The Dieu Vs. The MV Miner

Here is the Press Release sent out oh behalf of the Main-A-Dieu Community Development Association regarding the MV Miner ….

PRESS RELEASE
Thursday December 8, 2011

COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION DISMAYED AND FRUSTRATED AT LACK OF FEDERAL RESPONSE TO EMERGENCY APPEAL ON
MV MINER

On November 1, the Main-à-Dieu Community Development Association wrote to the Federal Minister of Transport, Denis Lebel, requesting an emergency meeting to discuss the removal of the retired bulk freighter the MV Miner, wrecked and disintegrating on the shoals of Scaterie Island – a protected wilderness area at the heart of our ecologically sensitive lobster and scallop fishery – since September 20. Over a month later, we have yet to receive a reply, notwithstanding the visit to Sydney on November 23 of the Minister of State for Transportation, Stephen Fletcher, to meet with ‘all concerned parties’ – excluding, perversely, our community, the party most directed affected and concerned of all.

The official snub of our appeal stands in striking contrast to the proactive and concerted efforts of political leaders and representatives in the province – foremost among them NDP Premier Darrell Dexter, Liberal MP Rodger Cuzner and Liberal-appointed Senator Jane Cordy, Conservative MP Alfie Macleod, and our CBRM Councillor (District 1) Brian Lahey – to seek an adequate and timely Federal response. On November 15, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality unanimously adopted a resolution urging Minister Lebel to immediately elaborate “an action plan to remove the wreck”. As the resolution correctly states, “the licensing of the craft, which was evidently unfit for towing by tug across the Atlantic, was a Federal decision on which Provincial authorities had no say”; in addition, the license was “unconscionably” issued “with no stipulation that the owners” – as it transpires, a shell company with no assets – “insure the vessel against mishap.”

In the face of its clear legal, jurisdictional and moral responsibilities, the Federal government’s repeated assurance that the MV Miner poses no threat to either navigation or the environment holds no more water than the wreck itself. Even before the full descent of winter, the situation is inexorably worsening. The waters in the immediate vicinity of the vessel are frequented both by working fishing boats and pleasure and tourist craft; portions of the hull’s steel plating have already washed away, to reach land who knows when or where, and potentially harmful materials may soon enter the ecosystem and food chain.

Given the certain consequences of continued delay, prevarication and evasion of duty, we repeat our call to the Minister for a crisis meeting; for concerted action, rather than the insult of silence, in response to our just demands.

For more information, please contact
Amanda McDougall, Project Coordinator
Main-à-Dieu Coastal Discovery Centre
733-2258 or 733-2020

Posted by Amanda McDougall | Email a comment