Concerned Citizen

Growing up on the St. Mary's River (15 Mile Processing Hub Project), I spent my youth canoeing, swimming, and watching salmon anglers from around the world. Now, as an adult, I return each year and witness the changes that have taken place. It is heartbreaking, especially the decline in salmon returns.

As a salmon angler myself, I now have an even deeper appreciation for the delicate balance of this ecosystem and the devastating impacts this proposed gold mining project will have. It threatens not only the Atlantic salmon and the health of the river but also the communities, traditions, and livelihoods that have been connected to the St. Mary's River for generations. Protecting this river means preserving an irreplaceable natural and cultural legacy for future generations.

Over the recent years, millions of dollars have been invested in restoring and conserving the St. Mary's River and its Atlantic salmon. Why would we now take a step backward by approving a project that puts those investments at risk?

The promise of job creation is likely to be limited and short-lived. Many of the economic benefits will leave the province, while local communities are left to bear the long-term environmental and economic consequences. The project would require the transportation of millions of tonnes of ore and carries the risk of contaminating waterways through tailings, sediment, and other mining-related impacts. These risks threaten Atlantic Salmon, other wildlife, and the entire river ecosystem.

In addition, increased industrial traffic would place added strain on local roads and negatively affect tourism, an industry that depends on the health and beauty of the St. Mary's River (15 Mile Processing Hub Project). The long-term environmental, social, and economic costs far outweigh any short-term employment benefits.

I urge you to protect the St. Mary's River (15 Mile Processing Hub Project)and the people and wildlife that depend on it by not allowing this mining project to proceed.