Today I am very upset.  Let me tell you why.

For those of you who do not know me my name is Scott Beaver.  My wife, Beth, and I have three children and we both contribute and live in the district of St. Mary`s Guysborough County Nova Scotia.  Beth is a nurse at the local hospital and my children all have gone or are currently going to the local school.  Beth and I both grew in St. Mary`s moved away, had many wonderful adventures, moved back to raise our family among family and friends. 

My parents, Beth`s parents and their parents are all from St. Mary`s.  I feel very fortunate to have the lifestyle, family, and friends that I do today.  I do not take that for granted.   

Enter Lloyd Hines local MLA representing the Liberal party of Nova Scotia for Guysborough-Tracadie and a massive open pit gold mine proposed for the banks of St. Mary’s River.  This mine has a 600-acre footprint.  The proposal would have a 70-meter-high wall tailings earthen dam which is about 260 acres in size and would sit above some of the rives most pristine and significant Atlantic salmon spawning habitat.  The royalties the province has negotiated would almost pay to pave the number 7 highway from Cochrane Hill to Sheet Harbour NS and that is it. This giant open pit mine on the side of Nova Scotia’s longest river would have a lifespan of only 6 to 8 years.  Our community gets no royalties and is left to deal with the damage.  These are only a few of our communities’ concerns.   

Lloyd has told the public, during a debate held in Mulgrave over the weekend, that this proposed gold mine is a topic for the next election cycle.  Science isn't in yet to decide.  Not unanimous in the area for or against.  He also said at a picnic in Sherbrook when asked about the proposed goldmine on Cochrane Hill that we were using a badgering approach and he would not be badgered! Lloyd Hines has not responded to us for three years now.  

I must say that Lloyd’s comments certainly hit me hard, and they hurt a lot of people.  I personally have been working tirelessly on this issue within my community since 2018.  This is very much like a second job for me.  Lloyd, ask my children if this is an issue or not for this election cycle?  The time this proposed gold mine has sucked away from my family would shock you.  For you to suggest that this is not an issue and to dismiss people is a sign of your ignorance.

Please folks, lets vote accordingly in this election.  The people of St. Mary’s and the environment surrounding us will thank you for generations to come.   

One more thing to note –

Greg Morrow, the PC candidate, has taken a public stand against the proposed gold mine on Cochrane Hill. 

The NDP candidate, Matt Stickland, has taken a public stand against the proposed mine on Cochrane Hill.

The Green candidate, Gabe Bruce, has taken a public stand against the proposed mine on Cochrane Hill. 

Thank you all for listening.

Scott Beaver