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NS mill and First Nations sign agreement

The two sides recently announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding, the first step in a process that paves the way for more employment opportunities.

“It’s one of the first steps in working with Port Hawkesbury Paper … to develop some tangible results in the end,” Chief Bob Gloade, chief of the Millbrook First Nation, said in an interview with The Chronicle Herald.

Those results include developing a socio-economic benefits agreement between the two parties that would create “meaningful” participation and “bridge the gap” so that First Nations people are involved in forestry and mill operations.
“We want to look at the management of forestry in Nova Scotia and be a part of the process, because one of the things that we’re trying to do is ensure that there’s consultation with the Mi’kmaq people in Nova Scotia,” Gloade said.

An environmental agreement between the mill and assembly would “look for opportunities in forestry in regards to biomass on an ongoing basis,” he said.

Marc Dube, who oversees the mill for owner Pacific West Commercial Corp., an affiliate of Stern Partners Inc. of Vancouver, said the intent of the memorandum is to develop a better working relationship and “find ways so that we have more First Nations people working in our businesses.”

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