Closing Boat Harbour: How Putting 'The Economy' First Polluted Pictou for Profit

Master of Arts (Political Science) candidate: Nicholas Graham

21 August 2026

10:00 AM Atlantic

KCIC Meeting Room

Thesis Committee:

Dr. Andrew Biro, Supervisor
Dr. Erin Crandall, Internal Examiner
Dr. Hannah Wyile, SMU, External Examiner
Dr. Barry Watson, Chair of the defence

Abstract

Nova Scotia’s history of environmental violence against racialized communities is an under investigated issue. As such, this study explores one of the province’s most notable cases, the theft of A’sek, known in settler society as Boat Harbour, from Pictou Landing First Nation, and its destruction in service of the mill known as Northern Pulp. Using an environmental violence framework, and methodology based on process tracing, this study explores the reason why, after a more than five decade history of near unquestioning support for the mill, and inaction regarding Boat Harbour, the Nova Scotian Government finally shut it down. Examining historical trends, this study finds that there were three forces that likely worked together to push the government to action: the changing legal landscape in Canada and changing political sensibilities in the electorate; the increased influence of local opposition; and changing economics no longer favouring the mill so heavily.

About Nicholas…

Nicholas Graham is a 24-year-old master's student from Dartmouth Nova Scotia. With a background in natural resource management, forestry, and environmental politics, Nicholas's thesis centered on issues of environmental justice surrounding Boat Harbour, Northern Pulp, and Pictou Landing First Nation. More recently Nicholas published a paper in the Consilience Journal of Sustainable Development entitled "The Toxic Legacy of Sydney Steel: Environmental Violence and the Case of Nova Scotia's Sydney Steel," which served as part of the inspiration for his thesis topic. Following the completion of his master's degree Nicholas has been accepted at Carleton to do his PhD in Political Science starting in September where he hopes to continue his studies on matters of environmental politics and justice.