Raina MacDonald, left, and Yula Irons attended a rally to protest proposed power plants in Pictou County on June 27. Photo by Matthew Bambrick /New Glasgow NewsArticle content‘Thank you to our federal government for listening to the people.’THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentThat statement came out on July 24 from none other than Olivia Chow, mayor of Toronto. The people of Toronto spoke very clearly after the Ontario government announced plans to expand the downtown airport on a small island to accommodate much bigger jets.Article contentArticle contentThe ‘People’ spoke loudly against this proposal on the grounds of the environment, noise, pollution and traffic, amongst others. The federal government listened and heard and did not give federal approval.Article contentArticle contentThe Ontario government had told the people it was a good idea based on the opinion of their ‘experts’ and those are the only people that they wanted to listen to.Article contentThis same scenario is playing out in Pictou County this summer.Article contentThe Province of Nova Scotia is stating, according to their ‘experts,’ that they must build two natural gas power-generating stations in very rural Pictou County, specifically in Salt Springs and Marshdale.Article contentThe people, in those and surrounding rural communities, have spoken out very clearly and very respectfully, against these proposed developments. On the grounds of environment, noise, pollution, traffic, and more. Our rural municipal government, with some support from other municipalities in Pictou County, has respectfully asked the Province of Nova Scotia to listen to the people’s ideas on possible alternatives.Article contentArticle content Robert Parker is the councillor for District 6 with the Municipality of the County of Pictou and its warden. Photo by ContributedArticle contentAll these requests seem to have fallen on deaf ears. Some of the provincial politicians are listening but refuse to hear. They claim that their ‘experts’ are who they have to listen to. Perhaps the real experts are the residents of Pictou County. Perhaps we all need to speak together, and maybe we will all be heard, as they did and as they were, in Toronto.Article contentArticle contentYes, we will need more power in the future, and nobody wants blackouts, but let’s all get behind our small communities and demand to be listened to and heard. Perhaps there is ‘a better way’ for all of us and for the wildlife that share these beautiful lands in Pictou County with us.Article contentArticle contentRobert Parker is a Central West River resident. He is the councillor for District 6 with the Municipality of the County of Pictou and its warden.Article content
ROBERT PARKER: Time province listens to the people
