The pozzolan mine project is coming to the countryside in Restigouche-Est | New Brunswick Elections 2024

The open-pit pozzolan mine project in Dalhousie, New Brunswick, divides citizens and candidates. The project has become an electoral issue in the riding of Restigouche-Est where Dalhousie is located.

The company ÉcoRock Dalhousie is leading this project. She plans to extract pozzolan, a volcanic rock, in an old quarry.

Some residents of the region and Gaspésie have expressed their discontent. They particularly fear consequences on their health, the environment and their quality of life in general if the project is carried out.

Normand Pelletier, mayor of Baie-des-Hérons, of which Dalhousie is a part, and also Progressive Conservative candidate in Restigouche-Est, makes no secret of it: he supports the project.

He says he meets many more people in favor than those opposed to the project when he goes door to door.

There are a lot of people who tell me that we need this project in our region and that it would be something that could help us enormously in the Restigouche.he assures.

If the company is able to comply with all environmental standards before and during operation, it will be a great economic asset for the region, according to Mr. Pelletier.

Normand Pelletier is the only candidate in the riding who directly supports the project. On the Liberal side, the candidate and outgoing MP, Guy Arseneault, does not comment on the project.

It’s a municipal file. I do not believe that a provincial deputy should interfere in municipal affairshe said.

He assures that the issue is not one of the priorities that voters tell him about when he goes to meet them.

According to him, it is mainly on social media that people talk to him about the project. He believes thatthere is a lack of information, there is misinformation, there are plenty of rumors. It’s really the bad communication we had from the beginning with the company.

New Democratic Party (NDP) candidate Daisy Petersen is divided. If she sees an economic advantage in the mine project, she believes that it should not be to the detriment of the environment and the health of residents.

We need economic growth, but we need good jobs that will benefit everyone and the environmentsays Ms. Petersen.

The leader of the Green Party, David Coonwho spoke on behalf of his candidate, Gilles Cormier, who will not campaign in the region, did not speak out openly against the project. He says he has lots of worries and fear for the health of the population, but he calls for more information before taking a position.

Can we develop the open-pit mine without risking the health of the population? I don’t have an answer nowexplains David Coon.

With information from Serge Bouchard