Thread by @Tim_Bousquet

I'm now live-blogging the premier's press conference, in which he will announce his decision(s) about the Boat Harbour Act and Northern Pulp.

We're told that the premier will attend solo, with no department heads or advisors speaking.

Obviously, this is a momentous day in Nova Scotia history, no matter what happens.

There's great anticipation in the room. No one has any idea what will happen. We were just given the 5-minute heads-up.

For example, there's a greater than zero chance that @Brett_CBC will deliver a baby.

@Brett_CBC And we're on... McNeil enters.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: mill has been pumping pollution in Boat Harbour for decades.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: we passed the Boat Harbour Act in 2015. They had five years to get an environmental assessment and get a new system working.

@Brett_CBC McNeil reviews lackadaisical efforts on NP's part

@Brett_CBC McNeil: "look at the history... the company has put us all in a very difficult position"

@Brett_CBC McNeil: The Boat Harbour Act will be enforced as of January 31, 202... "Let me be clear, there will be no extension"

@Brett_CBC McNeil: "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this"

@Brett_CBC McNeil: I need to address people in the wood industry.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: $50 million transition fund for displaced workers, small contractors, etc.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: This industry needs to diversify.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: we also have emergency funding for those with immediate needs.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: "I know this will be difficult for many people"

@Brett_CBC McNeil: "In 2015 I made a commitment to honour Boat Harbour, and I'm keeping that commitment today."

@Brett_CBC McNeil: Similarly, today I'm making a commitment to forestry workers, and I will keep that commitment.

@Brett_CBC I don't see a lot of McNeil, so grain of salt, but he appears honestly pained.

@Brett_CBC Here's the premier's press release:

@Brett_CBC Q: Do you think NP will sue the province?
A: Maybe, but I need to respond to the needs of our citizens. "This is not 1960 anymore"

@Brett_CBC I ask: What about that $85 million in outstanding loans?
McNeil: "I fully expect that to be paid."

@Brett_CBC Timothy Gillespie: the province has sped up clearcuts in SW NS... a lot of that goes to Northern Pulp. Will today's decision reduce clearcutting?
McNeil: That's up to the Dept. of Environment.

@Brett_CBC Gillespie: Northern Pulp has one of the largest allotments on the Westfor lands.
McNeil: sure, but the logs go to the mills, and NP gets the chips.

@Brett_CBC McNeil: we've been looking at this for over a year, what happens if the mill closes?

@Brett_CBC Joan Baxter: How much money is the federal government devoting to the transition?
McNeil: Beyond EI, we don't know yet.

@Brett_CBC The Examiner has me in the room, and @dartjenhen and @joan_baxter on the phone.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter Q. Is this a step towards reconciliation?
A. We should be in a different position. We're in the same situation that we were in five years ago. That's on Northern Pulp.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter McNeil: "I need an economy."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV: Will the $50 million push the province into deficit?
McNeil: "No."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV Paul Withers: What about the mill pensions?
McNeil: We're looking at that.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman : to what degree did the broken promises of the past to PLFN affect your decision?
McNeil: I wanted the mill to get a permit. I know how important that is to the sector... we walked in 5 years ago, and said "get to work"... this is "not on us"

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Brian Flinn: You've called Boat Harbour "environmental racism"....
McNeil: we have a long history of institutional racism. The mill was "put there because it was next to an aboriginal community."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Q. Why'd it take 3 days to make this decision?
McNeil: To make an immediate decision would be "glib."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman With that, McNeil leaves. We're done here, but now the company will respond, and opposition leaders are waiting. I'll return later.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Tim Houston supported McNeil's decision.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman I'm now at a press conference called by Northern Pulp.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman They're not here yet, but speaking will be Brian Baarda, CEO, Paper Excellence Canada, and Linda MacNeil, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Baarda: "we deeply disappointed"

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Baarda claims the effluent plan had no meaningful environmental impact. Slams NS Department of Environment.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Baarda: Had NSE wanted a full environmental impact from the start, we would've done one.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Baarda: We start issuing layoff notices today and are making plans to "close Northern Pulp."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman MacNeil: the $50 million transition is nothing. The mill pays out $40 million every year, and that doesn't include the rest of the forest industry.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman MacNeil: the premier made a "irresponsible" decision.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman MacNeil: McNeil went on about five years, but "Nova Scotia Environment has to take some responsibility."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman MacNeil: McNeil "just devastated rural Nova Scotia."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman MacNeil: "what industry will now look to invest in Nova Scotia?"

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Q: will the company sue the province?
A: I dunno.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Q. What about the loans?
A. "We're not thinking about that today.

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Here's Northern Pulp's statement:

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman Baarda: "We would have been happy to do a full environmental assessment if that's what the government wanted, from Day One."

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman And Joan weighs in:

https://twitter.com/joan_baxter/status/1208050431554969600?s=20

@Brett_CBC @dartjenhen @joan_baxter @SarahRitchieTV @MichaelTGorman And this presser is over.