March 23, 1979 (30th Parliament, 4th Session)

Hon. Len Marchand (Minister of State (Environment)):

Mr. Speaker, environmentally, all factors were evaluated. A number of other ports were evaluated as well. In the view of my officials who are on the scene, as well as in the view of Environment Nova Scotia, the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Transport, the route to Port Hawkesbury, with all of the conditions which the salvor would have to agree to, was the safest one to take.
It was the view of our officials that with the appropriate icebreaking equipment on hand, there really was no environmental risk or, at least, that the risk if any was really very minimal.