Two federal New Democrats are blaming the federal government for delays in cleaning up a shipwreck on Scatarie Island, N.S.
Toronto MP Olivia Chow, who is in Halifax for the funeral of well-known philanthropist Ruth Goldbloom, held a news conference today on the Halifax waterfront along with Nova Scotia MP Peter Stoffer.
The MV Miner was being towed to a scrapyard in Turkey when the lines to a tug broke in heavy seas, causing the ship to run aground off Cape Breton on Sept. 20, 2011.
It has been stuck ever since and Chow is blaming inaction by Transport Canada for causing delays by the American savage company, Bennington Group, to clean up the wreck.
Earlier this month, officials with Bennington Group said a pre-demolition survey had been completed, but approvals were still needed from the provincial and federal governments.
“As of yesterday, the company is ready to start and they want to start immediately,” says Chow. “However, they’re waiting for the federal government to approve the work plan.”
With files from The Canadian Press
