"As far as I'm concerned, they burned one too many bridges," he said. "There would be very little tolerance for any of the effluent -- treated or untreated -- to go directly into the harbour."

The mayor of the picturesque tourist town, which sits directly across the harbour from the Abercrombie Point mill, added that locals have been "overwhelmingly pleased" with the improved air quality since the plant was shuttered 18 months ago.