An online discussion tonight aims to raise awareness and understanding about the risks facing the Chignecto Isthmus, and possible solutions. The event will feature local leaders, an emergency management specialist, and a research scientist specializing in coastal zone flood risk and erosion.
The talk is being organized by The Isthmus Project, an “awareness building and solution seeking organization” born out of the Cumberland-Colchester Green Party riding association. Spokesperson Rosemary Rowntree says at first the association planned something that might help raise money and promote the riding association, “but then the project kind of grew, and it took on a life of its own. We’re no longer emphasizing that it’s coming from the Green Party, because it really is an apolitical issue.”
Rowntree says politicians of various stripes will be part of tonight’s panel.
The panel was originally planned for after the release of a consultants report commissioned in January 2020. That report is expected any day now, says Rowntree.
In the meantime, The Isthmus Project hopes to continue to raise awareness of the risks to the Chignecto isthmus.
Tonight’s speakers will include Elder Billy Lewis, former Nova Scotia MP Bill Casey, Sackville Deputy Mayor Ron Aiken, Amherst Mayor David Kogon, Cumberland County Councillor Jennifer Houghtaling, emergency planner Mike Johnson and research scientist Tim Webster. The event will be moderated by Amherst resident and Mount Allison student, Rohin Minocha-McKenny.
Tonight’s event will, “highlight the impact that a crisis would have on the land, and then the impact on the people,” says Rowntree. The panel will “look at what the crisis might actually look like… How bad will flooding be? What could the damage be? And then wrap up with some ideas of solutions.”
Rowntree says that with $50 million of trade passing through the corridor every day, as well as hundreds of people passing back and forth for work, the ramifications of flooding events are significant.
“What we hope to achieve, other than just simply raising awareness, is that the people like the politicians at various levels, federally, provincially, and municipally, will get their heads up and start to think of this in a very serious fashion,” says Rowntree. “They’re the folks that are going to have to write the cheques. They’re the decision makers.”
Rowntree says the solutions that get presented might not be equally advantageous for everyone involved. “There could be solutions that come out that could hurt Sackville, but help Amherst. Not every solution is likely to be perfect for every group. And that could be a real political football,” says Rowntree.
The Isthmus Project – Understanding the Implications starts at 7pm tonight, via Facebook Live.
