Welcome to Municipal Affairs.
Today, we’re heading to the rugged coastline of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia—a place known for its natural beauty, tight-knit communities, and resilient people.
For over five years, residents near the Donkin coal mine have been battling an invisible but relentless intruder: a low-frequency industrial hum, emanating from massive ventilation fans—fans that have been running day and night, audible up to seven kilometers away.
It’s been described as “torture,” “unbearable,” and “inescapable.” People are sleeping in basements, suffering from fatigue, anxiety, and worse. Some have left their homes entirely. Yet the noise continues, and the silence from authorities has been even louder.
Kameron Coal, the mine’s U.S.-based operator, claims compliance. The Province passes the buck. And in Cape Breton Regional Municipality, residents are left wondering: Where is the leadership? Where is the protection?
Joining us today is Cat Fergusson, a leading voice from the Cow Bay Environmental Coalition, who has been at the forefront of this grassroots fight. We’ll ask: What has the municipality done—or failed to do? What does environmental justice look like at the local level? And what happens when a community’s right to health and peace collides with industrial profit?
Stay with us as we dig into the data, the noise, and the demands for accountability. Because this isn't just a story about decibels—it's a story about democracy, duty, and what happens when citizens are forced to become advocates.
This… is Municipal Affairs.
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