Former N.S. premier steps down from Northern Pulp board

John Hamm, a former premier of Nova Scotia, has stepped down from his role as chairman of the board of directors for Northern Resources Nova Scotia, which is attached to Northern Pulp.

According to The Canadian Press, Paper Excellence, Northern Pulp’s parent company, thanked Hamm for his “valuable service.”

Paper Excellence says it will continue with a plan for a new effluent treatment facility and is currently reviewing the draft terms of reference for a new environmental assessment report.

The company has also asked for a judicial review of the province’s decision to have it submit that new report.

Northern Pulp closed on Jan. 31 to comply with the province’s legislated deadline for the mill to stop depositing its effluent into the waters of Boat Harbour adjacent to Pictou Landing First Nation.

A small number of the mill’s 300 workers remain at the mill to complete a winterization process that will last through April, at which point the effluent pipe will be cleaned and capped.