The Jan. 31 deadline to stop effluent from being pumped into Boat Harbour will be upheld.
Premier Stephen McNeil made the announcement at a press conference Friday.
McNeil said they had given Northern Pulp five years to come up with a solution.
“Clearly we gave enough time. We believed those five years; we should be in a different position than we are today,” he said. “We are no further ahead, when it comes to a treatment centre, than we were five years ago. That squarely falls on the shoulders of the company.”
McNeil also announced the creation of a $50 million transition fund to help workers affected by the mill’s closure.
He said that money will not just help the 300 mill workers who are expected to be laid off, but forestry workers across the province who will be impacted by the closure of the Northern Pulp mill.
After the press conference, Northern Pulp issued a statement which said they have begun issuing layoffs and contract cancellations, and implementing plans to close the Pictou Co. mill.
