Pictou Landing First Nation is taking its Northern Pulp appeal to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
Earlier this year, the Environment Department issued an industrial permit for Northern Pulp that calls for the Pictou County mill to reduce its environmental footprint and close its Boat Harbour effluent treatment facility, which is located on First Nations land, by 2020.
Pictou Landing First Nation appealed the decision, saying the terms of the industrial approval weren’t strict enough.
But Environment Minister Randy Delorey denied the appeal, saying “consultation took place” and “accommodations were made with Pictou Landing First Nation by imposing several terms and conditions in the industrial approval
According to documents released earlier this week, Pictou Landing is appealing that decision as well. The documents were filed with the court on July 10.
In the written notice of appeal, Brian J. Hebert, counsel for Pictou Landing First Nation, said Delorey “failed to accommodate the aboriginal and treaty rights of the Pictou Landing First Nation in the industrial approval, including, without limit, their right to the use and enjoyment of their reserve lands free of environmental contamination.”
He went on to say the industrial approval should be “quashed, set aside or revoked and is of no force and effect.”
On Aug. 12, the appellants and respondent will appear before a judge at the Halifax Law Courts to determine when the appeal will be heard.