Department of Fisheries and Oceans Rejects ARCP's Infill Application

After almost 4 years of pleading with the federal government to reject Atlantic Road Construction and Paving’s (ARCP) application to infill Dartmouth Cove with 99,700 cubic meters of pyritic slate and other excavation material, we have our answer. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans has officially denied ARCP’s proposal. Fisheries Minister, Hon. Joanne Thompson, posted a statement on her official Facebook page announcing the decision.

Protecting fish and habitat is a priority for the Government of Canada. The proposed infilling at Dartmouth Cove would permanently destroy the marine life in the Cove and its supporting fish habitat. I am not convinced that the permanent destruction of the remaining marine life in this portion of the harbour, for private benefit, is required and justified in these particular circumstances. There is no approved project for the newly created land. There is no benefit to the community. It’s infilling for the sake of infilling.

From the beginning, this project raised serious environmental concerns. After receiving ARCP’s application DFO identified that the proposal would result in the destruction of approximately 27,000 square metres of marine fish habitat, including critical areas that support biodiversity, juvenile fish, and eelgrass ecosystems.

While DFO did their due diligence in reviewing this application, without the input of the community, we are doubtful that this decision would have been possible. We would like to thank all those who sent in hundreds of public comments, spoke up at public events, attended our Bioblitzes, shared their own expertise and analysis of the marine environment and fish habitat and shared our message in any way possible. We are at this point because people refused to accept that Dartmouth Cove could be treated as a dumping ground.

Inline with their approach to problem solving, ARCP has launched yet another lawsuit. Instead of reflecting on the decision, or the overwhelming public opposition, ARCP has responded by suing the fisheries minister and local MP Darren Fisher.

According to reporting, the lawsuit targets Fisher over his public opposition to the project and his advocacy to federal ministers to deny approval.

They continue to cite vague “scientific facts” as to why their approval should have been granted, but refuse to accept the input and feedback from true marine experts and scientists as well as the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.

We don’t expect this to be the end of the story, but we’re hopeful that HRM’s legal battles over the Dartmouth Cove bylaw will be resolved soon, adding yet another obstacle to an effort to bury a thriving marine environment under infill.