Mi'kmaw chiefs say Avon River fish passage concerns being ignored

The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs says its concerns astir food transition connected the Avon River are being ignored and is calling connected “meaningful consultation” related to Nova Scotia’s latest connection to duplicate a agelong of road implicit the waterway.

The Nova Scotia authorities has for 2 years, done an exigency order, restricted the opening of tidal gates nether Highway 101 astatine Windsor, N.S., arguing that a water abutting the causeway indispensable stay filled successful bid to supply a h2o root to combat imaginable wildfires.

Critics person argued this impedes food passage, and successful a quality merchandise Wednesday, the assembly of chiefs said it is seeking “full participation” successful decisions astir the road overpass task and called for the restoration of the earthy travel of the Avon River.

“We admit that existent emergencies necessitate contiguous solutions,” Chief Sidney Peters said successful the quality release. “We communicated that to the state and respected the exigency bid being temporarily enactment successful spot successful 2023.

“But this has go a semipermanent solution that is intelligibly not working. Their arguable infrastructure with nary wide timeline, without capable consultation is present dishonouring the law, our treaties and the environment.”

WATCH | The Avon River overpass was expected to beryllium done successful 2023. Why isn't it finished?:

Last month, Public Works Minister Fred Tilley said a caller plan had been sent for support to the national Department of Fisheries and Oceans for a operation to regenerate the existent causeway and yet implicit the twinning task betwixt Falmouth and Three Mile Plains.

A section spokesperson said successful an email Wednesday the province's submission “has been informed by extended First Nation and assemblage consultation which has taken spot implicit much than six years.” The section is awaiting a determination from DFO.

The 9½-kilometre task was archetypal announced successful 2016, but has dragged connected aft an archetypal overpass that was projected for the Avon River failed to conscionable national requirements for improved food passage.

The man-made Lake Pisiquid on the Avon River was drained successful 2021 erstwhile DFO ordered the aboiteau gates astatine the extremity of the water to beryllium unfastened for 10 minutes during incoming and outgoing tides from the Bay of Fundy.

Some residents of Windsor subsequently complained Lake Pisiquid had turned into a particulate bowl, and immoderate farmers who drew caller h2o from the Avon River successful the country disquieted astir salinity levels owed to the present unrestricted tidal waters.

Two years later, the water was refilled aft the state issued its order.

Consultation

In the quality release, the assembly of chiefs said a advisor has determined determination are capable alternate h2o sources successful the country to combat a wildfire, and the state has been told of the findings.

Peters said the assembly was amazed to larn of a DFO exigency authorization issued past period to wholly adjacent the gates to incoming tidal waters truthful the West Hants Regional Municipality could tube salt-free h2o from the Avon River to Mill Lakes. 

The Mill Lakes are a drinking proviso for 3 communities. The DFO authorization, which expires connected Jan. 1, acknowledged that food volition apt beryllium killed arsenic a effect of the gross closure.

“Nova Scotia and Canada indispensable extremity the misuse of emergencies and exigency authorizations, respect our pact rights, and consult successful bully faith,” Peters said successful the quality release.

A spokesperson for DFO said successful an email Thursday the section issued the authorization related to the West Hants h2o task successful effect to drought conditions.

The section confirmed it has received the province's connection for the Highway 101 causeway, and said projects that are to beryllium built successful oregon adjacent h2o are reviewed to marque definite they comply with the Fisheries Act and Species astatine Risk Act.

"This includes ensuring escaped transition of fish, the extortion of food and food habitat, and considering Indigenous cognition successful determination making," the email said.