "It's very taxing on the members." On Friday, Daniel Martell, the children's stepfather, told CBC News the last month has been painful for his family. "Every day when I wake up, it feels like I'm reliving a nightmare," he said. "The main feelings of sadness just turn to anger because there's no evidence after one month." The search for the children will continue until Sunday evening, barring any developments, said Hansen.
CBC
3 days ago
- General
- CBC
With few leads, search for missing Pictou County kids focuses on area where boot print found
Social Sharing Searchers looking for two missing kids in Pictou County on Saturday scoured the area where a boot print was found in a previous search. But searchers concede they have little to go on and have no way of knowing if the boot print is even related to Lilly Sullivan, 6, and Jack Sullivan, 4. They were reported missing May 2. "We don't know for sure it was from the children, but it's the only real thing we've had to go on thus far," said Amy Hansen of Colchester Ground Search and Rescue, who is managing the search this weekend. Approximately 75 volunteers resumed the search on Saturday. Lilly and Jack Sullivan went missing from their home in Lansdowne Station, N.S., just over four weeks ago. The rural area is about 140 kilometres northeast of Halifax. Hansen said there has been no new evidence since the search was suspended two weeks ago on May 17, but crews have returned this weekend to cover particular areas of interest. She said the search is focused on Landsdowne Lake and a nearby pipeline trail, where the boot print was located. Hansen said the woods are full of brush and debris that have made it difficult for the searchers. Thus far, crews have done a grid search of about six square kilometres. Hansen expects them to search an additional one or two square kilometres this weekend. Three drones are helping with the search, but poor weather conditions mean that helicopters haven't been able to assist. In addition to the Colchester team, ground search and rescue teams from Pictou, Strait, East Hants, Springhill, Pugwash and Halifax are also helping out today. "We're actually starting to see people that just physically and emotionally can't return to the search at this point," said Hansen. "It's very taxing on the members." On Friday, Daniel Martell, the children's stepfather, told CBC News the last month has been painful for his family. "Every day when I wake up, it feels like I'm reliving a nightmare," he said. "The main feelings of sadness just turn to anger because there's no evidence after one month." The search for the children will continue until Sunday evening, barring any developments, said Hansen.
