ACTION ALERT: Nova Scotia - enact uranium mining moratorium into legislation

April 7, 2008

On April 1st, Capella Resources of Vancouver (through their subsidiary Tripple Uranium Resources Inc.) announced that they have found more than 100 parts per million of uranium in their exploration site in Central Nova Scotia (west of Windsor Forks).

Nova Scotia is the only province in Canada that currently has a moratorium on uranium mining. This moratorium, however, was a general agreement made in 1982 and is not bound by provincial legislation. Although Premier Rodney MacDonald has stated removing the moratorium is not a priority, the NS government will certainly be pressured by business stakeholders (like Tripple Uranium) to abolish this moratorium in the interest of ‘greener energy’. The NS New Democratic Party, the official opposition in Nova Scotia, has introduced a Private Members Bill on extending this moratorium. The first reading of this PMB happened in the Legislature in December 2007.

Uranium exploration has also been happening in New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador (by companies including Tripple Uranium). Council of Canadians activists have been responding by holding and participating in public events in their communities to educate people about the dangers of uranium, both short-term and long-term, and to determine how to move forward with this growing opposition. Moncton’s event had close to 700 people in attendance, with over 100 people voicing their concerns to an expert panel (read more about it here. The Annapolis Valley (NS) chapter also recently co-hosted a public discussion that was excellent, and covered by the Halifax Chronicle Herald; read more about the event listing here. 

TAKE ACTION

Please let the government of Nova Scotia know how important it is to maintain this moratorium and enact it into legislation, sending a clear message that the health and wellbeing of Nova Scotians now and in the future is more important than the business interests of today.

I encourage you to send a letter to NS Premier Rodney MacDonald (Premier@gov.ns.ca), Department of Environment and Labour Minister Mark Parent: MIN_EL@gov.ns.ca, and Department of Natural Resources Minister David Morse: MIN_DNR@gov.ns.ca using the form below:

Angela Giles, Atlantic Regional Organizer, Council of Canadians

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SEND YOUR LETTER NOW:

Subject
Recipient	Premier@gov.ns.ca; MIN_EL@gov.ns.ca; MIN_DNR@gov.ns.ca
Compose your letter in the box below.
Dear Premier MacDonald, As you may well be aware, Capella Resources of Vancouver (through their subsidiary Tripple Uranium) announced on April 1st that they have found more than 100 parts per million of uranium in their exploration site in Central Nova Scotia (west of Windsor Forks). I stand with The Council of Canadians in strong opposition to uranium mining, and any argument suggesting this is a green energy. Uranium is a non-renewable resource that releases radioactive toxins the moment it is harvested, and creates radioactive waste with no sustainable disposal plan. I call on you as Premier of the only province in Canada with a current moratorium on uranium mining to enact this moratorium into legislation, and to argue its importance with your fellow provincial leaders. Sincerely,
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